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 allega-
tions 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. WAG-
NER) 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 representa-
tive 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 estab-
lish conditions for peace and stability in countries im-
pacted by conflict; 
Whereas United Nations peacekeepers are tasked with moni-
toring and observing peace processes, assisting in the im-
plementation of peace agreements, and facilitating elec-
toral support and development, among other things; 
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•HCON 62 IH 
Whereas United Nations peacekeepers have the sacred re-
sponsibility 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 Na-
tions 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 per-
sonnel currently serving on 16 missions across four con-
tinents, with the vast majority of those peacekeeping per-
sonnel 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 vul-
nerable and generally reside in countries with weak insti-
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•HCON 62 IH 
tutional structures, making them more susceptible to ex-
ploitation; 
Whereas the current Secretary General of the United Na-
tions, Antonio Guterres, has stated that the United Na-
tion ‘‘will not tolerate anyone committing or condoning 
sexual exploitation and abuse’’ and has made a commit-
ment to address the issue; 
Whereas the United Nations has taken positive steps in re-
cent years to address the issues of sexual abuse and ex-
ploitation, such as by improving its vetting and training 
processes and by expediting investigations; and 
Whereas the United States, as the largest contributor of fi-
nancial support to United Nations peacekeeping oper-
ations, has an obligation to hold the United Nations ac-
countable and assist the body in addressing issues of sex-
ual abuse and exploitation: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) strongly condemns all forms of sexual abuse 
and exploitation perpetrated by United Nations 
peacekeepers; 
(2) acknowledges the early signs of progress 
made by the United Nations to address issues of 
sexual abuse and exploitation but recognizes that 
there is far more work to be done to enhance train-
ing, strengthen vetting, and improve investigations; 
(3) urges the President to direct the United 
States representative to the United Nations to use 
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