Indian Army chief stresses on zero tolerance towards sexual abuse

United Nations, Apr 5: Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag emphasised the Indian Army's "total adherence" to zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse in UN peacekeeping operations during his meeting here with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who voiced admiration for the commitment and discipline of the country's peacekeepers.

Suhag is currently on a four-day visit to the US and met the UN Chief yesterday along with India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin.

The Indian Army Chief "emphasised the Indian Army's total adherence to the Secretary General's zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse", according to a brief statement issued by the Indian mission on the meeting between the Army Chief and the UN head.

Suhag assured the Secretary General of the continued commitment of Indian peacekeepers to global peace, "with the highest standards of training, discipline and dedication", the statement added.

The UN Chief "admired" the commitment, discipline and quality of Indian peacekeepers serving in the UN missions and appreciated India's strong support to UN peacekeeping.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of new reports of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse in the Central African Republic by UN and French troops, as well as local armed groups.

The Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General has said that the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) announced on March 25 that it had received new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Most of the allegations relate to Burundian and Gabonese contingents present in the Kemo region between 2013 and 2015, as well as to the separate French Sangaris force stationed in the same region in the same period.

Allegations of abuse in other parts of the country are also continuing to be investigated. No Indian peacekeeper was found guilty of any wrongdoing in a new report that was launched last month that for the first time identified nationalities of UN peacekeeping personnel involved in sexual abuse against citizens.

As many as 69 allegations of sexual exploitation were received by the UN against its peacekeepers last year, according to the report.

At 7,695 troops, India is currently the second largest contributor among all UN troop contributors. Traditionally, India has been among the largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping operations, with nearly 180,000 troops having served in over 44 of the 69 peacekeeping operations so far.

PTI