国际英语新闻:UN chief stresses zero tolerance for misconduct by peacekeepers

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- After allegations of abuse by peacekeepers in Central African Republic, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said the zero tolerance policy will be applied to misconduct by peacekeepers, according to his spokesman.

In a video conference held Thursday morning, Ban gathered the heads of peacekeeping operations, Force Commanders and Police Commissioners on an urgent basis to speak directly to them about the ongoing investigation into sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers and problems of misconduct, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general.

"The secretary-general said that he would be sending the same message to others beyond peacekeeping. The zero tolerance policy applies to the entire United Nations system," said Dujarric. "He stressed that zero tolerance means zero complacency and zero impunity and that when allegations are substantiated, all personnel whether military, police or civilians - must be held accountable."

The head of UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic (CAR), Babacar Gaye of Senegal, has resigned after Amnesty International has alleged that UN peacekeepers shot dead a man and his son and raped a 12-year-old girl in Central African Republic, said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon here Wednesday.

While expressing his resolve to help the affected individuals and preserve the integrity of the UN flag, the secretary-general called on the senior leadership of missions to use every opportunity to reinforce the message that the United Nations will not abide any misconduct, according to Dujarric.

Ban also stressed that Troop and Police Contributing Countries are responsible for ensuring that their personnel are properly trained, on mandatory standards of conduct and discipline, and that if their peacekeepers are also found to have committed abuse, they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and that the United Nations would be kept updated on the status of those cases.

Pressure is mounting on the beleaguered UN mission in CAR ( MINUSCA), already under scrutiny over its recent handling of similar allegations. According to media reports, the French soldiers sexually abused starving young boys at a center for internally displaced people in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, between December 2013 and June 2014.