Prevention and response to sexual misconduct

Angola

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

All forms of sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) are unacceptable and prohibited at UNDP, whether perpetrated against a beneficiary of assistance or a co-worker. Sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse violate human rights and constitute a betrayal of the fundamental values of the United Nations. It is our collective priority to prevent such behaviour and support those affected. We are also committed to ensuring that all allegations of sexual harassment and SEA are responded to in a timely, appropriate and effective manner.

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) refers to all forms of inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature committed by UN staff members against beneficiaries of assistance and other members of local communities. Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:

Sexual activity with a child (a person under the age of 18). A mistaken belief that the child is over 18 years of age is not a defence. Even in a country where the age of majority or age of consent is below 18, all UNDP staff and other professionals are prohibited from engaging in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18.

Exchanging money, employment, goods or services for sex or sexual favours. This includes any exchange of money, food, employment, goods, assistance, or services for sex or sexual favours.

Sexual activity with prostitutes, even when it is legal in the country.

Using a child or adult to obtain sex for other people.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment occurs between employees in the workplace and is defined as ‘any unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, verbal or physical conduct or gestures of a sexual nature, or any other behaviour of a sexual nature that could reasonably be expected or perceived to cause offence or humiliation to another person’.

Sexual harassment occurs when it interferes with work, is made a condition of employment, or when it creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. It can be a single act or a series of incidents.

UNDP addresses sexual misconduct through a series of actions designed to prevent and effectively combat sexual misconduct and support victims of sexual abuse.

Legal framework

UNDP adheres to the Secretary-General's Bulletin on sexual exploitation and abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13), which applies to all UN staff, including those working for UNDP and other separately administered UN agencies and programmes. Information on sexual exploitation and abuse is also included in the UNDP Code of Conduct.

Standards of conduct related to sexual harassment are covered by the Policy on Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Abuse of Authority.

Prevention

The UNDP carries out rigorous preventive checks on employees to prevent the rehiring of known offenders. As such, UNDP participates in a joint project with other UN agencies to maintain a system-wide database called ‘Clear Check’ to ensure that former employees involved in proven cases of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse with a UN system entity cannot be employed by another entity. In addition, UNDP is committed to not partnering with entities that do not adequately address sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

UNDP has developed and requires all staff to complete inter-agency training courses on the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the workplace. The courses, available on UNICEF's Agora learning site, highlight the standards of conduct expected of all staff, the consequences of violating them, and the impact of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse on the people affected and their families.

Clear information outlining the UN's ‘No Excuses’ approach to rules and prohibitions related to sexual exploitation and abuse is also available to all UNDP staff on the Conduct and Discipline website in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Chinese.

UNDP investigates all allegations of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, imposes disciplinary and/or administrative sanctions when allegations are substantiated, and may, through the UN Office of Legal Affairs, refer matters to national authorities for criminal proceedings.

UN staff members are not covered by immunity for acts that constitute crimes, and the Organisation does not protect its staff who commit such crimes.

Assistance and Protection

UNDP staff members are protected from retaliation for reporting allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse or sexual harassment in good faith. Retaliation is prohibited and, if found, constitutes punishable misconduct.

Staff members who believe they have been subjected to retaliation may seek informal redress or file a formal complaint with the Ethics Office at ethicsoffice@undp.org

UNDP has institutional expertise in responding to gender-based violence. In collaboration with its partners, UNDP takes measures to provide psychosocial assistance and medical treatment to victims/survivors.

Transparency

UNDP publishes annual information on disciplinary measures taken against its staff, including in cases of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse.

UNDP also provides real-time reports on allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse to the Office of the Special Coordinator. In addition, consolidated data on allegations and substantiated cases of sexual exploitation and abuse are published in the Secretary-General's Report on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

How to report

All allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment, should be reported to the Office of Audit and Investigation.

If you are a victim of any sexual assault, request for sexual favours, conduct or gestures of a sexual nature, verbal or physical, or any other behaviour of a sexual nature, please contact the Office of Audit and Investigations:

For the online referral form, click here.

By telephone:

Click here for international numbers (interpreters available 24 hours a day)

Telephone +1-844-595-5206 in the USA

By email to: reportmisconduct@undp.org

By regular mail to: Deputy Director (Investigations), Office of Audit and Investigations, United Nations Development Programme, One UN Plaza, DC1, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017 USA

Learn more about the United Nations' work in preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.