Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

It is your right to say no or to report acts of abuse, exploitation or misconduct by humanitarian workers

Page

What is sexual abuse and exploitation

SEA refers to all forms of inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature committed by United Nations (UN) personnel, including personnel of entities associated with the UN, against recipients of assistance and other members of local communities.

Sexual exploitation

Sexual Exploitation is any actual or  attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.

Examples

Providing money, gifts or jobs in exchange for sex; hiring sex workers; withholding services or blackmailing someone for sex; threats of sexual exploitation.

Sexual abuse

Sexual Abuse means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. 

Examples

Unwanted kissing, grabbing, inappropriate touching or rubbing, rape or attempted rape, threats of unwanted sexual activity, any sexual activity with a child

 

Important!

Sexual activity with children (anyone under 18) is prohibited, regardless of the age of consent locally. Mistaken belief regarding the age of a child is not a defense.

No Abuse
no second chance
No sexual activity with children
Do not hire or bribe
No sexual relations
Always report SEA
Discourage SEA

Reporting SEA

Reporting SEA is mandatory for UN staff, not discretional.

Suspicion/concern of sexual exploitation or abuse by any humanitarian worker anywhere must be reported applying the Secretary-General’s Bulletin on Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13) and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Six Core Principles.

What to report

  • SEA against a child or adult by UN staff or related personnel
  • SEA against a child or adult by UNICEF staff or related personnel
  • SEA in UNICEF premises/sites.

Where to report

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIA)

UNICEF in Romania
Country Office

Conducts investigations that involve UNICEF staff, consultants, non-staff personnel and institutional contractors misconduct including, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Email: [email protected]

You can also report via the local channels established by UNICEF in Romania office. 

Email: [email protected]