New Rape Allegations Face UN Officials - Time to "Get the UN Out of the US"

In response to new allegations of rape by UN officials, Move America Forward (website: http://www.moveamericaforward.org/ ), today renewed its call to evict the United Nations from the United States.

“It has become an almost daily occurrence to read about allegations of rape and molestation by UN officials. The reputation of the UN is so badly tarnished that it cannot be trusted to investigate itself,” said Howard Kaloogian, Co-Chairman of Move America Forward.

“We wouldn’t stand for this conduct from our elected officials, we shouldn’t tolerate it in an international body we host. It’s time we showed the United Nations the door,” Kaloogian said.

UN Peacekeepers Accused of Rape in Haiti

The United Nations has admitted that it is investigating allegations that three UN peacekeepers were involved in the rape of a Haitian woman. The UN peacekeepers, part of a contingent from Pakistan, insist the sex was consensual and that the woman was a prostitute who they paid.

However, the 23-year old woman told Haitian radio stations that the UN peacekeepers, “grabbed and pulled my pants, had me lie on the ground and then raped me."

The allegations of rape come on the heels of a string of sexual misconduct scandals facing the UN.

In the Congo, UN officials have been accused of raping Congolese girls, molesting teenage male translators and conducting an Internet pedophile ring.

And this week UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, resigned following allegations of sexual harassment.

“How can we in good conscience continue to serve as host and largest financial backer of an organization that is clearly overrun with corruption and wrongdoing at every level from the peacekeeper to quite possibly the Secretariat’s office?” Kaloogian asked.

Move America Forward has collected almost 100,000 signatures on its petition to “Get the UN Out of the US” and halt American funding of the organization. The group will present the petitions to congressional leaders, the Bush Administration and the leadership of the UN later this year.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with requests for ‘Get the UN Out of the US’ petitions from Americans who are growing disgusted by the UN’s conduct,” said Siobhan Guiney, Executive Director of Move America Forward.

“In an Opinion-Editorial piece this week, Kofi Annan put a positive spin on the problems facing the UN, saying they were limited to ‘ethical lapses and lax management.’ Tell that to the women and children who are being sexually abused by UN officials around the globe,” Guiney concluded.

Move America Forward