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When news accounts first began surfacing in 1997 about atrocities committed by UN peacekeepers on mission in Somalia, many believed Somalia was an isolated occurrence amid unique circumstances. Some shrugged their shoulders and said that nothing could be done on the part of the UN when the organization itself had no control or authority over troops of member states. In short, there was no collective responsibility or acknowledgement to the people of Somalia for what took place there at the hands of Canadian, Italian and Belgian and other peacekeeping troops under their UN mandate.

In January 2000, more news accounts surfaced, this time about the rape and murder of a 12-year-old Kosovo-Albanian girl by a UN peacekeeper. Subsequent investigations revealed her murder took place in a climate of wanton violence and aggression against the Kosovan people and that peacekeepers had "failed basic standards of conduct of human decency." The Kosovo investigation also yielded information that similar crimes had been committed during an earlier peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

Other reports, such as the Graca-Machel study on the impact of armed conflict on children, have documented a corresponding rise in sex trafficking of children and women in places where there is a peacekeeping presence. While the causes for such violence on the part of peacekeeping troops have not been fully explored, sexual violence against women around any military culture is not new. What has been discussed even less is the effect of utilizing troops from former colonial powers in decolonized territories as well as the prevalence of racist attitudes and beliefs among the troops when deployed to communities about which they have little knowledge or understanding.

In August 2000, the Brahimi Panel, which had been commissioned by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to evaluate the UN's peacekeeping system, issued a comprehensive report. The Brahimi Report contained candid criticisms about the effectiveness of the UN peacekeeping efforts but fell far short of fully addressing the crucial issue of what happens when those charged with bringing stability to a situation become perpetrators of war crimes or crimes against humanity. The Brahimi Report has spurred a massive overhaul of the peacekeeping system within the United Nations. Efforts are underway to streamline the initiation and mobilization of operations. While efforts to make peacekeeping more effective are necessary and commendable, these changes are taking place without anyone having paid appropriate attention to issues surrounding violations.

In October 2000, the Security Council adopted resolution 1325, which expressed the Council's willingness to incorporate a gender perspective into peacekeeping operations, and urged the Secretary-General to ensure that, where appropriate, field operations included a gender component. The resolution also calls on all parties to armed conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender based violence. What is now clear is that what happened in Somalia was not an isolated occurrence. But even one atrocity necessitates appropriate fact-finding and accountability. The sanctioning of conduct of UN peacekeeping troops is left to the military courts or judicial systems of the sending states. When such acts are addressed at all in the national system, they are far removed from those most affected. The impacts on communities are devastating when targeted by those who often represent their last hope for security and stability.

 

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