NYT: The UN's Tainted Legacy in Haiti

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At least 10,000 Haitians died in the cholera outbreak, but it took six years for the United Nations to admit it had anything to do with the catastrophe. A fund set up by the secretary general to collect $400 million to battle cholera garnered only a few million in contributions, and victims are still battling through American courts to hold the United Nations accountable. In the annals of sexual abuse cases, one of the worst involved more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers who ran a sex ring that exploited nine Haitian children between 2004 and 2007.

The authors of The Conversation’s report made three recommendations: first, that United Nations personnel be trained in understanding the power they hold over the vulnerable populations they are sent to assist; second, that offenders not be sent back to their native countries, but be made to face prosecution and provide child support where they’re serving; and three, that a new victims’ rights advocate at the United Nations be allowed to act as a strong voice for victims and countries that contribute troops.

These would appear to be the minimum steps to take, given the history of abuses by peacekeeping forces. The blue helmet of a United Nations peacekeeper represents a unique commitment by the world to assist the weakest and poorest when they are most helpless. For soldiers to take advantage of that trust is revolting. The United Nations and the countries providing peacekeepers must adopt the most stringent public measures to discipline violators and compensate victims.