Several Haitian nongovernmental organizations--including the Haitian Platform for Alternative Development (PAPDA), Haitian Women's Solidarity (SOFA), Tet Kole Ti Peyizan ("Union of Small Farmers") and the National Coordinating Committee for Women's Rights (CONAP)—have written the Haitian government demanding an investigation of reports of sexual against Haitian women and minors by soldiers in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The 9,000-member United Nations force has repeatedly faced accusations of killing civilians during operations against criminal gangs in crowded city neighborhoods. Now the mission has to deal with media reports that 108 MINUSTAH soldiers from Sri Lanka and three officers were involved in sexual abuse. Apparently the soldiers have been repatriated. (AlterPresse, Nov. 19, 21)

From Weekly News Update on the Americas, Nov. 26

See our last posts on Haiti.