According to the UN, the first case involves UN Police (UNPOL) officers based in the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, while the second case involves one or more members of the Formed Police Unit (FPU) in Gonaives.
UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky stated that “The United Nations is outraged by these allegations and takes its responsibility to deal with them extremely seriously.”
Investigations into allegations involving UN police personnel fall under the responsibility of the UN. Therefore, a UN team was dispatched to Haiti to investigate the allegations.
The UN also states that it is doing all that it can to ensure that the issue is being investigated properly. The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) stated in a news release that an investigation was immediately opened after the allegations were made.
The UN Police Commissioner relieved the two suspects of their duties as a precaution to prevent them from having any contact with the population and as well as any ability to interfere with the investigation.
“I want to reiterate my commitment to uphold the policy of zero tolerance of abuse by the staff of the Mission” said Mariano Fernández, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of MINUSTAH. “Each member of the UN personnel, whether he or she is a civilian, member of the military or police, must observe a standard of exemplary conduct.
Reports of child abuse and a lack of child protection are not new in Haiti. The current situation in Haiti makes children without parental or other family care especially vulnerable.
Since the earthquake that devastated the country in 2010, it has been alleged that more than 7,300 boys and girls have been smuggled out of their homeland to the Dominican Republic by traffickers profiting on the poverty and desperation of Haitian children.
The UN has a strategy in place to assist victims of exploitation and sexual abuse.
In Haiti, MINUSTAH implements it in coordination with other UN agencies and national stakeholders. This mechanism is meant to guarantee that the victims receive medical and psychological support as fast as possible.