IT STAYS WITH YOU

This website examines the responsibilities of the United Nations (UN) with regard to non-targeted (but often foreseeable) deaths and injuries to civilians as a result of use of force by UN peacekeepers when carrying out mandated operations. In armed conflict contexts this is often referred to as ‘collateral damage.’ Key issues that we explore include the need for investigations in the immediate aftermath of operations to assess the number of fatalities and the scale and degree of injuries; the need to meet with survivors and families of victims; ensure access to medical care; and provide reparations. Currently the UN has no formal policy on ensuring access to medical care for people injured by peacekeeping operations. Whilst there are procedures in place to enable people to make complaints to the UN, these depend on the victim to initiate and many missions make very little or no effort to publicize them or render them accessible to local residents (e.g. by providing information in local languages). Since peacekeeping operations generally take place in impoverished communities, in countries in which state health services are unavailable or very limited, people that are injured by peacekeepers may be unable to afford medical care and so their injuries may remain untreated. Currently, our website focuses on Haiti. Here you will find more about our film, It Stays With You: Use of Force by UN Peacekeepers in Haiti (2017, 50 mins), as well as links to relevant information and reports.

IT STAYS WITH YOU: use of force by UN peacekeepers in Haiti