Following his first visit to the Central African Republic, the newly-appointed Special Coordinator on Improving UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, or SEA, `underscored the need to “turn words into deeds” when it comes to zero tolerance of the scourge.

During his first field visit since taking office this month, Christian Saunders reiterated the UN’s firm stance against any and all such acts.

Where abuses do occur, perpetrators will be held accountable, he declared, including though criminal investigations that could lead to job loss or imprisonment, he told Pascal Isidore Boutene, Coordinator for one journalist network in Africa, fighting gender-based violence.