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STORY: HAITI / SEXUAL ASSAULT
TRT: 1:07
SOURCE: MINUSTAH
RESTRICTION: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 8 SEPTEMBER 2011, PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI
1.Wide shot, MINUSTAH press conference
2.Med shot, cameramen listening
3.SOUNDBITE (English) Eliana Nabaa, Chief of Communication and Public Information at the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH):
“On 27 August MINUSTAH was seized with an allegation of serious misconduct.”
4.Med shot, journalists
5.SOUNDBITE (English) Eliana Nabaa, Chief of Communication and Public Information at the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH):
“The military commander of the mission immediately asked the military police to collect the all information regarding the identity of victims, witnesses and suspected people. He also ordered the commander of the Uruguayan contingent to conduct a preliminary investigation on the incident.”
6.Med shot, cameras
7.SOUNDBITE (English) Eliana Nabaa, Chief of Communication and Public Information at the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH):
“The commander of the base was suspended and immediately replaced. But only four members of the contingent have been placed in isolation. Not the entire contingent is under investigation.”
8.Med shot, journalists
9.SOUNDBITE (English) Eliana Nabaa, Chief of Communication and Public Information at the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH):
“It is possible that a downsizing of contributing troops will be decided when the new mandate is discussed.”
10.Wide shot, journalists packing and leaving
The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) said today (8 September) that Uruguay should conduct a full and thorough investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by its military personnel serving with the world body’s peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
Eliana Nabaa, Chief of Communication and Public Information explained that “on 27 August MINUSTAH was seized with an allegation of serious misconduct.”
According to media reports, the incident in question involves the alleged rape of an 18-year-old Haitian man by Uruguayan peacekeepers based in Port Salut, South of Haiti. A video captured on a cell phone camera showing the alleged assault reportedly surfaced recently.
Nabaa informed that the military commander of the mission “immediately asked the military police to collect the all information regarding the identity of victims, witnesses and suspected people.”
The Uruguayan contingent was also ordered to conduct a “preliminary investigation on the incident.”
The Chief of Communication noted that the base commander “was suspended and immediately replaced” and four members of the Uruguayan contingent were placed in isolation.
She stressed that “not the entire contingent is under investigation.”
Nabaa also announced that a possible progressive downsizing of MINUSTAH military component is being discussed days before the new mandate of the mission is expected to be voted at the UN Security Council.
The UN has imposed a zero-tolerance policy against sexual abuse and exploitation by its peacekeepers, and senior officials have reiterated in recent years that this means there is no impunity for blue helmets who engage in such practices.
It is the responsibility of the troop-contributing country to take appropriate disciplinary and judicial measures if the allegations are found to be true.
