The United Nations is investigating about 150 allegations of sexual abuse by UN civilian staff and soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
UN spokesperson, Ms Jane Holl Lute
The accusations include paedophilia, rape and prostitution, said Ms Jane Holl Lute, an assistant secretary-general in the peacekeeping department.
Ms Lute said there was photographic and video evidence for some of the allegations and most of the charges came to light since the spring.
"We are shining a light on this problem to determine its scope, and we will not stop there," Ms Lute told a news conference.
She did not say if 150 different people were involved but indicated some suspects committed more than one offence.
In May the United Nations reported some 30 cases of abuse among peacekeepers in the northeastern town of Bunia, where half of the more than 10,000 soldiers are stationed.
Last month, one French soldier and two Tunisian soldiers were sent home, UN officials said. Three UN civilian staff were suspended.
The United Nations has jurisdiction over its civilian staff but troops are contributed by individual nations. Consequently, the world body has only the power to demand a specific country repatriate an accused soldier and punish him or her at home.
Mr Jean-Marie Guehenno, the UN undersecretary-general for peacekeeping, went to the central African country last month and has promised an overhaul of staff discipline.