Your hitting the nail on the head. But I hope you feature touches on the fact that local law enforcement is advised of the complaints and fail to do anything about it time and again, since they have a cut in the intake. I hope it also touches on the fact that some non-Cdn countries are run by males with an attitude that women and black market matters just do not matter. But they do. If you go over to maintain a line and up having to deal with the local law enforcement problems becuase of their inability and don't give a care attidtude, it can stretch you thin more than sometimes.

Ok seriously, if peacekeepers are being deployed, at the very least the harm to civilians from the conflict is many orders of magnitude WORSE than what a peacekeeper could do in his/her spare time. This is one of the dumbest topics to concentrate on in light of all else in the world a filmmaker could focus on. Quit being focusing on sensational and trivial issues and get a real topic!

It troubles me that so much power is given to the UN. I would like to see Canada and our government leaders withdraw all support from the UN. I would like Canada to be completely responsible for our own military actions including any so called peace keeping mission and not pass this responsibility to some global mility or global police force. The UN is not accountible to citizens like our elected officials should be, and this can and is leading to grotesque abuse of power.

What local authorities permit or endorse, and whatever social/political context any UN peacekeeper finds him/herself in has NOTHING to do with his or her own actions -- I'm dumbfounded that anyone would dismiss the betrayal of trust by those with power and who represent "peace".

To remain human, we must be diligent in every aspect of human rights abuse and look first and foremost at ourselves. And more personally, I don't know if there's a woman alive who would dismiss what a peacekeeper could do in "his spare time" the way one respondant just did.

hi, it's probably already been mentioned here but the idea of a u.n. jail is a good one. ya know? the first public buildings the pilgrims built in the new world wasn't a church. it was a jail for the losers on the trip over here. sad and true.
:)
for whatever it's worth, my soon-to-be-eliminated penny...

Michael, your blame is misplaced. After all, UN peacekeeping personnel are part of member state's armies first and foremost. The majority of their training, values, and conduct comes from their respective military institutions.

Canadian peacekeepers have been implicated in many abuses while on UN missions; it is not just a problem of the framework of the UN, it is also a problem with the military institution as a whole. Military personnel are trained to kill. This runs fundamentally at odds with the notion of "peace".

Dan T., How is this sensational and trivial? As the film depicted, these women's lives can be ruined because of the shame they have to face after being victims of sexual abuse.

For an informative and critical perspective on this topic, check out Sandra Whitworth's "Men, Militarism, and UN Peacekeeping".

How naive I have been! How can this happen? Where is the chain of command? My heart and tears go to the woman of these poor counties. It is a shame that we continue to pour our money into a fund called 'Help the Improvised' Who are we really helping?
In this case, Canada is smeared with all counties involved with the UN. Surely something is being done to help the children of 'peacekeepers', financially and otherwise.

How one can say that this topic is dumb, completely fathoms me. This is a real issue that needs to be brought to light. These are women and children who are having their rights completely violated.

It appears to me that when things such as rape to a women or child happens - men in particular turn the other way and say completely idiotic terms such as 'get a better topic'. To all those that feel that this isn't a topic that needs to have further discussion and publication, I have a few questions to ask.

If it were your mother, your sister, your daughter or your wife being raped by men who are there to protect their rights, would you be saying the same thing; that this topic shouldn't be broadcasted? Is it because these women are poor? Or does it have something to do with the color of their skin? Why are women from the Congo any less than your women family members?

These peacekeepers are now part of the problem. They are around 20,000 in RD Congo and can't stop a group 2,000 of so called rebels in Nord Kivu. They are now part of illegal gold and other mining market.

They should be re-assessed and those with bad background be sent back to their countries.

The best solution may be to give the people of the Congo to resolve their problems.

As Canadians we should launch a network to force the UN to punish the criminals among the peacekeepers.

Thank you!

To Whom it may concern:

This very revealing program regarding the taking advantage of 3rd world women and rape of them and children in third world countries by blue helmets of the UN is so outrages, it's beyond comprehension.

Here in Canada, we now have an immigrant from Poland who was so overwhelmed at the B.C. airport that he acted up and was tasered and manhandled to death.

What in the world is happening to humanity?
Is there any concern, patience,compassion and outreach to those around us that need our help?

Is there any self respect, dignity or respect for rules/regulations left in the most trusted in this world such as peace keepers. Who is minding the store (their military leaders?) Not bloody likely!

Is there any councience left in our politicians so they don't lie, steal and then sue for more of our tax dollars as in the case of the despicable Brian Mulroney?

I've just joined the 60's club and can tell you I'm glad I won't be around for many more years.

My heart is so sad at the state of our world and the lack of "love thy neighour".

To solve most of our world's problems, we need a world organization or world police(the UN) to standardize law, currancy, and humaine standards, putting religion on the back burner. Having every countries input regardless of GNP. We all live under one roof, way can't every human have the same opurtunities, education, and security! The world as we know it is so messed up, we need to do something!!!!

I enjoyed this movie very much - I wish that People of Black Afrika would have expressed that the failure to protect Black Afrikan children was a result of racism against Black Afrikans.

I think that the U.N. has held too much power for way too long.

To me, a 27 year old Canadian citizen, I've seen them gather and talk but really accomplish very little when It Comes to taking steps towards solving nagging international issues. I think they've backed wars for the sake profit, while shying away from any meaningful action in Darfur. Perhaps a war in Darfur promises to be less profitable to some member countries; that
may or may not hold veto power;)

The passionate eye documentary Blue Helmet: peace and dishonor focused on a topic I think more Canadian should take notice to. I have not seen enough critical veiws of the U.N. On televised media.

I learned a lot, so thanks for reporting it. Sadly, I cannot say I was shocked.

Hopefully the U.N. can prove me wrong, or my preferred option, split up and start a new organization with more fair representation for all member countries. Rich or poor, Muslim, Christian, black, white, brown, yellow, red,
Liberal or conservative countries all with equal powers to contribute their ideas to real solutions, with real RESULTS. No More Vetoes. But then this is just my opinion

If women are eligible to serve in combat positions, then I presume they would be eligible for any type of U.N peacekeeping mission. So, without any disrespect to my brothers everywhere, a simple solution to solving the apparently rampant sexual abuse perpetrated by the predominantly male U.N 'Blue Helmet' contingent is to replace them (ALL, if necessary!) with FEmales.
End of story.

I have been noticing articles about this abuse and exploitation of young women and children in the Congo and elsewhere for quite a few years now.

I believe also that Canada should drop all affiliation with this failed and corrupt organization, the UN. It is run by a bunch of priviledged bureaucrats out to feather their own nests. Reference the "oil for food" scandal. conducted under the watch of Kofi Anan whose own son was implicated.

Why would we be surprised that the abuse and rape of children was then and still is taking place with impunity. The best solution in my mind is give women soldiers guns and have them enforce the peace keeping under strictly Canadian guidelines. I doubt you would have women involved in the rape of children.

The whole idea put forth in this documentary is that men could not be expected not to sexually abuse the women and children under their "protection" and I use that word advisedly, due to their need for sex at all costs. This sure paints a rather disgusting picture of men in general and these soldiers in particular. Hopefully women could be expected to forego satisfying their sexual needs at the expense of a helpless population specifically placed under their care.

What a sad commentary on our humanity this documentary exposes. Any Canadians found to be involved in such disgusting behavior while wearing our uniform should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Obviously, Dan T. above has never been the helpless victim of rape.

This news story was disturbing for two reasons. The obvious relates to when women in foreign countries are criminally violated by sexual predators.

The other reason this film was disturbing relates to this film having failing miserably at distinguishing all the issues adequately.

Examine the following scenarios that seem to have been lumped under one umbrella because the producer did not have the sophistication nor the stamina to adequately examine and differentiate the severity of those issues.

1. Sexual assault against minors - Criminal and deplorable

2. Sexual assault against adults - Criminal and deplorable

3. Consensual sex (assault) with minors - Criminal and deplorable

4. Consensual sex between adults for money where those adults are starving and engage in such activities so they can eat - Despicable but not necessarily criminal.

5. Consensual sex between adults for money where this is the choice of the adult - Possibly immoral on both sides but noit necessarily criminal or deplorable

6. Consensual sex with adults where no money is exchanged but the woman becomes pregnant and is left behind without compensation - Depending on the situation possibly immoral.

We saw two female police officers in this film crossing over from their role as law enforcement officers to moral postulators.

The problem with this film is that although it has good intentions in highlighting the nefarious activities of a minority of the UN troops in foreign countries it fails to adequatel and fairly distinguish between all of the above acts

This film tends to lump eachand every scenario all under one umbrella as equally atrocious acts when in fact they are not all the same in severity by any means.

It seems that we expect peacekeepers to be super human and to be perfect when they go over seas with respect to refraining from having consensual sex with adults in those nations. This is an unreasonable expectation.

We must remember that the people we send there are often those who are doing something most of us would not have the fortitude nor courage to do. Such missions are very taxing psychologically on an individual basis. Judge not so that you are not judged.

We are all too quick to judge others actions without the benefit of direct experience. We have all become armchair experts from the comfort of our homes when it comes to issues we know absolutely nothing about.

Issues such as police use of force when it pertains to law enforcement (we see this ignorance from the mouths of specualting news people constantly) and now these issues pertaining to the immmoral behavior of military people under great duress in foreign countries.

The producer of this film did a great disservice to many by failing to distinguish the criminal from the immoral.

As one of the female police officers said it is no different to have sex with an adult than a child in such a country.

I would take great issue with this position. It is very different and such a statement demonstrates the personal opinion of a police officer and the ignorance that resides there.

Perhaps they should start sending "real police officers" to investigate foreign offences by UN troops instead of those who appear as if they have not been in the real world throughout their careers.

Lumping all the transgressions of peacekeepers under one single umbrella (as this film producer did) is tantamount to equating (forgive the vehicle analogy)

1. running down somebody intentionally with a motor vehicle

2. driving while under the influence

3. Speeding

4. Driving with a broken taillight

5. Driving without your license because it is in your wallet which you forgot on the kitchen table at home.

What fool would think all were equally serious.

Surely people this day in age can see the difference.

Clearly the less than sophisticated approach has been utilized to make a catch-all shock value documentary which may have injured the credibility of the producer.

I thank him or her for bringing the plight of victims of sexual assault to the forefront
We need to stop the criminal victimization of people in foreign nations. But we must draw the line in the sand (in this post 911 world) between criminal acts and merely immoral acts.

I condemn the producer of "Blue Helmets" in his refusal or failure to distinguish criminal acts from the immoral acts of peacekeepers who perhaps have reached their mental limit and perhaps ventured into the immoral world of prostitution.

It is time we start expecting more sophistication from our news people and also it is time that we are served by police officers who (when they put their badge and gun on every morning) leave their personal feelings about "morality" issues at home with the rest of their personal baggage.

Thank you

Thank you

How can we continue on as a Nation and watch the children & women receive continued abuse from people who are suppose to "protect" them? My heart dropped when one young lady said" The Blue hats were sent here to protect us, so I trusted him". We need to stand up and NOT let these blue hats get away with spiritual murder. We are in2007, not 1950 where we were never encourage to challenge what we believin. Sadly though, some countries still run as though we are in the past....

My gratitude goes towards that young woman advocate( volunteer), whom is working so hard to give the women/children a voice. May god be near her always to provide her strength. Stop the violence NOW!

I can't tell you how heartbreaking this is. I knew about it, I'd heard about it, I just couldn't have believed that our esteemed Blue Helmets were capable of acting like common hoodlums, acting as if they were trained by Janjaweed.

The producers of the film are to be lauded for bringing this to light. But, I'm concerned that it will - to some people - taint the UN which may be the last organization to be blamed. And which has ample to overcome what with the blights the US is trying to destroy it with.

Dear Viewers and Producers..

It is very sad that we humans have to watch such documents via media to learn that we are near our destiny of destruction reference to what nature and life has provided us all this decades.

Yet humans with certain power of authority abuse the free will and the gift of life that each person is entitle to have today no matter what colour, culture or orgin the person is from.

It does not matter how many times a victim crys or ask for help. No one in this dark world will listen until it happens to their loves or themselves.

Unfortunately by then all will gone and nothing will be left of what life has giving us.

If we as humans would like to make a difference in our lives and the people around us then stop nagging, complaining and get off your comfortable zone put your ideas and words to action.

Remember this it is better to do something about it now then to wait when happens to you and your loves.

Therefore do not blame the produces blame yourself for doing nothing about it when you know you can just that you have decided not to because it does not affect you yet but I quarantee you one day it will and it will hit hard.

Dear Producers: I am impressed with the comments nailing these monsters in blue helmets for these unforgivable acts of barbarism.

Now, I'd like to know, will all this outrage ever accomplish anything?

Will these comments be forwarded to politicians who seem to hold all the power in this country of Canada?

The bottom line is, what does it take to rectify the wrong that's been done.

Is there ever going to be any justice for the least of our brethren?

When will the leaders of first world countries who are bathing in the richness of our tax dollars look down below their aloft noses at these atrocities and do the right thing with OUR money?

Pure and udder disgust. Watching this documentary literally made me sick to my stomach. I feel terrible for the helpless children and women in Africa, who are being exploited by these pigs who are supposed to be sheltering them from danger. African people are so beautiful, and you have these animals working for the United Nations raping them. This is an outrage. The piece of garbage from France who went to court for raping several minors, and filming/taking photographs of these horrible acts, should be put behind bars. He should be put into general population, so that he can get a sense of how it feels to be violated. Stop abusing black people, this is the year 2007 and it will not be tolerated, nor should it have ever been. This is coming from a white male, who is disgusted by humanity at this point in time.

An extended response to Jake of Canada:

You complain of "armchair experts" commenting on issues we know "absolutely nothing about". So I begin with credentials: my PhD thesis, and most of the work I have done since, is on the international criminal adjudication of wartime sexual violence. You'll accept, then, that I am a "real" expert.

Your categorization of sexual acts disingenuous and largely obscures reality. For example, there is no such thing as "consensual" sex between adults and children. It is properly called child sexual abuse whether committed by soldiers or civilians, at home or abroad.

Sex with adults when they are starving is also not "consensual" but rather forced, especially when the predator controls access to food or other resources as in the case of civilian aid workers or military peacekeepers. Sometimes called "survival prostitution", it is really another form of sexual assault as the child or woman does not act freely but rather is compelled. And especially in wartorn countries with rampant poverty, the idea that women can exercise "choice" in relation to a militarily and economically dominant foreign soldier is risible. That women who are made pregnant are then abandoned is a further violation of their right to security and bodily integrity.

Your comments about the female police officers who investigated the sexual crimes of UN peacekeepers in DRC are both insulting to them and revealing of you. Far from being "moral postulators", they couched their words in the (often limited) confines of black letter law as it applies internationally and within Canada. Frankly, I wish they had gone further. To describe these detectives as not "real police officers" says to me you do not see rape as a "real" crime.

You suggest that we should not expect peacekeepers to be "superhuman". Is it really so unfair to expect soldiers to follow the rules and policies of the organization which employs them? Underlying your remark is a a rather sad view of men, namely that they cannot control their often violent sexuality and that to ask them to do so for a period of months while they are deployed in peacekeeping missions is both onerous and impossible. Is that how you experience your own sexuality? Does it compell you to act against your own wishes and understandings of law and fit social relations? If so, you have a serious problem and if not, then you separate yourself from the soldiers whose acts you wish to excuse.

The issues this documentary raises are not about distinguishing the "criminal from the immoral". Morality doesn't come into it. What the documentary reveals is that too many soldiers in UN missions do not respect international human rights and humanitarian law and neither the UN nor their home countries call these soldier-rapists to account for their actions. Your scorn is misdirected. Get angry at the soldiers who abuse women and children and their leaders who let them get away with it, not at the producers who uncover such ugly facts.

As a former United Nations Volunteer for an United Nations Mission in Africa. I am well aware of this problem and of the UN's attempt to address it.

All civilian and military staff must participate in mandatory SEA (Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) training. There is a focus on prevention (an afternoon workshop forbidding free and paid sex with locals and "strongly discouraging" any kind of relationship at all) but little focus on intervention.

From my knowledge the CDU (Conduct and Disciplin Unit), mentioned in the documentary, is not terribly effective due to the bureaucratic monster that is the UN. Many people are afraid to report SEA cases as some people engaging in sexual exploitation are in positions of power. Despite it being an anonymous and independent entitity with good intentions, in my experience the CDU is not generally trusted.

UN missions are small and people talk. People are afraid to lose their jobs if they are exposed as a whistle blower. Every body wants to keep their job at the UN, they are well paying and not easy to come by. Other people don't report because they "know that it won't go anywhere."

In response to the armchair expert, suggesting that men should be allowed to have consensual sex with locals. Understand that it is not like picking up a prostitute at Jarvis and Gerrard in Downtown Toronto. There is a far greater power imbalance in a place like the Congo (money, privilege, freedom, skin colour, age, opportunity, immunity)between an UN military or civilian staff person and a local girl or woman being paid for sex.

We have to look at prostitution within it's context. You can literally get sex for $1 usd. That will feed a person, maybe two, for the day. If they don't get that dollar they will starve to death or become sick or their children will die. In Canada prositution may be simply called "immoral" in the Congo and other 3rd world countries it must at the very least be called "abuse."

Though painful to watch, I am grateful to the CBC for exposing this. In my time with the UN I met a lot of very dedicated staff working for the UN for the right reasons. I also met a lot of people that feel that they are impervious because of their UN status and they believe that the host country is their personal playground. Thus the well know and accepted term MBA (Married But Available.) The UN protects it's own and in the course of doing that, it hurts those who they are trying to help.

I came to work for the UN, idealistic. I left a cynic. Due, mostly, to witnessing disregard for the most vulnerable and needy group of people that I will ever live amongst. I don't believe that the UN can be fixed, the foundation is cracked. It needs to be bulldozed and then rebuilt by people with integrity; creating an environment where people are expected to hold themselves and others accountable.

AM grieving about this peace keepers in the Congo there is no justice in this World.

Black people are still slaves.

Canada do something to protect poor people in Africa.
Thank's

I was struck by the conviction of the woman who is advocating for these victims, as well as the two lawyers from Canada who have been investigating the cases that come before them.

How difficult for them to stand up and defend theses women and children who have been abandoned, not just socially by their spouses and families because of their cultural beliefs, but also by the very organization (UN) that is supposed to be representing humanitarian efforts.

I am disgusted by the lack of effort from the UN to police itself and how it has continued to allow such atrocities to continue.

I would like to join the young avocate, Mimi, to help these women and children because they are my people. Could you please try to reach me, Mimi, through CBC.ca ?

I have not seen the film. I first heard about it the day before yesterday (November 28th) listening to Mme Christiane Charette, a Radio-Canada host interviewing Mimi Kashira (who may be reached at mimikashira@yahoo.fr, her email address was posted on Ms. Charette's web page yesterday as the interview was reaching its end - in the hopes of support for helping the vicims and their children, by the way) :

see http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/christiane/modele-document.asp?docnumero=47972&numero=1880
28 novembre, 2007).

The journalist/producer of "Le d'shonneur des casques bleus", Madame Raymonde Provencher was also present during this interview.

It appears that this film was translated into French and was aired on RDI. I, listening to this "retake" of Mme Charette's morning program at night, heard about its airing after it was over :(

But... I don't need to see the film for its intent to have credibility in my books.

So, I did a search and found this page. I also went to the UN looking for someone's email address so as to express my... how would/could one call one's reaction? How do you translate the bottomless pit of shame, anger, fear, empathy, sorrow, rage, that such things on such a scale actually do happen (preventing myself from typing all this in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS) when these acts are being perpatrated by those who are sent with, apparently, "good" intentions? Who are from "good" countries???

I also came across this page: http://www.un.org/french/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol19no1/191_pg16.htm

I wrote to the UN at this page: http://www.un.org/french/contactus.asp

I also Cc'ed these people (copied from the copy I sent myself): mimikashira@yahoo.fr,"Premier Ministre"
," Lawrence Cannon "
,MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca,"Jean
Charest" ,"Christiane Charette" ,"St�phane Dion" ,"Gilles Duceppe"
,"Charlotte L'�cuyer"
,"Jack Layton" ,africarenewal@un.org

I would post a copy of the letter I sent, but I wrote it in French. I, nonetheless (surprisingly), remained polite and correct throughout the comment sent to the UN.

Arriving at a certain understanding of "life": humanity, men, culture, justice, (et j'en passe...), and strongly resisting disregarding the seeming "futilility" of "always giving the benefit of the doubt", one is inadvertantly brought to... wondering, how have Canadians Blue Helmets "acted"(wherever in the world), and are "acting" in Ha�ti now? (I have heard, through the media, of the high level of distress some/many/most are experiencing).

Mme Kashira insisted, on more than one occasion, that the film covered not even the surface.

I asked the UN, how are they helping the victims and the children born from these acts of violence being helped? (loose translation).

Shame on any who would reduce these events to anything less than what they are: inhumane. Be they men, or women.

As a former professional soldier, and a veteran of many peacekeeping missions, i know that the vast majority of these crimes happen because of the quality of soldiers used in these missions.

Whilst I and my colleagues may be professional soldiers in every sense, the same cannot be said for many of the African and third world soldiers sent to do the job.

In some cases, they are barely literate, ill trained and not equipped mentally to do the job.

Most come from backgrounds no better than the people they 'protect', and indeed, use their positions of authority to abuse people , considering it their right and a perk of the job.

If you want the job done, send the best prepared people you can to do it, otherwise chaos follows.