With the latest shocking allegations about sexual exploitation committed by United Nations peacekeepers—this time in the Central African Republic—Congress needs to examine the breakdown in accountability at the U.N., said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs subcommittee tasked with congressional oversight of the United Nation. 

Peacekeepers: Allegations of Abuse and Absence of Accountability at the United Nations, is the title of the congressional hearing to be held before the House Foreign Affairs Committee subcommittee on global human rights on Wednesday, April 13. “We will hear testimony from experts and whistleblowers–including a former investigator for the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight—who will tell us about why things have gone so wrong, and what might be done to fix it. Peacekeeping is essential to healing a broken world, but we must ensure that peacekeepers are protectors, not predators, and that the U.N. understands that neither disfunctionality nor impunity is acceptable.”

Who:               Members of the House global human rights subcommittee, and witnesses:

·         Brett Schaefer, Jay Kingham Fellow in International Regulatory Affairs, Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, The Heritage Foundation

·         Dr. Aicha Elbasri, Ph.D, Author and Former Spokesperson, United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur, United Nations

·         Peter Gallo, Former Investigator, Office of Internal Oversight Services, United Nations

·         Jordie Hannum, Senior Director, Better World Campaign

When:             Wednesday, April 13 at 2 p.m.

Where:            Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2200 (second floor)

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