PSEA TRAINING OF TRAINERS – NWS NETWORK

PART 2: PSEA

WELCOME!
 Objectiv Training

es

• Understanding SEA: SEA Case Study and Definitions

• Principles of Humanitarian Conduct and Zero

Tolerance Policy

• NWS PSEA Network and Focal Points

• Notes for Facilitators Throughout

 Objectiv
Training

es

Objectives for Trainers:

• Be familiar and comfortable with the material

• Feel prepared to facilitate the material as a trainer
• Feel prepared to train other trainers to facilitate
this material
 Facing the
Facts

554 952 39%

# of reported allegations # of reported allegations Estimated percentage of UN

of sexual exploitation of sexual exploitation workers that have
and abuse in and abuse involving experienced sexual
the UN system 2017 - partners since 2017 - harassment in the workplace*
Aug-2022* Aug-2022*

*Annual statistics. Source: https://www.un.org/preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/content/data-allegations-un-system-wide

** Based on a two-year survey ending in November 2018. Source: https://sdg.iisd.org/news/survey-finds-one-third-of-un-workers-experienced-sexual-harassment-in-last-two-years/
Note for Trainer

• Ask participants for guesses and encourage discussion first

• Compare their guesses with the official numbers, ask about differences

• Finally emphasize that SEA is globally underreported - we will look at some of the

reasons why later in “obstacles to reporting”

 Who are the characters in our scenario?

ABEL AFRIDA LARA FAUSTIN

Understanding Power
Dynamics

Humanitarian
Aid Provider Beneficiary
Humanitarian
Aid Provider Beneficiary
Humanitarian
Aid Provider Beneficiary
Note for Trainer

• The aim of the Power Walk exercise is to emphasize that a differential power
dynamic between aid providers and beneficiaries is inevitable due to their positions
relative to each other

• It also tries to bring awareness to staff about how they are being perceived by
beneficiaries – as being powerful and with access to a lot of resources and
opportunities – regardless of how the aid provider perceives themselves or their
position

• It is to strengthen the understanding that a personal relationship with a beneficiary

will always be exploitative in nature because of this power differential, and therefore
SEA and prohibited conduct (we will link this to IASC 6 Principles in later slides)
▪ IS THERE EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE HERE? WHY?
▪ WHO IS THE VICTIM?
▪ WHO HOLDS POWER? WHY?

ABEL AFRIDA LARA FAUSTIN

 ▪ IS THERE EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE HERE? WHY?
▪ WHO IS THE VICTIM?
▪ WHO HOLDS POWER? WHY?

ABEL AFRIDA LARA FAUSTIN

POWER POWER
•Is the Victim •Has Peer Influence
•Position of power •Position of power
•Status as a relief worker •Status as a relief worker
•Has the power to say no •Has the power to report
misconduct
Note for Trainer

• We then bring our new understanding about power dynamics to the case study
about Afrida

• The aim is to confirm the understanding that Afrida is a victim in this case study,
because she is a beneficiary and holds no power in this situation

• We also need to emphasize that both Abel and Faustin hold power because they are
both aid providers, and also note how Abel misused his power (SEA), and how
Faustin failed to utilize his power in the right way (did not report the incident -
misconduct). So both Abel and Faustin have engaged in misconduct.

• We will later link the example of Faustin and his failure to report to one of the IASC 6
Principles which is to always report SEA

Sexual Abuse (SA)
Who? •Us + Beneficiary
•Abuse of vulnerability,
•Physical intrusion
What? of a sexual nature
•Victim’s sexual activity
•Use of force or coercion
•Unwanted kissing, touching,
grabbing, or rubbing
•Threats of an unwanted
Examples?
sexual act
•Raping or attempted rape
•Any sexual activity with
a child
Definitio
ns
Sexual Exploitation (SE) Sexual Harassment (SH)
•Us + Beneficiary •Us + Us
•Unwelcome advance or
conduct of a sexual nature
differential power, or trust
•Creates an intimidating
environment or becomes a
generates benefits
condition of employment
•Offering money, gifts, •Touching, kissing or
or a job in exchange for sex speaking inappropriately
•Withholding due services to a colleague at work
or blackmailing for sex •Attempted or actual sexual
•Hiring prostitutes assault
•Threats of sexual exploitation •Raping or attempted rape
UN Glossary on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (second edition, 2017);
UN System Model Policy on Sexual Harassment (approved 11-12 October 2018)
Note for Trainer

• It is important to make the distinction between SEA (sexual exploitation and abuse
of beneficiaries) and SH (sexual harassment between employees) in the definition
because these two issues are handled slightly differently within organizations

• It can be difficult to explain the difference between abuse and exploitation, we

differentiate it by explaining that “abuse” can be synonymous with physical
“assault” and also applies to all incidents involving a minor (below age 18).

• For “exploitation” we emphasize the differential power dynamic – and the fact that
exploitation can often appear like “an exchange or as being consensual” from the
outside because assistance/service/opportunity is being offered in return for
personal/sexual relationships– but it is in fact not consensual or an exchange
because of the power dynamic – it is always exploitation.
IS THIS SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, ABUSE OR HARASSMENT?

A humanitarian worker uses sex workers after work hours. Prostitution is legal in the country where
the staff works.
IS THIS SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, ABUSE OR HARASSMENT? 2

Mr. X was planning to accompany a girl still recovering from the sexual abuse she experienced
during her upbringing. Describing the trip, he said: “I’ve thought about escorting her and then
having sex with her.” Recommendations from Y and Z prevented him from taking the trip…”
IS THIS SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, ABUSE OR HARASSMENT?

During a medical consultation, a male doctor working as humanitarian staff member intentionally
touched the body of the female nurse helping him with the patient’s examination…
Survivor-Centered
Approach
 THE VICTIM’S REACTION Changes in
THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT behaviour patterns

Symptoms
of emotional
distress
21
PSEA 21
 THE VICTIM’S REACTION
THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
ARE YOU OK?
I’M FINE!

22
PSEA 22
 SEA
Consequences

FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE PERPETRATOR

• Loss of trust in the • Loss of trust from community • STDs, HIV, AIDS

organization • Loss of funding • Loss of employment and income

• Unwanted children • Security risk • Negative exposure in the media
• Drain on resources • Loss of staff • Added to the SEA Data Tracker
• Breakdown of support • Loss of reputation, shame
structures • Rejection by spouse and family
• Security risks
 CORE PRINCIPLES
RELATING TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE (SEA)

1 2 3
SEA constitute acts of gross Sexual activity with Exchange of money, employment,
misconduct and are grounds children (< 18 yrs) goods or services for sex is prohibited,
for termination of employment. is prohibited. including hiring prostitutes.
NO SECOND CHANCES NO SEX WITH CHILDREN DON’T HIRE/BRIBE ANYONE FOR SEX

4 5 6
Any sexual relationship Humanitarian workers are Humanitarian workers are
with beneficiaries that involves obligated to report any obliged to create and
improper use of position concerns regarding SEA maintain an environment
is prohibited. by fellow workers. which prevents SEA.
NO SEX WITH BENEFICIARIES ALWAYS REPORT SEA DISCOURAGE SEA AROUND YOU

IASC Six Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (12 September 2019)
 AS A HUMANITARIAN WORKER, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO:

FULLY UNDERSTAND ADOPT BEHAVIOUR REPORT ANY ALLEGATION OR

what types of behaviour that respects and favours SUSPICION
may be considered SEA. the rights of the
beneficiaries. of SEA or any retaliatory
action related to SEA.

ZERO TOLERANCE
Zero-Tolerance & Anti-Harassment Policy
Every staff member and non-staff personnel have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to work
in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and abuse. The relevant agency/organization has the
duty to take all appropriate measures towards ensuring a harmonious work environment, and to protect its
personnel from exposure to any form of prohibited conduct, through preventive measures and the provision of
effective remedies when prevention has failed.

•HUMANITARIAN LIAISON GROUP FOR NORTHWEST SYRIA, Commitment on Protection Against Workplace
Sexual Harassment, September 2021

Failure to respond to sexual harassment incidents within the workplace, failure to inquire and investigate the
alleged perpetrator(s) of harassment, failure to support and protect survivors of harassment from further
harm, or the selective application of these policies for only some personnel and not others, cannot to be
tolerated within the humanitarian response.
 Survivor
Assistance

True or False?

Survivors of SEA are referred to the same services

as survivors of GBV.

True
GBV vs. SEA vs. Sexual
Harassment
Note for Trainer

• Field staff often confuse GBV and SEA and may report GBV incidents as SEA or to
SEA complaint hotlines. GBV is the overarching category, so SEA is a type of GBV, but
what differentiates SEA is that the alleged perpetrator is someone engaged in
provision of humanitarian aid and services to beneficiaries. This category is a large
category due to the nature of aid provision in the Syria context, where many local
actors such as local community leaders, private vendors and authorities may also be
involved in the aid provision process.

• If the alleged perpetrator of abuse is not an aid provider and is a community

member, this will be labeled as GBV.

• While survivor assistance is the same in both cases, SEA is handled differently and
requires follow up of the complaint and investigation about the alleged perpetrator
who is employed or associated with a humanitarian organization. This is the
responsibility of the organization with whom the alleged perpetrator is associated.
Duty of
Care
DO NO HARM
WILL MY ACTIONS
MAKE THE SITUATION
WORSE FOR THE
VICTIM?
Obstacles to
Reporting
(Beneficiaries)
Obstacles to
Reporting
(Staff - Aid Workers)
Note for Trainer

• Some barriers to reporting can be impacted. For example, ensuring that there are
complaint mechanisms, making sure that beneficiaries know about them and have
access to them, and feel trust in the mechanism to make complaints are areas we
can work on

• Other barriers, such as the cultural sensitivity and stigma surrounding the topic of
SEA and reporting more generally can be more challenging to work with, but this is
why training and awareness raising – with both staff and beneficiaries is very
important
 WoS PSEA Network
What We Do

Joint Implementation of
International PSEA
Commitments Technical &
Training Operational Support

Awareness Raising PSEA

Materials Mainstreaming
SEA Complaint Referral
& Follow-Up with
Organization
 PSEA Network

WoS Inter-Agency PSEA Program hosted by IOM, founded by the UN

leadership in 2017 with hubs in NWS and NES Summary NWS NES Total
Focal Points 230 113 343
2022 PSEA Program Strategic Pillars Male 100 48 148
Female 130 65 195
Member organizations 116 62 178
UN 6 2 8
INGOs 27 33 60
NGOs 77 8 85
Cluster/Working Group 6 19 25
Numbers updated in August 2022
Support offered by the PSEA Network

Support in referring a complaint to another

organization

Technical guidance on how to proceed with a

complaint follow up / investigation process

Support in referring survivor (with consent)

to GBV service provider for survivor
assistance

Access to materials such as incident

reporting form / awareness raising materials
PSEA NWS
Network

PSEA Focal Points can:

• Receive PSEA complaints

• Share PSEA resources
• Train Staff
• Community Awareness
• Mainstream PSEA into
organization
 Organization initiates Inquiry into the
alleged perpetrator internal follow-up, complaint, Investigation,
works for the survivor assistance Survivor assistance collecting essential outcome and
organization and investigation (if consented) information, disciplinary action
process confidentiality and
do no harm

Survivor assistance options (time sensitive):

If organization is a GBV service provider and has
Organization presence in that location, can provide survivor
receives SEA assistance internally; if not, refer to GBV WG referral
complaint pathway directly or through the PSEA Network

It is mandatory for an alleged

PSEA focal point can perpetrator to be reported to the
inform the other associated organization for follow up,
alleged perpetrator organization FP but the survivor may choose to
works for another directly or through continue
the PSEA network
withhold the sharing of their personal
organization
confidentially information. Consent is required for
sharing personal information and
survivor assistance.
 Inter-Agency Complaint Mechanism for Northwest Syria:
PSEA Hotline

+90 530 915 1895

pseaprograminsyria@un.org

• THIS IS THE ONLY INTER-AGENCY COMPLAINT MECHANISM AVAILABLE IN NW SYRIA

• THE NW SYRIA HOTLINE IS MONITORED BY THE PSEA NETWORK BASED IN GAZIANTEP

• THE EFFORT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL BENEFICIARIES KNOW AND HAVE ACCESS TO THIS HOTLINE. THE
HOTLINE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON PSEA AWARENESS RAISING MATERIALS.
PSEA Network Incident
Reporting Form
ACCESS ON GOOGLE DRIVE HERE
Information Sharing Form
you can access the form here
https://misconduct-disclosure-scheme.org/
 Awareness Raising of
Beneficiaries

Awareness raising materials can be accessed HERE.

Child-friendly materials can be accessed HERE.

SARA - Self-training Awareness Raising App

You can download it here

PSEA Minimum
Standards
PSEA Prevention & Mitigation
Tools
ACCESS ON GOOGLE DRIVE HERE
SEA is the sexual exploitation and abuse of a beneficiary by those providing humanitarian assistance and
services.

Sexual exploitation is defined as an actual or attempted abuse of someone’s position of vulnerability,

differential power or trust, or to obtain sexual favors, including but not only, by offering money or other
social, economic or political advantages.

Sexual abuse means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force, or
under unequal or coercive conditions.

Aid worker encompasses all persons involved in providing protection and/or assistance to affected
populations.

SEA is an act of gross misconduct and a violation of humanitarian standards of conduct and core
principles.
• Power dynamics
• SEAH definitions
• SEA consequences
• SEA Principles
• Zero tolerance policy
• Victim centered approach
• Reporting obstacles
• PSEA Network
 Thank you!

Please also visit these additional resources:

∙ IASC Learning Package on Protection from Sexual Misconduct for UN partner

organizations:
https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-learning-package-protection-sexual-
misconduct-un-partner-organizations

∙ Saying No to Sexual Misconduct: Online Resource for Facilitators:

https://un-ocha.github.io/iasc-course-misconduct/index.html#/