According to the Code Blue campaign (www.CodeBlueCampaign.com), at least 98 girls in Central African Republic reported they were sexually abused by French soldiers and UN peacekeepers, and three girls told U.N. staff they were tied up, undressed, and forced to have sex with a dog by a French military commander in 2014.

Most of the allegations relate to French, Burundian and Gabonese contingents and are the latest in a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse that has spanned across peacekeeping missions.

The Independent Review Panel on UN Response to Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Foreign Military Forces in Central African Republic cited the UN's "gross institutional failure" in handling the peacekeeper sexual abuse.

Mrs Yasmin Sooka, member of the Independent Review Panel on UN Response to Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Foreign Military Forces in Central African Republic, and Ms Paula Donovan, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World and its Code Blue Campaign to end impunity for sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers will host an online press conference on Monday, April 11 at 13:30 GMT.

Journalists interested in participating in this online press conference will be able to ASK QUESTIONS LIVE VIA THE INTERNET.

Who:              

• Mrs Yasmin Sooka, member of the Independent Review Panel on UN Response to Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Foreign Military Forces in Central African Republic and Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights in South Africa (see: http://www.apo.af/AZxTnF)

• Ms Paula Donovan, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World and its Code Blue Campaign to end impunity for sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers (see: http://www.apo.af/CRx0Of)

When:             Monday, April 11 at 13:30 GMT (Time converter: http://www.APO.af/vifLWY).

Language:       English with simultaneous translation to French

How it works: This service is FREE and only requires a computer connected to the internet.

REGISTER: http://www.APO-opa.com/application.php?L=E&vc=CAREN