Source: RIA Novosti
UNITED NATIONS, October 28 - Assistant Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet described the actions taken by the organization to prevent women abuse at the Security Council meeting on "Displaced Women and Girls" on Tuesday.

Mulet told the Security Council that in Haiti, the UN mission "has increased its strong uniformed presence in Internal Displaced Persons' camps and high crime areas where women and girls are most at risk of sexual violation."

Turning to Africa, Mulet said that in Darfur "a women's protection network was established for members of the IDP camps around Zallingei to discuss with women strategies to better protect and promote their participation in the peace process" in the joint UN - African Union mission UNAMID.

Mulet also said that the UN mission in Central African Republic "emphasized consultation with women on issues related to political participation. Recently the Mission organized a high-level Women's Advisory Group meeting with mission leadership to discuss the inclusion of women's voices in political dialogue and national reconciliation processes."

In South Sudan, Mulet said, "the rapid increase of women and girls who sought shelter in UN bases created a strain on camp logistics leading to increased vulnerability of women and girls."

The UN Mission, he said, advocated "for a gendered approach to camp logistics and protection, resulting in establishment of separate facilities for women and men and to appointment of women as camp management."

"Protection of women, settled or displaced, is only possible when women can themselves define, shape and influence the course of their lives and ultimately the course for peace," Mulet concluded.
                                           
                                                     Edmond Mulet, Assistant Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations

Peacekeepers are not always in a helping role. In a briefing to the UN Security Council on October 14, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative Nicholas Kay testified about allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of displaced women by the African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM. The head of AMISOM Maman Sidikou confirmed in the same Security Council session that the AU has set up a panel to investigate these allegations.