The UN has been informed of four allegations of "sexual exploitation and assault" attributed to members of the Kenyan-led multinational force operating in Haiti, UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed on Monday.
Although the multinational security support force deployed in 2024 and now beginning to withdraw was not a UN mission, it was mandated by the Security Council to support the Haitian police, who were unable to cope with the gangs ravaging the country.
That is why the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is conducting an investigation and “has communicated his findings and recommendations” to the multinational force and “the states involved,” the spokesperson explained.
"It is important that any allegations are fully investigated by the troop-sending [or police] country and accountability is ensured," Dujarric added, without specifying the nationalities of the members of the multinational force accused.
The force, which is being replaced by the newly created Anti-Gang Counter-Terrorism Force, had grown to include up to 1,000 soldiers and police, the vast majority of whom are Kenyans.
In an internal document summarizing the findings of the investigation into sexual exploitation and abuse, the UN says it is about the rape of a 12-year-old girl and two other 16-year-old teenage girls, as well as sexual violence (no further details are given) against a young woman, 18 years old.
The four allegations were considered well-founded and consequently the findings on them were transmitted to the competent national authorities and the PAYA administration.
Last week, the NGO Human Rights Watch drew attention to the case, calling on the new anti-gang force, to which the Chadian government has promised to contribute 1,500 men, to create "mechanisms" to prevent "new violations" of this nature.
"Women and girls in Haiti already face widespread sexual violence. International forces sent to restore security must not exacerbate the abuse against them," the non-governmental organization said.
This is not the first time that members of an international mission in Haiti have been accused of such cases.
Between 2004 and 2017, there were a number of allegations of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of women – and children, especially girls – by UN peacekeepers participating in the MINUSTAH peacekeeping mission. However, few of the soldiers and police officers involved in this scandal were brought to justice in their countries of origin. These cases and their outcome further increased Haitians’ distrust of foreign intervention.
