|
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) by our own staff was established in January 2011 as a result of the IASC Review of PSEA by UN, NGO, IOM and IFRC Personnel.
The Review concluded that the advancement of protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) in the humanitarian community would be best served if the IASC were to resume its leadership on the issue. This was due to the need to address the high risk of SEA in humanitarian contexts; the lack of progress within the humanitarian sector compared with the peacekeeping sector; the need to focus the humanitarian community on improving implementation of the Secretary-General’s Bulletin: Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13); and the need to engage humanitarian leaders at the highest level – which was argued throughout the report as the most critical factor in securing progress in PSEA.
Since the Task Force was established in 2011, its vision has been to lead strategic interagency PSEA efforts while offering technical support to individual agencies who wish to address PSEA internally. To do this, the Task Force builds on its unique interagency position and important advisory role in both collective and individualized endeavors to tackle the issue.
Objectives:
During 2012, the IASC Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) by UN, NGO, IOM and IFRC personnel will focus their work on:
- Updating the DVD “To Serve with Pride – Zero Tolerance for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse”.
- Supporting agencies in implementing the minimum operating standards for PSEA within their respective organisations.
- Supporting work on CBCM by compiling best and worst practices and relevant research materials to better prepare future CBCM proposals, direct fund-seeking activities, and support global learning.
- Mainstreaming PSEA within relevant IASC subsidiary bodies and procedures (including Accountability to Affected Populations Working Group).
Resources:
The Task Force has a website PSEA Taskforce
to inform staff of the UN, NGOs and other international organizations of their responsibilities with regards to PSEA. The site contains information tailored to specific workplace roles, such as staff members, focal points and senior managers. One can also learn more about PSEA by accessing the online library and find an extensive toolkit that addresses the engagement, prevention, and response to SEA. The website is available in English, Spanish, and French.
Membership and Contacts:
The Task Force is co-chaired by International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee and UNDP. With two co-chairs (IRC and UNDP) based in New York and the third co-chair (IMC) based in Geneva, the Task Force conducts meetings in both locations.
Its members are: CARE International, CARE Thailand, Caritas International, Catholic Relief Services, Concern Worldwide, DFS, Droits Humains Sans Frontières, Fahamu Refugee Programme, Food for Hungry, HAP International, IASC Secretariat, IFRC, IOM, InterAction, International Medical Corps, International Relief and Development, International Rescue Committee, Lutheran World Federation, OCHA, Relief International, Save the Children US, Save the Children UK, Thai Committee for Refugees, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Habitat, UNHCR, WFP, WHO, Women's Refugee Commission, The World Bank and World Vision International.
For more information about the Task Force or to become a member, please contact any of the co-chairs listed below.
SEE ALSO: Website on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by our own staff
|