The Secretary-General’s Report on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: A New Approach New York, 9 March 2017

9 Mar 2017

The Secretary-General’s Report on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: A New Approach New York, 9 March 2017

The Secretary-General’s Report on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:  A New Approach

New York, 9 March 2017

The Secretary-General today released his report on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: A New Approach for consideration by the General Assembly.

During his first week in office, in January 2017, the Secretary-General established a diverse High-Level Task Force, led by his Special Coordinator Jane Holl Lute, to develop as a matter of urgency a strategy to achieve visible and measurable improvements in the way the Organization prevents and responds to sexual exploitation and abuse.

“Such acts of cruelty should never take place.  Certainly no person serving with the United Nations in any capacity should be associated with such vile and vicious crimes,” said the Secretary-General in a video message.

The report emphasizes that sexual exploitation and abuse is not exclusive to the peacekeeping forces, but can occur within any Organization just as any other part of the United Nations. It is therefore imperative that the United Nations addresses this problem through a system-wide approach.

The Secretary-General acknowledged that “the vast majority of UN troops and personnel serve with pride, dignity and respect for the people they assist and protect, very often in dangerous and difficult conditions and at great personal sacrifice.” However, he added that the “Organization continues to grapple with the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse, despite great efforts over many years to address it.”

The report outlines a victim-centered strategy rooted in transparency, accountability and ensuring justice. It focuses on four main areas:

·        Putting the rights and dignity of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse at the forefront of our efforts;

·        Establishing greater transparency on reporting and investigations in an effort to end impunity for those guilty of sexual exploitation and abuse;  

·        Building a truly multi-stakeholder network to support the UN effort to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse; and

·        Raising awareness and sharing best practices to end this scourge.

Sexual exploitation and abuse are deeply rooted in gender inequality and discrimination. The Secretary-General is convinced that increasing the number of women throughout UN activities, including service as uniformed peacekeepers, would help advance the UN efforts to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse.

The Secretary-General’s new approach to combat sexual exploitation and abuse also seeks to build a strong partnership with Member States and stamping out this scourge will require all relevant actors to find strength in unity. The Secretary-General calls on all parties to deliver on these goals together: “Let us do so in the name of all who look to the United Nations for life-saving protection and support – and on behalf of the tens of thousands of United Nations personnel around the world who deliver that assistance with courage and commitment to the highest ideals.”

The Secretary-General is committed to the implementation of this strategy and has instructed and expects all his leadership to take immediate action. “We owe it to the people we serve, to all of those women, men and children who see the UN flag as a symbol of something as invaluable as it is intangible: hope”.

The report can be found at: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N17/054/00/PDF/N1705400.pdf?OpenElement

It is available on the Official Document System under symbol: A/71/818 

And in my first week as Secretary-General, I established a High-Level Task Force with an urgent task:  

To develop an ambitious new approach to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse committed by those serving under the UN flag.

Today, I am presenting those proposals for consideration by the General Assembly .  

My report outlines a  victim-centered strategy rooted in transparency,  accountability and ensuring justice.  It is based on four tracks.

First, to put the rights and dignity of victims first.  

Second, to focus on ending impunity for those guilty of crimes and abuses.

Third, to draw on the wisdom and guidance of all those who have been affected, civil society, local communities and others to strengthen and improve our efforts.

Fourth and finally, to raise awareness and share best practices to end this scourge.

Since exploitation is also deeply rooted in gender inequality and discrimination, we must work to promote gender balance throughout the UN family and in our missions and peacekeeping forces.  This will advance parity while decreasing incidents of abuse.

I am confident that we can meet these goals together.  

Let us do so in the name of all who look to the United Nations for life-saving protection and support – and on behalf of the tens of thousands of United Nations personnel around the world who deliver that assistance with courage and commitment to the highest ideals.

Let us declare in one voice:  We will not tolerate anyone committing or condoning sexual exploitation and abuse.  We will not let anyone cover up these crimes with the UN flag.  

Every victim deserves justice and our full support.  

Together, let us deliver on that promise.