Office of the Victims' Rights Advocate
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Secretary-General António Guterres and the Victims' Rights Advocate, Jane Connors, in the Central African Republic -
The Victims' Rights Advocate and Senior Victims' Rights Officers held their first retreat in Entebbe, Uganda to reinvigorate their approach to upholding the rights of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. -
On a country visit to Kenya, the Victims’ Rights Advocate joined UN Kenya and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights for Human Rights Day.
What We Do
The Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate (OVRA) seeks to put the rights and dignity of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN staff and related personnel at the forefront of the UN’s prevention and response efforts. We work together with all entities of the UN system so that victims get the assistance and support they need. We also work in collaboration with Government institutions, civil society, and including national and legal and human rights organizations to build networks of support and help ensure that the full effect of local laws, including remedies for victims, are brought to bear.
'This role is to give a voice to the victims', tells Jane Connors
Weaving a Way to Independence
Recent News
Guterres vows to improve UN’s handling of sexual exploitation and abuse
15 March 2022 - UN Secretary-General António Guterres released his annual update on the Organization’s efforts to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) on Tuesday, dovetailing with his system-wide strategy, launched in 2017, to stamp out incidents by placing victims at the heart of efforts, throughout the system.
Despite pandemic, UN continues to fight "scourge" of sexual exploitation and abuse
21 March 2021 — UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday, released his annual update on how the Organization is working to stamp out the “scourge” of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) through its zero-tolerance policy, which required special measures this year in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sexual abuse a problem for the whole UN system: Victims' Rights Advocate
14 November 2020 — As the UN’s first-ever Victims’ Rights Advocate, Jane Connors has to confront an uncomfortable reality: sexual abuse and exploitation – or SEA for short - carried out by UN personnel.
Restoring dignity to victims of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN personnel
6 July 2020 — Projects supported by a UN trust fund for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel, are helping victims to regain their dignity, learn new skills, and improve their livelihoods.
More support needed for victims of sexual abuse by UN personnel
13 March 2020 — Although measures to support victims of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) committed by UN personnel are proving effective, there is still room to do more, the senior official leading these efforts told journalists in New York on Friday.