GENEVA - SOME 33 UN peacekeepers have been punished for sexual exploitation and abuse this year, up significantly from only two who were chastised in 2008, the United Nations said on Friday.

The disgraced peacekeepers have been handed punishments by their national authorities including dismissal, imprisonment and reduction in rank, according to a statement issued by the UN.

The number of convictions reported by member states to the UN in 2009 was up 16 times from the two peacekeepers punished last year and twice that of the 15 who were disciplined in 2007.

However, the number of responses by countries to the UN's request for action against overall misconduct - not limited to sexual abuse - during peacekeeping operations remained low. The United Nations said it has sent 112 requests to member states to take action against alleged misconduct in 2009, but it has received only 14 responses by Nov 3.

The UN holds internal probes of claims of abuses. If the alleged abuses are found to be substantiated, it can repatriate the offender and ban them from future peacekeeping missions. However, it cannot prosecute.

Instead, it is the home government of the offender, who normally serves with his national army under the UN flag, that has the authority to prosecute any misconduct and take disciplinary action. -- AFP