Abstract
Peacekeeping missions have been marred by reports of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) against local community members. However, there is limited research on how SEA against women/girls versus men/boys is perceived in peacekeeping host societies. In 2017 we collected micro-narratives in Haiti and then conducted a thematic analysis to understand how peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA was perceived by local community members comparing SEA against women/girls versus SEA against men/boys. Both male and female participants used language which suggested the normalization, in Haitian society, of both transactional sex with and rape of women/girls by UN personnel. In contrast, peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA against men/boys was viewed as unacceptable and was associated with homosexuality and related stigmatization. Overall, our results suggest that in Haiti, inequitable gender norms, the commodification of female sexuality, and homophobia result in SEA against males being recognized as a wrong that elicits outrage, while SEA against women/girls has been normalized. It is important to address the normalization of SEA against women/girls to prevent future violence and to recognize that SEA is also perpetrated against men/boys. Survivor-centered programs, sensitive to the needs of both male and female survivors, are required.
Highlights
Both women/girls and men/boys experience sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) perpetrated by peacekeeping personnel
Participants were requested to share a brief story in response to their choice of three prompting questions, all of which essentially asked for an anonymous narrative about their experiences of women/girls living in that particular community which hosted a peace support operation (PSO), which forms the qualitative part of the dataset
The narratives suggest widespread acceptance that women/ girls rely on transactional sex to meet their basic needs, increase their life opportunities, and improve their social status
Summary
Both women/girls and men/boys experience sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) perpetrated by peacekeeping personnel. Little research has been conducted on how local host communities perceive SEA against each of the sexes and what implications those perceptions might have for the response to peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA. To address this gap, our current work analyzes cross-sectional data from Haiti to explore local community members’ perceptions about SEA perpetrated against women/girls versus SEA perpetrated against men/boys by members of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). We begin with an overview of the literature about gender norms in Haiti, sexual violence and peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA, as well as community perceptions of SEA, before outlining our methods. The article closes with a discussion around the implications of the results and a number of recommendations
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