The History and Nature of Sexual Misconduct in Peace Operations

Citation:

Westendorf, Jasmine Kim. 2020. "The History and Nature of Sexual Misconduct in Peace Operations." In Violating Peace: Sex, Aid, and Peacekeeping, 20-54. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

Author: Jasmine-Kim Westendorf

Annotation:

Summary:
"I begin by briefly tracing the history of sexual exploitation and abuse in peace operations before delineating a typology of sorts that distinguishes between four main types of behavior that fall under the category of sexual exploitation and abuse. This is crucial to the study of how such behaviors affect the international community's capacity to achieve its peacebuilding goals and why policy responses have largely failed to date. I then discuss the causal and contextual factors that underpin the perpetration of sexual exploitation and abuse and consider the interconnections between the abuses by interveners, conflict-related sexual violence, and sexual harassment and abuse perpetrated within the international intervener community. Finally, I will look in greater detail at the issue of sexual misconduct by civilian interveners. To date, the majority of data and analysis has focused on uniformed peacekeepers, despite the fact that civilian peacekeepers are more responsible per capita for allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in peace operations and despite growing awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual harassment and abuse within intervener communities. Understanding this particular element of the puzzle is critical to developing a comprehensive understanding of the nature, causes, and consequences of sexual exploitation and abuse in peace operations." (Westendorf 2020, 22)

Topics: Conflict, International Organizations, Peacekeeping, Sexual Violence, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Year: 2020