Description
Book SynopsisJasmine-Kim Westendorf''s discomforting book investigates sexual misconduct by military peacekeepers and abuses perpetrated by civilian peacekeepers and non-UN civilian interveners. Based on extensive field research in Bosnia, Timor-Leste, and with the UN and humanitarian communities, Violating Peace uncovers a brutal truth about peacebuilding as Westendorf investigates how such behaviors affect the capacity of the international community to achieve its goals related to stability and peacebuilding, and its legitimacy in the eyes of local and global populations.
As Violating Peace shows, when interveners perpetrate sexual exploitation and abuse, they undermine the operational capacity of the international community to effectively build peace after civil wars and to alleviate human suffering in crises. Furthermore, sexual misconduct by interveners poses a significant risk to the perceived legitimacy of the multilateral peacekeeping project, and the UN more generall
Trade Review
A very significant contribution that provides an often-neglected perspective on sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by UN peacekeepers. Often-times, as Westendorf points out, SEA is treated as an issue of isolated individual misconduct, which has long been addressed by the UN through a conduct and discipline approach. The UN's zero-tolerance policy has not been particularly successful despite a number of new rules, new offices and new obligations. This book argues that SEA needs to be seen and tackled in a fundamentally different way if the UN is serious about SEA prevention and accountability. This book is highly recommended for not only scholars researching on gender, accountability, or the UN, but also for policy makers and practitioners, who would benefit from Westendorf's analysis of the reasons for SEA and its negative effects.
* International Peacekeeping *
Table of ContentsIntroduction
1. The History and Nature of Sexual Misconduct in Peace Operations
2. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Bosnia and Timor-Leste
3. Making Matters Worse: The Long-Term Impacts of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
4. Legitimacy in Crisis: The Impacts of Sexual Misconduct on Capacity and Credibility
Conclusion: One Problem among Many? An Integrated Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
