The United Nations is “shocked and deeply disturbed” by a video of a couple having sex in one of its official cars in Israel.
The viral video, shot in Tel Aviv, shows a woman in a red dress straddling a man in the back seat of a white SUV marked with UN signage.
The people caught on camera are believed to be staff members of a peacekeeping organization in Israel, UN officials told the BBC.
“We are shocked and deeply disturbed by what is seen on this video,” said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN’s Secretary-General. “[It] goes against everything we stand for and having been working to achieve in terms of fighting misconduct by UN staff.”
Dujarric called the behavior “abhorrent” and said an investigation into the matter was “moving very quickly.”
“We expect the process to be concluded very quickly and intend to promptly take the appropriate action,” Dujarric said.
The UN sex "escape" pic.twitter.com/78R4A418YW
— Samcilla | Digital Strategist (@samcillabaakojr) June 29, 2020
The UN has strict policies against sexual misconduct by its staff members, and workers may be disciplined — or possibly banned from peacekeeping operations — if they are found to be in breach of the rules.
The UN has long been plagued by allegations of sexual misconduct by its peacekeepers and other staff with frequent allegations in recent years.
In 2019, there were a total of 175 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against UN staff members, according to the BBC. Of those allegations, 16 were substantiated, 15 were unsubstantiated and the others are still being investigated.
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