Peacekeepers or Perpetrators? An analysis of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by UN personnel in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Peacekeepers or Perpetrators examines the complex international problem of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (SEA) committed by UN peacekeepers in the conflict-ravaged area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In particular, this paper uses feminist theory to break the problem down into its smaller components, including looking at the nature of the UN mission and the patriarchal structure of the international system. It uses gender as an analytical tool in order to view SEA as not simply a security issue but as a nuanced phenomenon arising from the intersection of gender, culture and conflict.