United Nations, Nov 4 (IANS): The UN received 31 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse within its system in the third quarter of the year, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Not all of the allegations have been verified and some are in the preliminary assessment phase, cautioned Dujarric, Xinhua news agency reported.

Out of the 31 allegations, 12 are from peacekeeping operations and 19 from UN agencies, funds and programmes. Ten are categorized as sexual abuse, 19 as sexual exploitation and two are of an unknown nature, said Dujarric.

Twelve of these allegations occurred in 2017, two in 2016, six in 2015 or before and the dates are unknown for 11 of them, he said.

Thirty-eight male alleged perpetrators have been associated with these incidents. Of the 36 victims, 72 per cent are women and 19 per cent are girls.

Fourteen investigations have been launched during this time frame, he said.

Dujarric said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "disappointed and saddened" by the prevalence of sexual exploitation and abuse in the system.