Morocco among countries with rising UN peacekeeping paternity claims

Morocco is among the countries reported in paternity and child support claims linked to United Nations peacekeeping personnel, with a total of 29 cases documented since 2006, according to official data shared on Conduct in UN Field Missions websites.

These claims form part of the broader 746 cases reported globally, involving UN staff and uniformed personnel deployed in peace operations.

The findings revealed that South Africa recorded the highest number of claims, with 113 total claims 82 paternity claims received by the UN pending resolution, and 31 have not been established.

Cameroon followed closely with 84 claims 2 resulted in the establishment of paternity, 72 are pending resolution, and 10 have not been established or were withdrawn by the mother.

Congo comes third with a total of 61 claims 55 are pending resolution, and 6 have not been established.

The timeline of cases involving Moroccan nationals reveals consistent reporting over the years, with the most significant spike occurring in 2023, when 8 new cases were filed—the highest annual figure for Morocco.

Morocco is the 11th largest contributor to UN peacekeeping with more than 1,700 military and police in 2023 serving in Abyei, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, according to the UN.

Other years, such as 2006, 2007, and 2022, saw lower but steady numbers of claims, ranging from 1 to 3, highlighting the ongoing nature of these incidents.

Of the 29 claims involving Morocco, one resulted in the establishment of paternity and child support, while 17 others didn’t result in the establishment of paternity or were withdrawn by the mother or guardian.

The remaining cases are still pending resolution, reflecting a global trend where 518 cases remain unresolved due to various reasons.

Since 1948, over 74,000 Moroccan peacekeepers participated in 14 UN peacekeeping missions and 17 military field hospitals were deployed in 14 countries providing over 2,650,000 medical services to local populations and refugees.

Only 29 cases worldwide have resulted in the legal establishment of the father’s relationship with the child, according to the report.

Of the 29 claims involving Morocco, 5 resulted in positive DNA tests confirming paternity, and 8 resulted in negative DNA tests, denying any biological relationship.

The remaining cases either did not involve DNA testing, DNA samples were collected from the child and father but have yet to be analyzed, or the results were not communicated to the UN.

The number of paternity claims reported globally to the United Nations has significantly increased over the years, peaking at 109 cases in 2023 when military personnel accounted for the majority of these claims with 91 cases, followed by police and UN staff, each with 9 cases.

The findings revealed that while claims were relatively low from 2006 to 2015, a sharp rise began in 2016, driven primarily by military contributions.

In 2024, the total dropped to 69 cases, but the numbers remain notably higher than in earlier years, amid ongoing challenges in addressing accountability within UN-affiliated personnel.

The United Nations’ process for addressing these claims includes investigation, paternity determination through DNA testing, and collaboration with member states like Morocco to ensure legal recognition of paternal responsibilities and provision of child support where paternity is confirmed. This framework is part of a broader effort to provide justice and support to affected families.

For context, the UN previously underscored that it has a zero-tolerance policy with respect to sexual exploitation and abuse.

“As we serve the world’s people and work for peace and the advancement of humanity, …we will not tolerate anyone committing or condoning a crime, and in particular, crimes of sexual exploitation and abuse. Let us make zero tolerance a reality,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

This includes “any sexual activity with minors or any actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions; any actual or attempted abuse of position of vulnerability, differential power or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.”

This includes “acts of transactional sex, solicitation of transactional sex, and exploitative relationships.”

Since 2006, the UN has received “over 700 paternity and child support claims implicating peace operations personnel,” according to the UN Peacekeeping website.

It stated that “95% of these involve military or police personnel provided by UN Member States to serve under the UN’s banner. Member States are responsible for addressing these claims, but more than 70% remain unresolved, leaving 500 children without much-needed legal recognition and financial support.”

“The children born as a result too often face poverty, stigma, and insecurity,” said the UN Secretary-General, emphasizing that these children “deserve recognition, support, and dignity.”

Catherine Pollard, Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy, and Compliance, the Department that receives and processes the claims, stated “some of these claims have been pending for more than a decade and a number of children fathered by uniformed personnel have reached adulthood.”