Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

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Session 5.1

• Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
• A Duty to Protect Combating SEA in Humanitarian
  Settings

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Background of the SGs Bulletin

• West Africa Report in 2001
• The Inter-agency Standing Committee on Sexual
  Abuse and Exploitation formed in 2002
• Full members (FAO,OCHA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR,
  UNICEF, WFP and WHO and Standing Invitees (ICRC,
  IFRC, IOM, RSG-IDPs, OHCHR, World Bank and three
  NGO consortia
• The Secretary Generals Bulletin published in
  October 2003 as a formal instruction on
  recommendations made by the IASC for ALL UN
  agencies.

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IASC Definitions

• SEXUAL EXPLOITATION Any abuse of a position
  of vulnerability, differential power, or trust
  for sexual purposes this includes profiting
  monetarily, socially or politically from sexual
  exploitation of another.
• Vulnerability
• Differential power
• Trust

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IASC Definitions

• SEXUAL ABUSE Actual or threatened physical
  intrusion of a sexual nature, including
  inappropriate touching, by force or under unequal
  or coercive conditions.
• By force
• Under unequal conditions
• Under coercive conditions

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IASC Definitions

• Humanitarian worker include all workers engaged
  by humanitarian agencies, whether internationally
  or nationally recruited, or formally or
  informally retained from the beneficiary
  community, to conduct the activities of the
  agency.
• UN Staff
• Staff of UN Partners and Counterparts
• Contractors/Vendors
• Community Partners/Relief Management Committees

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Key Messages

• All humanitarian workers should not only PROMOTE
  but also RESPECT human rights.
• Sexual abuse and exploitation is a form of
  gender-based violence that has serious
  consequences.
• SGs Bulletin is not designed to place
  restrictions on lives of humanitarian workers but
  to protect vulnerable groups from harm.

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Key Messages

• Sexual activities with children are prohibited.
• Exchange of money, employment, goods or services
  for sex is prohibited.
• Misuse of a position of authority for sexual and
  other favors is prohibited.
• Humanitarian workers have an obligation to report
  all cases of abuse and exploitation.

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Reporting and Investigating

• Managers are required to create and maintain an
  environment that prevents sexual exploitation and
  abuse by integrating SGB into all operations.
• All staff required to report any incidents of
  sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Reports will be taken confidentially and in a
  suitable environment.
• Action to address SEA should be transparent and
  consistent to all staff.
• KEYS SAFETY, CONFIDENTIALITY, ACCESSIBILITY

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Role of the focal point

• Not a investigator.
• Takes reports on who, what, when, where in
  confidence (Sample IASC form available).
• Forwards information to relevant office within
  the reporting chain for investigation action.
• Makes appropriate recommendations for management
  on enhancing prevention and response strategies.

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