Sex, Statistics, Peacekeepers and Power: UN Data on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and the Quest For Legal Reform

Grady, Kate

Abstract

The UN Secretariat provides annual statistics on allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse made against peacekeeping personnel, with reduced numbers of allegations leading to claims of success for the UN’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy. This article explores the use of data as ‘technologies’ of global governance, to examine the function that these annual statistics serve for the UN and the impact that they have on calls for legal reform. Thus far, the statistics have attracted little academic appraisal. Yet, they have been used to establish the UN’s authority to resolve the ‘problem’ of sexual exploitation and abuse, diminishing the space for critique of UN policy and undermining the quest for improved legal arrangements.

Citation

Grady, K. (2016). Sex, Statistics, Peacekeepers and Power: UN Data on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and the Quest For Legal Reform. Modern Law Review, 79(6), 931-960. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2230.12225

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 7, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Nov 21, 2016
• Publication Date: Nov 21, 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 7, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 7, 2016
• Journal: Modern Law Review
• Print ISSN: 0026-7961
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-2230
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 79
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 931-960
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2230.12225
• Additional Information: Additional Information : Accepted version of an article published by Wiley.