Strategy
PROTECTION FROM
AND RESPONSE TOSEXUAL EXPLOITATION
AND ABUSE ANDSEXUAL HARASSMENT
IASC Champions on Sexual Exploitation andAbuse and Harassment

March 2021
Endorsed by IASC Principals

Strategy: IASC Championship Role
Protection from and response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)and Sexual Harassment (SH)
4 March 2021

VisionThe IASC Champions support the vision of a humanitarian environment in which people caught up incrises feel safe and respected and can access the protection and assistance they need without fear ofexploitation, abuse or harassment by any aid worker, and in which aid workers themselves feel
supported, respected and empowered to deliver such assistance in working environments free fromsexual harassment.
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) must not be tolerated; they are an
unacceptable breach of the fundamental rights of the people we serve and of those with whom we work
as well as a deep betrayal of our core values.

Strategy
Recognizing that the IASC is the only forum that facilitates coordination among international
humanitarian actors, bringing together UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, andNGOs;
Tapping into the added value of this broad membership; andCounting on the support of the Emergency Relief Coordinator;
The IASC Champion will lead efforts within the IASC to better address SEA and SH by:(b) setting the tone for all entities(i) internally within the IASC to recognize that addressing SEA and SH is a top priority anddedicate resources accordingly, ensuring in particular engagement in the field and with IASC
membership in the NGO community;(ii) beyond the IASC to improve coordination on these issues and foster synergies with thebroader efforts within the UN system;(b) advocating for reinforced prevention and response measures to SEA and SH based on avictim/survivor centered-approach that are operationalized in the field in a way that is systematic,
predictable and resourced accordingly, in line with defined priorities;(c) convening IASC and external stakeholders around a shared vision and a cohesive humanitarian
approach around SEA and SH; and(d) promoting long term culture and attitudinal change towards all forms of sexual misconduct.

Priorities
Until December 2021, the Champion will tackle priorities under three main objectives.
1. Encouraging victims to come forward and a speak up culture
Community-Based Complaints Mechanisms (CBCMs). Building on the considerable work alreadycarried out within the IASC context, ensure that safe, trusted and accessible mechanisms for reporting

SEA are available in all humanitarian situations and developed based on contextual assessments thatconsider the best means of safe and confidential reporting in particular environments.
Reporting and speak up culture within IASC entities. While recognizing that IASC member entities
will have their own reporting channels for misconduct, ensure that barriers to reporting SH are
gradually removed. This includes addressing key issues such as fear of speaking up and/or retaliationand lack of trust in reporting systems, looking at good practices among IASC entities, bringing forward
supportive measures which could encourage reporting, and taking up joint approaches to culturechange initiatives as appropriate.
2. Improving quality, survivor centered support and protection
Multifunctional support. Support the implementation of quality and multifunctional assistance forsurvivors of SEA and SH, including, as appropriate, medical care, psychosocial support, legal
assistance and reintegration, , improving the experience of recourse and ensuring a consistent approach
among IASC members.
Additional protection measures. Support the implementation of measures to ensure people who report
SEA and SH will be safe and protected, pool existing good practices within the IASC to strengthen
and harmonize policy frameworks, and join forces in developing additional protective measures for
those who have experienced or witnessed SEA or SH.
3. Strengthened vetting, reference-checking, investigation processes and disciplinary measures
Vetting and reference-checking processes. Building upon existing tools and good practices1 develop
IASC-wide common standards for vetting and reference-checking in order to prevent re-employmentof transgressors across the sector. This will require additional policy analysis to take into account thespecifics of the IASC composition and consideration of issues of data protection, standards fordisqualification and mechanisms to ensure consistent record checking.
Investigation and disciplinary processes. Strengthen the capacity of investigation functions within theIASC and ensure that allegations of SEA and SH are met with a robust investigative process based ona survivor centered-approach. Recommendations from the CEB/IASC investigatory bodies meeting(November 2018) and resources made available through the Investigations Fund managed by OCHA
will drive interagency work to ensure experienced, professional and adequately resourced services areeither available or made available to those with limited capacities. IASC entities will ensure a
consistent approach to subsequent disciplinary measures and that those who are found to have engaged
in SEA or SH will face the most severe disciplinary sanctions, in particular dismissal.

Dr. Natalia Kanem
Executive Director, UNFPAMark Lowcock
Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs andEmergency Relief CoordinatorSee IASC paper on “Preventing Transgressors from Moving through the System” (May 2018) and extensive efforts under
the auspices of the UN Special Coordinator and the Chief Executive Board Task Force on Sexual Harassment to ensurethat those who are found to have engaged in SEA or SH, or those who resign while a disciplinary process is ongoing, shallnot be recruited by any other UN entity (the Clear Check databases). Reference is also made to the proposed Inter-Agency
Misconduct Disclosure scheme, an initiative of members of the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response.
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