The United States Senate held a special hearing to criticize the UN secretary general. Senators have threatened to withhold funding to the UN because the secretary general has not taken a harsh enough approach to the sexual abuse that has been alleged against UN soldiers on peacekeeping mission.
As a back story, there have been allegations of sexual abuse towards citizens in the Central African Republic by UN peacekeepers who are stationed in the country. It is alleged that soldiers sexually abused children in exchange for food.
Other cases of allegation have been brought up to the UN secretary general, but his response to the situation has been less harsh than members have hoped for.
Isobel Coleman an American envoy claimed that his reluctance stems from the fact that the accused soldiers are from France, a country that contributes fairly significantly to the UN budget.
US senators did not accept this. They wanted a stronger response from the UN and have threatened to withhold US funding to the UN if the issue is not addressed.
Ultimately no decision have been made by the UN secretary general and the Senate may or may not follow through on their decision to withhold funds, but they have brought the issue to light in hopes of changes being made.
Ashley Clayton
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/world/africa/us-senators-threaten-un-over-sex-abuse-by-peacekeepers.html?ref=world&_r=0
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