IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 62 

To urge the President to direct the United States representative to the 

United Nations to use the voice and vote of the United States to 

hold the United Nations and its member states accountable for allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by United Nations peacekeepers. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 24, 2017 

Ms. TENNEY (for herself, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mrs. HARTZLER, and Mrs. WAGNER) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

To urge the President to direct the United States representative to the United Nations to use the voice and vote 

of the United States to hold the United Nations and 

its member states accountable for allegations of sexual 

abuse and exploitation by United Nations peacekeepers. 

Whereas United Nations peacekeeping missions aim to establish conditions for peace and stability in countries impacted by conflict; 

Whereas United Nations peacekeepers are tasked with monitoring and observing peace processes, assisting in the implementation of peace agreements, and facilitating electoral support and development, among other things; 


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•HCON 62 IH 

Whereas United Nations peacekeepers have the sacred responsibility to protect vulnerable populations such as 

women and children with integrity and in accordance 

with established rules of engagement and applicable laws; 

Whereas over the last two decades, with bipartisan support 

and under administrations of both parties, the United 

States has used its permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council to authorize peacekeeping missions 

in order to promote stability abroad and safeguard 

United States interests; 

Whereas there are nearly 115,000 uniformed and civilian personnel currently serving on 16 missions across four continents, with the vast majority of those peacekeeping personnel serving honorably; 

Whereas a number of United Nations peacekeepers have 

faced allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation against 

local populations, including sex-trafficking, rape, and 

other forms of inexcusable physical and emotional abuse; 

Whereas such allegations have mainly involved women and 

children; 

Whereas a recent report by the Associated Press published on 

April 12, 2017, found that over the past 12 years, more 

than 2,000 allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation 

by peacekeepers have been reported with most going 

unpunished; 

Whereas the former Secretary General of the United Nations, 

Ban Ki-moon, called sexual abuse by peacekeepers ‘‘a 

cancer in our system’’; 

Whereas individuals displaced by conflict are particularly vulnerable and generally reside in countries with weak instiVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:57 May 24, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC62.IH HC62

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•HCON 62 IH 

tutional structures, making them more susceptible to exploitation; 

Whereas the current Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has stated that the United Nation ‘‘will not tolerate anyone committing or condoning 

sexual exploitation and abuse’’ and has made a commitment to address the issue; 

Whereas the United Nations has taken positive steps in recent years to address the issues of sexual abuse and exploitation, such as by improving its vetting and training 

processes and by expediting investigations; and 

Whereas the United States, as the largest contributor of financial support to United Nations peacekeeping operations, has an obligation to hold the United Nations accountable and assist the body in addressing issues of sexual abuse and exploitation: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) strongly condemns all forms of sexual abuse 

4 and exploitation perpetrated by United Nations 

5 peacekeepers; 

6 (2) acknowledges the early signs of progress 

7 made by the United Nations to address issues of 

8 sexual abuse and exploitation but recognizes that 

9 there is far more work to be done to enhance train10 ing, strengthen vetting, and improve investigations; 

11 (3) urges the President to direct the United 

12 States representative to the United Nations to use 


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•HCON 62 IH 

1 the voice and vote of the United States to confront 

2 the issue of sexual abuse and exploitation within the 

3 United Nations and to establish a clear and mean4 ingful policy to hold troop-contributing countries ac5 countable and to assist the body in providing victims 

6 the justice they deserve, particularly by improving 

7 the vetting and training of peacekeepers, and by 

8 strengthening investigation standards; and 

9 (4) urges other member states and troop-con10 tributing countries to fully investigate allegations of 

11 sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers and to 

12 take all necessary and appropriate actions to bring 

13 perpetrators to justice. 

Æ 


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