Egypt responds to criticism for quibbling over UN resolution on sexual assault
Courtesy: UNSC
 

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson lashed out at the US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, amid criticism of Egypt’s abstention on a vote to combat sexual assault by UN peacekeepers.

On March 11, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution endorsing a proposal by the secretary general to repatriate peacekeeping units if there is “credible evidence of widespread or systemic sexual exploitation.”

The resolution was passed by 14 out of 15 member-states, with only Egypt abstaining.

Power posted a picture of nations “voting (but failing) to undermine a UNSC resolution combating sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers,” on her Twitter account, with the caption “sad.”

Despite eventually voting in favor of the resolution, Russia, Angola, China and Venezuela had initially expressed concern over the US-sponsored draft.

In response, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid accused the US of trying to impose the resolution for its own gain.

“What is sad is for a UNSC permanent representative to impose resolution on the Security Council for publicity and personal ambition,” he said, emphasizing that Egypt is against sexual abuse, but is also against “undermining the UN General Assembly, collective punishment and a selective approach.”

The resolution stipulates that the UN secretary general can replace all units in the country the perpetrators are from with soldiers from another country, if that nation has not taken appropriate steps to investigate the allegation, and/or when the perpetrators have not been held accountable, and/or when there has been failure to inform the secretary general of the progress of an investigation or any action taken.

Egypt was mocked by Buzzfeed for pulling a “model UN move,” suggesting an amendment from the floor that required all of the above clauses to be met in order to repatriate troops. The move required the secretary general to intervene.

After the resolution was passed, Power commented on Egypt’s intervention. “We were accused implicitly, politely of having an ulterior motive,” she said. “I confess I have an ulterior motive,” she added, it is to take action against “a cancer,” the sexual exploitation of “people who trust the UN flag. So that’s my ulterior motive … sue me.”

She criticized Egypt directly, “We condemn the abuse and we condemn the lack of accountability, and then we go to the General Assembly and some of us try to water down provisions to try to strengthen the system. What’s up with that?”

“You can’t simultaneously try to water something down in the General Assembly,” she went on to say, “and then complain when the body that sends peacekeepers out to try to protect people actually takes responsibility for the fact that some of those who are supposed to do the protecting are committing sexual abuse. You can’t have it both ways.”

According to the Cairo Center for Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping in Africa, Egypt currently provides more than 2,000 military and police personnel to serve under the flag of the United Nations in nine peacekeeping missions. It has lost 28 peacekeepers in action.

AD

You have a right to access accurate information, be stimulated by innovative and nuanced reporting, and be moved by compelling storytelling.

Subscribe now to become part of the growing community of members who help us maintain our editorial independence.
Know more

Join us

Your support is the only way to ensure independent,
progressive journalism
survives.