“Women have been raped by a group of men (…) where we collect firewood. I remain with no option since collecting firewood is risky for women. Fortunately, I heard about the opportunity from one of my neighbours who was already attending a skills-building training: I now own my tea shop, pay school fees for my children, and support my family. I am a self-reliant woman, and I keep [money] every month as my savings.”
This story, from a beneficiary of the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in South Sudan, shows the value of the Trust Fund, which was established in 2016 to support victims of sexual misconduct by UN personnel.
While the Secretariat remains grateful to the 25 Member States that have contributed to the Trust Fund until now, the overall contributions have decreased over time.
The Trust Fund, which relies on voluntary contributions from countries as well as on payments withheld from personnel against whom sexual exploitation and abuse allegations have been substantiated, calls for additional support and more countries to contribute in solidarity with the victims.
Since 2016, the Trust Fund has assisted victims in peacekeeping, humanitarian, and development settings to rebuild their lives and be more self-sustaining through dedicated assistance and livelihood support.
Women and, in some instances, children fathered by UN personnel, have received psychological, medical, legal, and school support. Many of them were provided with opportunities to participate in trainings to generate income.
In 2024, in order to reach the victims more efficiently and to quickly address their most pressing needs, the Trust Fund started to provide small grants for victims’ needs on an ad hoc basis, which includes school fees for children born as a result of sexual misconduct.
The small grants have helped fund activities to build non-traditional skills and provided faster, more nimble processes in addition to longer project cycles.
According to the annual report released this week, in 2024 alone, the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse provided support to 408 victims of sexual exploitation and abuse in four countries, which brings the total number of people supported since 2016 to over 4,300. The work of the Trust Fund continues so that support can be provided globally.
Read the full report for more information, including how to support the Trust Fund.
