| May 2023: Edition 4  Tackling all forms of sexual misconductWelcome to WHO's latest newsletter on the Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PRSEAH) in a new format and hosted on a new platform. Our goal is to keep Member States, civil society partners and all other stakeholders fully informed on the status of WHO’s work to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct.  New policy comes into effectOur new policy, which came into effect on 8 March 2023, enhances our legal and accountability frameworks to achieve zero tolerance for sexual misconduct and inaction against it. The umbrella term “sexual misconduct” includes sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and any form of sexual violence. The term encompasses all forms of sexual behaviour that are prohibited among WHO staff and collaborators.  Three-year strategy publishedThe three-year strategy (2023-2025) is the Organization’s framework for institutionalizing zero tolerance for all forms of sexual misconduct. It aims to ensure that our personnel and implementing partners do no harm to the people we serve or those we work alongside with and shifts the Organization to a stronger victim- and survivor-centered approach. The strategy was developed by the WHO Secretariat. It draws on lessons learnt from the implementation of WHO’s Management Response Plan (MRP) to the report of the Independent Commission that examined widespread allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse during the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and incorporates best practice across the UN system. All WHO Member States were consulted in its finalization.  Providing assistance to survivorsThe Organization is providing assistance to survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse in DRC through the WHO Survivors Assistance Fund. This fund aims to operationalize the UN Protocol on the Provision of Assistance to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. As the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) completes its investigations into cases identified by the Independent Commission, the WHO has provided survivor assistance to all victims of SEA of the 10th Ebola outbreak in DRC, regardless of the affiliation of the alleged perpetrators. Dr Gaya Gamhewage, Director, Prevention of and Response to Sexual Misconduct, WHO, and Dr Eugene Kongnyuy, UNFPA Representative to DRC, held a press briefing in February 2023 on the support provided to victims identified by the Independent Commission in DRC.  |
Monday, May 1, 2023
PRSEAH Newsletter May 2023
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