Rethinking ‘sexual exploitation’ in UN peacekeeping operations

Abstract

This article will question definitions used by researchers in their studies of "sexual exploitation" in UN peacekeeping operations. The article will suggest that there is confusion about the definition of "sexual exploitation" among scholars undertaking empirical studies and exploring "sexual exploitation" issues in several peacekeeping missions, but also among UN peacekeeping personnel and local people. I look closely at nine empirical studies and explore the language used, the definitions of sexual exploitation", the identified causes of "sexual exploitation" and difficulties of gathering evidence in cases of "sexual exploitation". My article will suggest that the term "sexual exploitation" is broadly defined and contentious, and might cover activity that is not necessarily "sexually exploitative". The article concludes that researchers have not questioned the over inclusive and broad term of "sexual exploitation" defined in the Secretary General's 'zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and sexual abuse' and, consequently, conflate all forms of sexual relationships with forced prostitution, rape, human trafficking and other forms of sexual offences.

The Distribution and Consequences of Sexual Misconduct by Peacekeepers in Haiti: A Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Analysis

“…According to the Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA), military members of national contingents are given immunity from host state jurisdictions for criminal acts undertaken during their official capacity (14)(15)(16)(17). Instead, as outlined by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between troop and police contributing countries (TPCC), disciplinary authority over national military contingents is the responsibility of TPCC (15,18,19).…”

The Distribution and Consequences of Sexual Misconduct Perpetrated by Peacekeepers in Haiti: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Analysis

“…In this paper we use the term sexual misconduct to broadly include all sexual interactions between MINUSTAH peacekeepers and bene ciaries of assistance. While scholars have contested the UN's framing that all sexual interactions with peacekeepers are inherently abusive and exploitative and have illustrated the autonomy of some women vis-à-vis transactional sex (17,18), the purpose of the present work is to determine the distribution and consequences of sexual interactions with peacekeepers using population data, without further classifying the sexual relations.…”

“…According to the Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA), military members of national contingents are given immunity from host state jurisdictions for criminal acts undertaken during their o cial capacity (19)(20)(21)(22).…”

“…A 2011 cross-sectional study in Libera estimated that 72% (95% CI: 68% to 76%) of women aged [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] had engaged in transactional sex (26). Risk factors positively associated with transactional sex included: low educational attainment, low income, increased duration of the relationship, early sexual debut, multiple sexual partners, and previous exposure to sexual violence.…”

Contextualizing 'trafficking' and 'peacekeeping sex' in the Arizona Market : a feminist political economy framework for conceptualizing Bosnia and Herzegovina as a complex space of post-war

“…Indeed, the second and third chapters o f this thesis demonstrate that other factors related to global economic conditions as well as organized crime are also important. Nevertheless, the link between the 'peacekeeping economy* and the local sex industry suggests that, especially in the case o f the Balkans, sexual labour characterizes some o f the activities which constitute 'peacekeeping economies' (Jennings & Nikolic-Ristanovic,, 2009;Otto, 2003;Simic, 2009).…”