Charity in peacekeeper sex claims

The charity Save the Children claims sexual abuse of children by aid workers and peacekeeprs is rife.

Children in post-conflict areas are being sexually abused by U.N. peacekeepers and aid workers, according to a new study by Save the Children.

The charity says most of the abuse remains chronically under-reported, as children are too frightened or embarrassed to speak out.

SOUNDBITE: Child Protection Officer, Save the Children, Corinna Csaky: (English)

"For all the reported allegations of abuse, we think that there are many many more that are unreported. We believe there is a chronic silence surrounding this abuse and we'd like organisations to do something about it, to help children speak out about the abuse against them."

The study says children as young as six are suffering sexual abuse at the hands of peacekeeping troops and humanitarian workers.

Others are trading sex for food, water and money, in order to survive.

U.N. peacekeepers were found to be the most frequent offenders, but abuse was reported in every type of aid and security organisation.

SOUNDBITE: Child Protection Officer, Save the Children, Corinna Csaky: (English)

"Save the children's new research suggests that the sexual exploitation and abuse of children in emergencies by peacekeepers, by aid workers is a global problem. The fact of the matter is, we just don't know the scale of the problem and where exactly it is happening because children are too scared to talk about it."

Save the Children want more investment in programs teaching children to come forward.

They say a new global watchdog is urgently needed to monitor agencies and stamp out exploitation.

Tessa Unsworth, Reuters.