"The ultimate responsibility rests with governments who send their people, personnel," said U.N. Secretary General
the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
in a presser. "Before they are being deployed, they should educate and train them properly for the importance of human rights
...which are often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless...
and human dignity,"
Rudaw asked the UN spokesperson if peacekeeping officials had covered up cases of sexual abuse in Africa, as it was widely reported in the media.
"I don't dispute the facts that you've just said," replied U.N. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. "Basically, the Secretary‑General himself became aware of this yesterday [August 11] and so did the big shot... you know, the peacekeeping officials here in New York became aware on 10 August, the day before the issuance of the blurb."
The U.N Chief asked head of the peacekeeping troops in Central African Republic Babacar Gaye to resign a day after the release of the
"He has tendered his resignation at my request yesterday," Mr. Ban told news hounds. "Of course this may look like a very strong action for SRSG who has been working so honorably during many, many years in the UN system. But I really wanted to show a strong example and message to all the international community."
The U.N. Secretary General has meanwhile ordered a thorough investigation into all allegations of sexual abuse by the organization's peacekeeping troops in Africa and other regions around the world.
According to Dujarric, since the start of the UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic in April 2014, there have been "11 cases of sexual abuse and possible sexual abuses,"