Sophia A. Bruce | 2025 I.S. Symposium

Name: Sophia A. Bruce
Title: Corruption, Incompetence, and Power: A Study On Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Committed Against Vulnerable Populations By UN Peacekeepers and NGO Humanitarian Aid Workers in Haiti
Major: Global and International Studies
Minor: French and Francophone Studies
Advisor: Kent Kille; Michele Leiby

This research explores the driving forces behind why United Nations (UN) peacekeepers and Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) humanitarian aid workers— individuals tasked with aiding vulnerable populations— commit acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). The study hypothesizes that the reason sexual violence is so prevalent among UN peacekeepers and NGO humanitarian aid workers is that these organizations do not have strong enough reporting procedures in place to prevent the abuse of power. However, the research reveals that reporting procedures alone do not explain the different types of SEA committed by UN peacekeepers and NGO humanitarian aid workers, prompting the hypothesis that differences in SEA and gender awareness training influence the nature of the abuse. The research studies the hypotheses using a comparative case study during 2004-2017 focusing on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (Oxfam) humanitarian mission in Haiti. Key findings indicate that reporting procedures for MINUSTAH and Oxfam were inadequate. The organizations failed to communicate with the Haitian community, making their reporting procedures inaccessible. Additionally, the reporting procedures were inadequately communicated to the employees of the organizations. Finally, the training procedures of MINUSTAH were identified as inadequate as UN peacekeepers on the mission were not adequately trained due to budgeting issues and a lack of awareness of the training itself. On the other hand, Oxfam employees were extensively trained in gender awareness, but the organization failed to define SEA and outline how NGO employees can perpetuate SEA while on mission.

Posted in Symposium 2025 on May 1, 2025.