From peacekeepers to perpetrators: exploring the role of country and gender

Abstract

This thesis examines the underlying factors contributing to sexual exploitation and abuse in UN peacekeeping operations on an individual and systematic level and emphasises the need for new and effective solutions that treat the causes of sexual abuse, not the consequences. A substantial amount of UN data on troop contributions, allegations, and female peacekeepers over a span of 7 years (2015 to 2022) has been combined and analysed to offer new perspectives and insights into the debates surrounding the role of women, gender, and troop-contributing countries. The research aims to understand the prevalence of perpetrators and the impact which country and gender have on the level of sexual abuse allegations. Hopefully, the new table on UN Peacekeepers and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse can be a reminder of how misleading data presentation can be and inspire others to conduct more in-depth research to answer the many questions raised throughout this study. Certain gaps within peacekeeping need to be filled through comprehensive measures that focus on the equal contributions of troops from all Member States, increased participation of women and gender sensitivity training that covers all dimensions of peacekeeping. Ultimately, the objective is to make well-equipped peacekeepers that are better prepared for the challenges in the field and to combat the risks and causes that might make a peacekeeper become a perpetrator.