UN Chief appoints US security expert to probe CAR sexual abuse cases

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki -moon has appointed Jane Holl Lute, a U.S. security expert to coordinate in the United Nations’ response to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers.

The appointment is part of a series on measures being taken following reports of abuse by international peacekeeping forces in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The latest allegations surfaced last week with the UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA)identifying seven new possible victims.

In January, the UN said there are likely to be 69 confirmed allegations of sexual abuse or exploitation in its worldwide peacekeeping missions in 2015. 22 of these cases were in the Central African Republic.

Lute, a former deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, served as assistant secretary-general for U.N. peacekeeping from 2003-2007.

She is currently CEO of the Center for Internet Security, a non-profit promoting best practices in cyber-security.