Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

UN Special Coordinator

Ms. Jane Holl Lute talking to peacekeepers

In February 2016, Ms. Jane Holl Lute was appointed as Special Coordinator on improving the United Nations response to sexual exploitation and abuse. Her role is to work across the UN system’s many offices, departments and agencies to strengthen the UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse, wherever it may occur, from headquarters locations to the most remote field bases. Ms. Lute is part of a high-level task force formed in January 2017 that will develop a “clear, game-changing strategy” to achieve “visible and measurable further improvement.”

Victims Rights Advocate

public information material on stopping abuse and reporting abuse

The Secretary-General has appointed a system-wide Victims’ Rights Advocate (VRA) at UN Headquarters. The Advocate will ensure that the United Nations system provides tangible and sustained assistance to the victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. The Advocate will work with government institutions, civil society, and national and legal and human rights organizations to build support networks and to help ensure that the full effect of local laws, including remedies for victims, are brought to bear.

Peace Operations

The Departments of Field Support (DFS) and Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) are responsible for enforcing UN policies on conduct in peacekeeping operations. The Conduct and Discipline Unit (CDU) in DFS provides overall direction for conduct and discipline issues in peace operations, including on combatting sexual exploitation and abuse. CDU’s work includes formulating policies, developing training and awareness raising activities and ensuring oversight of the handling of allegations of misconduct. CDU liaises with Member States on allegations of misconduct involving their uniformed personnel. Conduct and Discipline Teams in UN peace operations advise heads of mission on conduct and discipline issues, provide training for peacekeeping personnel on UN rules, conduct outreach and awareness raising activities, receive and assess misconduct allegations, and coordinate victim assistance efforts.

OHCHR/Agencies/Funds/Programmes

As part of the UN's new strategy to combat sexual exploitation and abuse, this issue is for the first time being acknowledged as a system-wide one, which requires a common approach. Therefore, as part of his strategy, the Secretary-General has asked Agencies, Funds and Programmes to adopt new measures and strengthen existing ones to better prevent, detect, report and take action against personnel, who commit these inexcusable and abhorrent acts.

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