Responsibility under International Law for Human Rights Violations Committed by the Personnel of United Nations Peace Support Operations: Sexual Exploitation and Abuses of Children and Women.

Abstract

A considerable amount of cases of sexual exploitation and abuse of children and women committed by the personnel of United Nations peace support operations have been brought to the attention of the public, especially in recent years. As multiple actors are involved in United Nations peace support operations, i.a. the United Nations itself and Troop Contributing States, the question of attribution of responsibility is highly important – either as multiple responsibility or as the sole responsibility of one entity. This thesis will investigate the issue of international responsibility and examine who carries the onus for such misconduct. The issue of international responsibility in the context of United Nations peace support operations is not merely theoretically interesting, but it also holds practical consequences for victims wishing to file a legal case against the United Nations as with the current so-called Cholera Complaint.

Key Words: Peace Support Operation, International Responsibility, Attribution of Conduct, Effective Control and Command, Human Rights Violation, Human Rights Obligation, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Redress and Compensation.