The Research Center for Sustainable Peace is happy to announce the launch of a joint research project on prevention and accountability of sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations Peace Operations. The project started on 1 October 2018, and will be completed on 30 September 2019.

Researchers:

Dr. Ai Kihara-Hunt, Associate Professor, the University of Tokyo

Dr. Marsha Henry, Associate Professor, London School of Economics (LSE)

 Project Plan 

1. Subject

Prevention and Accountability of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in United Nations Peace Operations

2. Aim and Objects

This project aims at conducting a comprehensive analysis on the prevention and accountability of sexual crimes committed by UN Peace Operations personnel. This issue has been reported since the 1990s, but the UN has not managed to address it effectively. The results of this project will not only contribute to academia but also to reform of related policies and internal mechanisms in the UN.

3. Project Plan

 Dr. Kihara-Hunt has been researching the criminal prosecution of crimes committed by UN Peace Operations personnel. She intends to conduct an additional research into the UN’s internal machinery and the implementation of internal rules, which are currently undergoing major reform. Her scope is also widened to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), which includes misbehavior not amounting to crimes. Dr. Henry will look into the prevention of SEA from the perspectives of social science and women’s studies. She will analyze the possible factors that contribute to SEA directly and indirectly, and examine how effective the UN and member States’ efforts of prevention is.

 By having these two angles, the project aims to conduct a more holistic analysis into the prevention and accountability of SEA committed in UN Peace Operations.

4. Events and Publications

There will be two public seminars in Tokyo, Japan: on 19 April 2019 and 13 September 2019. In September, the researchers are planning to have a round table consultation in New York with stakeholders. Final findings will be published on websites of the researchers including this one.