[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CALLING FOR AN END TO THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF REFUGEES

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                               speech of

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. 
Res. 349 that I introduced earlier this year to call attention to the 
terrible exploitation that has occurred within the refugee camps in 
West Africa and elsewhere in the world.
  Since this legislation was introduced, some progress has been made in 
resolving the matter of sexual abuse of refugee women and girls living 
in UNHCR camps.
  According to a recent letter I received from the Washington Office of 
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a number of new 
procedures have been introduced by that organization to take preventive 
action. New guidelines have been set for field staff in Africa and in 
other regions of the world. UNHCR has stated ``there is absolutely no 
place in the humanitarian community for those who exploit others,'' and 
emphasizes the need for strict adherence to a `zero-tolerance' policy.
  It also is important to note that the U.N. Office of Internal 
Oversight Services has carried out more than 250 interviews in the 
field on this matter and will issue its report to the U.N. General 
Assembly during this year's session.
  However, Mr. Speaker, despite these efforts, much more work is needed 
to resolve the existing problem. The matter of sexual abuse of women 
and children remains a real threat, especially for those who have 
already been dispossessed from their homelands and who face uncertain 
futures as refugees.
  On this issue, we now know that the lives of refugee women and their 
children are at stake. The poor quality of life in many refugee 
settings can lead to sexual violence, abuse and harassment of children.
  This is what appears to have occurred in the refugee camps located in 
Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia and now Zimbabwe and possibly 
elsewhere. Young girls are defenseless in the face of such exploitation 
and therefore we must be their champions wherever such evil is found in 
the world.
  It is appalling that local aid workers of international and local 
humanitarian agencies and NGOs, and even perhaps some members of 
peacekeeping forces, have been accused of carrying out this sexual 
exploitation.
  Mr. Speaker, my Resolution commends the Secretary General of the 
United Nations for his forthright stand on this matter and expresses 
support for the comprehensive investigation that he launched to look 
into this scandalous situation. When I and several other Members of the 
Women's Caucus met with Mr. Annan in New York in April, he expressed 
his deep appreciation for our concern and indicated that, along with 
the global U.N. investigation underway, he believed that more women 
should help manage these camps to avoid future exploitation.
  Part of the lack of protection of refugee children's rights comes 
from too little money. Although the United States contributes about 22 
per cent of the budget of UNHCR, the funding from all donors is 
inadequate. Increased resources are a must if better physical 
protection is to be made available for women and their children. These 
refugee settlements are often large operations and are quite complex to 
run.
  Due to decreased funding, UNHCR and its NGO partners have had to cut 
staff and drop supervision of many services. This has led to the U.N.'s 
guidelines on protecting refugee women and child rights not being fully 
implemented. Obviously, we must strive to commit more funding to U.N. 
agencies dealing with refugees, so that the camps become a less 
dangerous environment for women and children.
  My measure also calls on the President to reaffirm the commitment of 
the United States to protect the well-being and human rights of women 
and girls as well as to review under USAID and the Department of 
Agriculture, the distribution of U.S. food assistance to refugee 
communities around the world.
  We cannot allow girl children to become sexual pawns because they do 
not have enough food to eat. This situation really should not be 
tolerated. It is distressing that many girls feel compelled to exchange 
sexual favors for food because their food rations cannot last a month 
and their families go hungry. This lack of sufficient food is something 
that the American people would want to do something about.
  Mr. Speaker, I thought that it was important to highlight this issue 
and to show that our Government takes the matter of abuse of human 
rights seriously wherever it is found. The President must affirm this 
principle on the part of the American people. Hopefully, the final 
report of the U.N. investigation will make recommendations about the 
disciplining of those who sexually exploit children. I firmly believe 
that prompt action must be taken to bring those who have brought shame 
upon the honorable profession of giving service to refugees--the 
dispossessed of the earth--to full account.
  Mr. Speaker, we are now facing a serious food crisis in southern and 
eastern Africa. Famine is ravishing these countries along with the AIDS 
pandemic. A large proportion of refugee women and children are 
suffering as a result. We must do all that we can to help protect them 
from any form of exploitation--sexual or otherwise that can arise from 
their vulnerable situation. I urge passage of this legislation.

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