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SOMALIA / SEXUAL EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATION
STORY: SOMALIA / SEXUAL EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATION
TRT: 2.28
SOURCE: AMISOM
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 3 NOVEMBER 2014, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
1. Wide shot, plane taxing at the Aden Abdulle International Airport
2. Med shot, African Union Investigation team on allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and other passengers alight from plane
3. Close up, passengers and the SEA Investigation team members alighting
4. Wide shot, AMISOM senior staff welcoming the Investigation team members
5. Med shot, AMISOM Deputy SRCC Hon. Lydia Wanyoto welcoming the team members
6. Wide shot, AMISOM senior staff introducing the SEA Investigation team to AMISOM SRCC
7. Med shot, AMISOM Senior staff introducing the SEA team to AMISOM SRCC
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Maman S. Sidikou, SRCC and Head African Union Mission in Somalia:
"We have this issue of the Human Rights Watch report, for which the highest level of the African Union Commission has taken the bold step, by saying this has to be investigated and thoroughly, because we have zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse. The team that came is made of experts in their fields, professionals, who would be investigating independently no interference from anybody."
9. Wide shot, SEA investigations team members briefing the AMISOM SRCC
10. Med shot, SEA team members briefing the AMISOM SRCC
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sergio Isabella, Assistant Commissioner Zimbabwe Police Force, Leader of the Investigations Team:
"With the experience I have and also my team members, am sure we will be able to get to the bottom of the problem. What we need to find is the root of the problem and then find ways and means of dealing with it."
12. Med shot, SEA investigations team members speaking to the AMISOM SRCC
13. Close up SEA investigations team speaking to the AMISOM SRCC
14. Med shot, SEA team members briefing the AMISOM SRCC
15. Close up, AMISOM SRCC listening
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Koki Egha Fona, University of Benin, Nigeria, Leading the Research Team:
"I would like to emphasize that we go to the field without any bias. So with my team, it is our desire to conduct an independent and objective study of the situation on ground."
17. Wide shot, SRCC and Head of AMISON Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou speaking to the SEA Investigations team members
18. Med shot, AMISOM SRCC speaking to the SEA Investigations team members
19. Close up, SRCC and Head of AMISON Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou speaking to the SEA Investigations team members
20. Wide shot, AMISOM SRCC speaking to the SEA Investigations team members
The investigation team set up by the African Union to look into allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse against AMISOM personnel arrived today (3 Nov) in Mogadishu.
The allegations were contained in a report by Human Rights Watch titled, “The Power these Men Have Over Us – Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by African Union Forces in Somalia”, released in September this year.
The team comprising four officers led by Sergio Isabella, Assistant Commissioner Zimbabwe has started holding meetings with various stakeholders as the probe kicks off.
The Special Representative the Chairperson of the Commission for Somalia and Head of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou has welcomed the team, which he says will conduct investigations independently and get to the root of the matter.
"We have this issue of the Human Rights Watch report, for which the highest level of the African Union Commission has taken the bold step, by saying this has to be investigated and thoroughly, because we have zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse. The team that came is made of experts in their fields, professionals, who would be investigating independently no interference from anybody," he said.
The team has pledged extensive investigations into the claims, giving a voice to all parties involved, including the alleged victims.
"With the experience I have and also my team members, am sure we will be able to get to the bottom of the problem. What we need to find is the root of the problem and then find ways and means of dealing with it,” said Sergio Isabella, Leader of the Investigations team.
"I would like to emphasize that we go to the field without any bias. So with my team, it is our desire to conduct an independent and objective study of the situation on ground," added Prof. Koki Egha Fona, University of Benin, Nigeria, Leading the Research Team that is supporting the investigations.
The report makes specific allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against AMISOM personnel, particularly the Ugandan and Burundian Contingents as well as AMISOM civilian personnel.
The investigation panel has been tasked to look into the allegations with a view of determining whether they occurred or not, as well as assessing existing administrative structures to address the same.
The African Union has asked all stakeholders to support the probe team which is expected to complete their assignment by 30 November 2014.
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