Predatory Peacekeepers Campaign
A few months ago, following the coming to light of the systemic sexual abuse and rape of 98 children and young people by UN and French Peacekeeping troops in the Central African Republic (CAR), we started a campaign and a petition to hold #predatorypeacekeepers to account (you can still access and sign the petition here ).
We demanded 3 things:
- That the recommendations of the December 2015 report, produced by an Independent Panel charged with looking into the abuse, be put into place.
- That the French government withdrew all its troops from CAR and, that it carried out adequate investigations and prosecuted the perpetrators of these horrific abuses of children.
- And, that action was taken to ensure victims received proper care and support in rebuilding their lives/securing their future and, to prevent further abuses.
Much progress has been made. We have reached about 10 000 signatures on the petition, media pieces on the issues have burgeoned, high profile celebrities spoke out, the UN has engaged with the campaign and, critically adopted resolution 2072 (2016) – a resolution concerning the rapatriation of troops when evidence emerges which suggests systemic sexual abuse. As a result, France committed to withdraw their troops from CAR. A major achievement for the campaign.
However, further allegations of abuses have since emmerged involving French peacekeepers as well as other nations' troops. Further, the UN has been slow to provide any update on the progress it is making in supporting the victims and in pressuring member states to bring perpetrators to justice.
Thus, we cannot allow the campaign to die down, but without your support it will.
We need to raise some funds to keep the momentum going and help ensure the UN delivers on all its pledges.
We would like to appoint a Campaign Officer to move forward. We have both invested a lot, time-wise and emotionally and we now feel an Officer is the best way to sustain the campaign.
This role will only be for a few hours a week and will focus on:
-Building alliances with supporters and potential allies in the UK and abroad.
-Ensuring maximum social media visibility on the progress of the campaign.
-Increasing sustainability for the campaign.
-Establishing ways to ensure those affected are being adequately supported.
We are seeking to raise £6000.00.
With this money we will...
1. Continue to press for accountability.
2. Raise awareness and keep the victims on the agenda.
3. Increase organising around the issues globally.
When do we need the funds?
On 20 September 2016 the Peace Week Team 2016 and JCI London are organising a Peace Conference to celebrate the International Day of Peace. Peace Week, which is part of JCI London, will be a big international event, aimed primarily at awareness raising for the annual UN Peace Day.
The UN Peace Day is a call for global ceasefire which has had notable successes in previous years. Our goal is to have an Officer in post by then so as to raise awareness of the campaign and inspire action in London and around the world.
We are also hoping to provide a platform for international speakers to share practical ideas on peace building and build the second stage of the campaign from there.
We depend on your generosity but we have faith in your commitment. We have achieved so much already, imagine what we could so with a coordinated team and a dedicated officer!
Let's show the UN and the world that we care and we WILL rally around poor African children abused by those meant to protect and safeguard.
Thank you.
Guilaine and Sam
We demanded 3 things:
- That the recommendations of the December 2015 report, produced by an Independent Panel charged with looking into the abuse, be put into place.
- That the French government withdrew all its troops from CAR and, that it carried out adequate investigations and prosecuted the perpetrators of these horrific abuses of children.
- And, that action was taken to ensure victims received proper care and support in rebuilding their lives/securing their future and, to prevent further abuses.
Much progress has been made. We have reached about 10 000 signatures on the petition, media pieces on the issues have burgeoned, high profile celebrities spoke out, the UN has engaged with the campaign and, critically adopted resolution 2072 (2016) – a resolution concerning the rapatriation of troops when evidence emerges which suggests systemic sexual abuse. As a result, France committed to withdraw their troops from CAR. A major achievement for the campaign.
However, further allegations of abuses have since emmerged involving French peacekeepers as well as other nations' troops. Further, the UN has been slow to provide any update on the progress it is making in supporting the victims and in pressuring member states to bring perpetrators to justice.
Thus, we cannot allow the campaign to die down, but without your support it will.
We need to raise some funds to keep the momentum going and help ensure the UN delivers on all its pledges.
We would like to appoint a Campaign Officer to move forward. We have both invested a lot, time-wise and emotionally and we now feel an Officer is the best way to sustain the campaign.
This role will only be for a few hours a week and will focus on:
-Building alliances with supporters and potential allies in the UK and abroad.
-Ensuring maximum social media visibility on the progress of the campaign.
-Increasing sustainability for the campaign.
-Establishing ways to ensure those affected are being adequately supported.
We are seeking to raise £6000.00.
With this money we will...
1. Continue to press for accountability.
2. Raise awareness and keep the victims on the agenda.
3. Increase organising around the issues globally.
When do we need the funds?
On 20 September 2016 the Peace Week Team 2016 and JCI London are organising a Peace Conference to celebrate the International Day of Peace. Peace Week, which is part of JCI London, will be a big international event, aimed primarily at awareness raising for the annual UN Peace Day.
The UN Peace Day is a call for global ceasefire which has had notable successes in previous years. Our goal is to have an Officer in post by then so as to raise awareness of the campaign and inspire action in London and around the world.
We are also hoping to provide a platform for international speakers to share practical ideas on peace building and build the second stage of the campaign from there.
We depend on your generosity but we have faith in your commitment. We have achieved so much already, imagine what we could so with a coordinated team and a dedicated officer!
Let's show the UN and the world that we care and we WILL rally around poor African children abused by those meant to protect and safeguard.
Thank you.
Guilaine and Sam
Organizer
Guilaine Kinouani
Organizer