Ottawa may help alleged victims of UN peacekeepers
The Toronto Star reports that the federal government is considering whether to provide support for victims of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers after finding out that five Canadian peacekeepers are among the accused. In two cases, the complainants became pregnant and gave birth to children.
The government is reviewing the way it handles complaints of abuse against Canadian peacekeepers, particularly when paternity claims are made.
The Star spoke to Emma Phillips, who was counsel to an independent review commissioned by the UN on sexual abuse by peacekeepers.
Emma Phillips, a Toronto lawyer who worked on an independent UN panel reviewing the international body’s response to sexual exploitation, said that “as a country that does contribute troops and police, we have a responsibility to investigate and prosecute these cases in a meaningful way.”
“Within the bounds of the Canadian legal system, we should take creative measures to ensure that victims are able to testify and participate in our legal process, so that the victims can see justice being done,” she said.