Sexual Violence and Exploitation by UN Peacekeepers Exposes Injustices

  • A 2024 report attributes over 100 allegations of sexual exploitation to UN peacekeepers. 
  • Few UN peacekeepers at fault face prosecution, and as of 2024, a survey revealed that 3.65% of UN staff believe it is acceptable to pay for sex. A smaller portion, close to 1%, believes it is acceptable to engage in sexual activity with a child.
  • While legitimate concerns over transparency, results, and the risk of enabling inefficiency explain the UN’s Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)’s limited donations, its meager budget has forced it to, at times, only support a fraction of the required programs.

The UN’s Systemic Flaws Impede Its Effectiveness

  • The UN lacks a definition of “women,” which has limited its ability to consistently and coherently protect women’s rights globally.
  • On October 7th, 2023, Hamas committed atrocious sexual violence against Israeli women without immediate condemnation of the violence from the UN or a coordinated response.
  • Due to its bureaucratic structure and reliance on member states to police themselves, the UN remains unable to hold offenders accountable and champion positive change. 

The UN Must Be Defunded 

  • The United States and other donor nations should reevaluate their financial commitments to the UN. Instead of pouring resources into an institution unable to address rising conflict and human rights violations, we should consider alternative strategies to promote women’s rights and global security.
  • Funding currently directed toward the UN could be better spent on direct humanitarian assistance, targeted interventions to combat gender-based violence, and support for local organizations working tirelessly to protect women and girls on the frontlines.
  • Defunding the UN is not a rejection of international cooperation, but a call for accountability and reform. The organization was created to protect the vulnerable, uphold human dignity, and promote peace, but it has failed to live up to that mission.

Click HERE to read the policy focus and learn more about the failure of multilateral institutions to protect women.