NEW YORK
The UN Security Council has called for an investigation into sexual exploitation and abuse allegations involving UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic.
"The United Nations should not let the actions of a few tarnish the heroic work of tens of thousands of United Nations peacekeepers and personnel," the council said in a statement Tuesday.
London-based Amnesty International published a report last week that claimed UN peacekeepers raped a 12-year-old girl and fatally shot a father and his son while shooting indiscriminately in the streets of capital Bangui after armed clashes.
The allegations prompted UN chief Ban Ki-moon to sack the head of the UN mission in the country, Babacar Gaye.
"[The council] stressed the importance of the United Nations quickly investigating in a credible, transparent manner the most recent allegations of misconduct and abuse, and if substantiated, working with the troop contributing countries involved to ensure those responsible are held accountable," the statement said.
The 15-member body also criticized that the allegations were brought to their attention by the media and non-governmental organizations.
The UN has also been under international scrutiny over its handling of claims of child sexual abuse last year by French soldiers stationed in the country as part of international peacekeeping efforts.
The UN launched an external investigation into the organization’s handling of allegations.
UN peacekeepers in recent months have also faced additional claims of rape and sexual abuse.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic, or MINUSCA, was deployed in April 2014 in a bid to end violence between Muslim Seleka rebels and Christian militias that has left at least 6,000 people dead since early 2013.
