Abstract
Background: The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) has been marred by widespread allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of women and girls by UN peacekeepers. There is minimal research conducted on the perceptions of communities most affected by the SEA themselves, and even less about those below the age of 18.
Methods: Using mixed-methods data, we examined the perceptions of adolescents aged 13–17 on how the lives of women and girls have been affected by the presence of UN peacekeepers within the DRC. SenseMaker, a mixed methods narrative capture tool, was used to survey participants around six United Nations bases across eastern DRC. Each participant shared a story about the experiences of Congolese women and girls in relation to MONUSCO personnel and interpreted their own stories by answering a series of questions. Patterns of adolescent perspectives (aged 13–17) were analyzed in comparison to all other age groups and emerging qualitative themes were mapped
onto quantitative variables.
Results: Quantitative data showed that adolescents were more likely, in comparison to all other age groups, to perceive interactions between peacekeepers and women/girls as being initiated by the woman/girl, that the MONUSCO personnel was perceived to be able to offer protection, and that the interactions between local women/girls and peacekeepers were sexual in nature. Three qualitative themes emerged: poverty bringing peacekeepers and women/girls together, material/financial gain through transactional sex and sex work, and support-seeking actions of affected women/girls.
Conclusions: Our mixed methods data illustrate the problematic finding that adolescents facing poverty may perceive SEA as protective through the monetary and material support gained. These findings contribute to the growing body of literature on peacekeeping economies and have implications for the prevention of, and response to, peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA.
Methods: Using mixed-methods data, we examined the perceptions of adolescents aged 13–17 on how the lives of women and girls have been affected by the presence of UN peacekeepers within the DRC. SenseMaker, a mixed methods narrative capture tool, was used to survey participants around six United Nations bases across eastern DRC. Each participant shared a story about the experiences of Congolese women and girls in relation to MONUSCO personnel and interpreted their own stories by answering a series of questions. Patterns of adolescent perspectives (aged 13–17) were analyzed in comparison to all other age groups and emerging qualitative themes were mapped
onto quantitative variables.
Results: Quantitative data showed that adolescents were more likely, in comparison to all other age groups, to perceive interactions between peacekeepers and women/girls as being initiated by the woman/girl, that the MONUSCO personnel was perceived to be able to offer protection, and that the interactions between local women/girls and peacekeepers were sexual in nature. Three qualitative themes emerged: poverty bringing peacekeepers and women/girls together, material/financial gain through transactional sex and sex work, and support-seeking actions of affected women/girls.
Conclusions: Our mixed methods data illustrate the problematic finding that adolescents facing poverty may perceive SEA as protective through the monetary and material support gained. These findings contribute to the growing body of literature on peacekeeping economies and have implications for the prevention of, and response to, peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 80 |
| Journal | Conflict and Health |
| Volume | 15 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 6 Nov 2021 |
Bibliographical note
AcknowledgementsWe are thankful for all the Congolese participants who shared their stories, perspectives and experiences with us. We are indebted to our local partners, SOFEPADI and the Marakuja Research Group for their role and commitment in guiding and helping implement the research. Thank you to Laurie Webster (QED Insight) for her assistance with the SenseMaker analysis and figures. This research would not have been possible without the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Lastly, we would like to express our sadness around the loss of Ms. Zawadi Mambo Albertine who helped to make this research possible. As a SOFEPADI coordinator, Zawadi compassionately and tirelessly worked to empower women in the DRC—her presence is greatly missed.
Funding
This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Keywords
- Adolescents
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- MONUSCO
- Peacekeeping
- Protection
- Sexual abuse and exploitation
- Transactional sex
- United Nations
- Women and girls
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
