On the 1st of May 2023, for the second part of the 77th’s resumed General Assembly session, the Secretary-General of the United Nations presented his report on the Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
One of the Secretary-General’s statements in his report stood out. Stood out. The Secretary-General stated that:
“No allegations could indicate that there are ineffective complaint mechanisms, that these do not exist, that victims do not report allegations because they do not believe they will be protected, or that they believe that no action will be taken.”
The Secretary-General continues by alluding that while the number of allegations may provide insights into trends, the progress of the United Nations, Member States, and partners with regards to SEA must be measured by so many other indicators such as communicating standards, training, vetting, risk management, and mitigation measures … and so on.
Mr. Secretary-General, I beg to differ.
On behalf of thousands of victims and survivors of sexual harassment and exploitation by the United Nations staff and personnel and non-UN personnel, those victims/survivors who willingly chose not to report allegations because they witnessed first-hand the lack of action and the retaliation against their colleagues who dared to do so:
That is a bold and defiant statement to make before those survivors and the General-Assembly.
Effective reporting mechanisms for SEA do not exist.
Victims are not protected.
Perpetrators are protected.
Retaliation is rampant.
Accountability simply does not exist.
We know the names of the victims, and we know the names of the perpetrators.
All of them were protected. Many are still working with the United Nations. Under your leadership.
Fearless.
Protected.
Rampant.
Predators.
You seem to indicate in your report that the number of SEA allegations received is not a good measurement tool and that few or no allegations do not indicate that an adequate prevention programme exists.
However, the United Nations ACABQ reviewing your report begged to differ:
The ACABQ in its report, specifically underscored again
“its concern regarding the increased number of allegations and recalled the collective and unanimous position of the General Assembly that one substantiated case of sexual exploitation and abuse is one case too many”
One substantiated case of sexual exploitation and abuse is one case too many indeed.
Therefore, data on allegations matter.
“In 2022 only, 243 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse related to United Nations staff and affiliated personnel were received across the United Nations system, and 291 allegations relating to personnel of implementing partners not under the authority of the United Nations were reported.”
Source: Your Report.
NB: Those allegations belong to those who dared to report them.
There is no estimated data for persons who have been sexually exploited, abused, or harassed and did not dare to report it.
Switzerland’s statement on the 1st of May before the General Assembly confirms this:
“Firstly, we are deeply concerned about the large number of cases of sexual exploitation and abuse that continue to emerge each year. This indicates that much remains to be done before we achieve a lasting change in culture, behaviour and attitudes in the Organisation. As highlighted by the ACABQ in its report, the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy for inaction requires first and foremost awareness of the applicable standards and prohibitions by all staff and a safe environment for reporting cases of sexual exploitation and abuse. “
Conclusion: Data Matters.
Then you go on in the same SEA report presented to the General Assembly stating that your SEA strategy prioritizes
“upholding the rights and dignity of victims and ending impunity through reporting and investigations.”
What rights and dignity are you referring to?
In your report, you refer to the success of the “WHO webinars as part of the “No Excuse!” campaign which attracted more than 30,000 participants in 2022, and its training sessions on a “speak-up” culture which were attended by 2,000 personnel”
But a Congolese survivor from the WHO predators begs to differ:
“How many times do I have to speak before (the doctors) at WHO responsible for the sexual abuse are punished?” she asked. “If WHO does not take radical measures, we will conclude that the organization has been made rotten by rapists.”
When the same survivor states that “money will not erase the wounds I have in my heart.” She reported the alleged misconduct to the WHO in 2019, but never received a response.
What end of impunity are you referring to?
When two weeks ago, the WHO made the below announcement:
What end of impunity are you referring to?
When “Jeanette, a woman who says she was impregnated by a WHO doctor said she was pressured into having an abortion, which nearly killed her. She said she is waiting for the WHO to punish the doctor responsible for her pregnancy and has had no offers of financial compensation.”
What end of impunity are you referring to?
When the statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China responding to your report on SEA presented to the GA says:
“We call for strengthening efforts towards ensuring that the United Nations will not remain silent or passive in the face of reported incidents as well as protecting and supporting victims of SEA through adopting a victim-centered approach.”
You also reported that to reinforce ongoing system-wide efforts, in September 2022, the position of the Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse was strengthened by revising the terms of the appointment from a when-actually-employed basis to a full-time position at the Under-Secretary-General level.
But the ACABQ report again begged to differ:
“The Committee notes specifically a lack of clarity as to the standing of the Special Coordinator in the overall sexual exploitation and abuse prevention architecture, including any changes in that regard that may have resulted from the change to a full-time position modality and the shift of funding to the regular budget.”
Anifa and Jeanette are waiting.
So are thousands of women who were raped, beaten, assaulted, harrased and abused.
Not for another report.
For Real Action.
End Impunity.
NOW.
2 thoughts on “Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in the United Nations – a discerning statement”