1.7 Safeguarding standards in the international development sector
Standards for behaviour have been set by the United Nations (UN) since 2003 when it developed the first Code of Conduct in preventing and responding to SEA.
This was in response to safeguarding concerns around the sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children perpetrated by its staff and personnel.
The UN Secretary-General’s Bulletin on the Elimination of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (known as the UNSG Bulletin) referred to in the following video is still in existence and underpins its Code of Conduct. All organisations who contract with the UN
have to abide by the UNSG Bulletin. This bulletin in turn was the basis for the development of the Core Humanitarian Standard.
Several organisations have adopted the prevention of SEA and accountability commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard. These standards have been endorsed by the international donor community and all organisations and agencies working in the international
aid sector. They should form the basis of organisational Codes of Conduct
Activity 1.6 How agencies are vulnerable
Watch this video (from 0:00 to 03:31 mins) and make a note of some of the key messages in your learning journal.
NARRATOR: This is the moment that a 40-year-old NGO worker was arrested the two girls behind him at both underage and have been locked in his bedroom for five days. Several years ago, he came to Cambodia claiming to be a doctor and was given a job
by a local NGO, but he isn't a doctor, and he never has been seen here being led off by local police his intention was not to help but to abuse the very people who depended on him
[Music]
Sexual exploitation and abuse by our own staff is an abhorrent crime it will not be tolerated. I call on each and every one of you to carry out your work with honour pride and integrity the trust people prisoners must never be broken by despicable
acts of sexual exploitation and abuse the United Nations and all non-governmental organizations worldwide have zero tolerance for such behaviour against our collective responsibility to uphold the highest standards and protect all those we serve
[Music]
The UN is the ray of hope it is frequently what people are so looking forward to is to have the blue helmets come in to save them.
[Music]
In the eyes and the hearts of those people in the countries where we operate they do look to us and this is why it is catastrophic you know if the single misconduct of one or a few just destroys us it destroys hope and that I think is simply unacceptable
UN and non-government organizations are working in partnerships if there are problems for one there are problems for all we have to promote a culture which makes it absolutely clear that this kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable.
One key message was evident at the very beginning of the video which is how vulnerable agencies are to people who appear well-intentioned and therefore how vigilant we need to be. Men seeking out children or vulnerable adults to abuse can be skilled at working themselves into positions of trust as was the case here – this issue will be explored in more detail in a subsequent unit of the course. Another key message amongst others you will have noted is the need for everyone to adhere to these standards whatever role they are in.
