Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps

International Development Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 6 Jul 2020 Closed: 1 Dec 2021 Parliament page
Report published This Committee agreed early in this Parliament to draw up a comprehensive re-examination of progress taken to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector. Our focus is the aid recipients who become victims and survivors of abuse at the hands of individuals working in the sector. … Read more
35 Recommendations
4 Conclusions
1 Report
8 Oral sessions
4 Letters
8 Events
Activity timeline 14 events
6 Apr
2021
Report published
14 Jan
2021
Report published
19 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
17 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
10 Nov
2020
Correspondence
3 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
22 Oct
2020
Correspondence
22 Oct
2020
Correspondence
20 Oct
2020
Oral evidence
13 Oct
2020
Oral evidence
6 Oct
2020
Oral evidence
22 Sep
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 8 sessions
19 Nov 2020
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Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps
James Kariuki · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Katy Ransome · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
17 Nov 2020
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Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps
Peter Taylor · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Rt Hon James Cleverly · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
3 Nov 2020
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Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps
Dr Jasmine-Kim Westendorf · La Trobe University Dr Miranda Brown Dr Paul Kirby · London School of Economics Dr Tamsyn Barton · Independent Commission for Aid Impact Major Charmaine Geldenhuys The Baroness Helic
20 Oct 2020
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Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps
Diane Goodman · UNHCR Franziska Schwarz · Bond Hannan Sulieman · UNICEF Harvey Grenville · The Charity Commission for England and Wales Helen Stephenson CBE · The Charity Commission for England and Wales Stephanie Draper · Bond
13 Oct 2020
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Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps; Humanitarian crises monitoring: impact of coronavirus
Aaron Oxley · Results UK Katie Husselby · Action for Global Health Mike Podmore · STOPAIDS Nellie Peyton · Thomson Reuters Foundation Paisley Dodds · The New Humanitarian Philip Kleinfeld · The New Humanitarian Robert Flummerfelt
6 Oct 2020
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Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps
Alexia Pepper de Caires Edward Flaherty · Schwab, Flaherty & Associés Lesley Agams Paula Donovan · AIDS-Free World’s Code Blue Campaign Prof Andrew MacLeod · Kings College London and Co-founder, Hear Their Cries Shaista Aziz Sienna Merope-Synge
22 Sep 2020
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Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps
Ester Dross · PSEA Lucy Heaven Taylor · Safeguarding Megan Nobert · International Rescue Committee Pierre Hauselmann · Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative Sarah Blakemore · Keeping Children Safe Tanya Wood · CHS Alliance
16 Jul 2020
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Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps
Alina Potts · The Global Women’s Institute, George Washington University Dr Miranda Brown · Independent Consultant Frances Longley · NGO Safeguarding Working Group on Leadership and Culture Jill Healey · NGO Safeguarding Working Group on Accountability to Beneficiaries and Survivors Professor Rosa Freedman · University of Reading School of Law Sally Proudlove · NGO Safeguarding Working Group on Leadership and Culture Sarah Maguire · Safeguarding Leads Network Steve Reeves · NGO Safeguarding Working Group on The Employment Cycle
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation an… HC 605 14 Jan 2021 39 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
16 results
Clear
1 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
Aid organisations must be alert to the barriers that might prevent aid beneficiaries from reporting...
Aid organisations must be alert to the barriers that might prevent aid beneficiaries from reporting abuses. They should design sensitive reporting mechanisms with the local population, in order to give victims and survivors, and their families and friends a safe … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has adopted DFID's practices for investigations and will continue to build on them, requiring partners to report cases and improving investigator skills, indicating current efforts address the need for robust reporting mechanisms.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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2 Conclusion Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
We hope work to improve investigations at UK ODA receiving partners will continue under the...
We hope work to improve investigations at UK ODA receiving partners will continue under the merged FCDO in a way that encourages participation of the local population in the process. However, the culture of the sector (described in Chapter 4 … Read more
Government Response
The government describes its current activities, including funding an SEAH investigator training course, supporting employment cycle schemes, and continuing consultation with stakeholders to improve investigations and culture.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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4 Conclusion Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
The work undertaken by the UK government and the sector as a whole to improve...
The work undertaken by the UK government and the sector as a whole to improve reporting and investigations and provide additional guidance is welcome, however, the lack of capacity in the sector and absence of common standard for investigations means … Read more
Government Response
The government details its existing due diligence processes, monitoring of partners' whistleblowing practices, and engagement with whistleblowers to ensure support and prevent retaliation, arguing that its current approach is effective.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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12 Conclusion Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
Although the aid sector faces additional challenges due the international nature of many of its...
Although the aid sector faces additional challenges due the international nature of many of its perpetrators, the FCDO can use the experience of International Justice Mission to help inform how it can better support countries to strengthen their local justice … Read more
Government Response
The government states it already takes an internal approach to safeguarding, emphasizing its integration into partner organisations and taking quick action when needed, and supports organisations to drive internal culture change.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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14 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
The FCDO should consider how it can join-up its diplomatic and aid functions to better...
The FCDO should consider how it can join-up its diplomatic and aid functions to better support victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. UK High Commissions and Embassies in countries that receive UK Aid should develop the capacity to provide support … Read more
Government Response
The government asserts that the FCDO has been joining up diplomatic and aid functions from day one and will continue to do so, highlighting the establishment of a Due Diligence Hub to build staff capability, though this does not directly address embassy capacity for victim support.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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19 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
Aid organisations must acknowledge the extreme power imbalances that have been a feature of the...
Aid organisations must acknowledge the extreme power imbalances that have been a feature of the sector and design their programmes in a way that empowers beneficiaries. Managers should be held responsible for instilling an open and inclusive culture at their … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights its existing due diligence assessments, funding agreement expectations, and consistent engagement with multilateral partners to ensure safeguarding procedures are met. It also notes securing an agreement for MOPAN to include SEAH indicators in assessments from 2021, asserting its current leverage and accountability mechanisms.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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22 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
The measures promoted by the Safeguarding Leads Network appear to be consistent with DFID’s enhanced...
The measures promoted by the Safeguarding Leads Network appear to be consistent with DFID’s enhanced due diligence assessments for implementing partners and should be applied consistently, including to private sector partners, in order to strengthen safeguarding standards across all aspects … Read more
Government Response
The government states that it has recently agreed to enforce enhanced due diligence procedures, including their consistent application to private sector partners, to strengthen safeguarding standards across all aspects of aid delivery.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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25 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
The Committee recognises that there remain gaps in impartial oversight led by donor organisations.
The Committee recognises that there remain gaps in impartial oversight led by donor organisations. In its response to this report the Government should set out how the CBCM model will provide an independent avenue to survivors to seek justice when … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the existing Supply Partner Code of Conduct already provides an independent avenue for survivors to seek justice. It also indicates that it will look to strengthen the language on expectations in future updates.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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27 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
The UN should not invoke immunity to protect perpetrators of sexual exploitation and abuse from...
The UN should not invoke immunity to protect perpetrators of sexual exploitation and abuse from robust investigation. The UK should work with the UN to ensure that UN immunity is not being used to protect perpetrators and call-out UN entities … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation and states it is happy to work with the UN to ensure immunity is not used to protect perpetrators and to call out entities misusing immunity provisions.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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31 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
The UN trust fund for victims is an important resource for ensuring that beneficiaries who...
The UN trust fund for victims is an important resource for ensuring that beneficiaries who experience sexual exploitation and abuse at the hands of UN personnel receive the support they need. The UK should consider providing funding for the trust … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating it has recently agreed to provide funding for the UN trust fund for victims.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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32 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
We welcome ICAI’s review of sexual exploitation and abuse in international peacekeeping.
We welcome ICAI’s review of sexual exploitation and abuse in international peacekeeping. A culture of impunity among peacekeeping troops has contributed to the persistence of sexual exploitation and abuse. Perpetrators need to know that if they are caught, they will … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the characterisation of apathy but agrees on the importance of leadership commitment to tackling SEA, and states it is already funding projects that provide technical guidance and workshops for peacekeeping leadership to build a strong safeguarding culture.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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33 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
The UK should work with the UN to strengthen monitoring and oversight of peacekeeping missions,...
The UK should work with the UN to strengthen monitoring and oversight of peacekeeping missions, and to ensure that peacekeeping is properly resourced so that the UN can refuse troops from countries that have a history of unaddressed misconduct. (Paragraph … Read more
Government Response
The government states it already actively works with the UN to strengthen monitoring and oversight, citing actions in the Security Council, mandates for repatriation, and efforts since 2016 to improve resourcing and consider conduct history in deployment decisions.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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36 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
For transparency, future progress reports should include an update on each aspect of the commitments,...
For transparency, future progress reports should include an update on each aspect of the commitments, even if it is a nil return.
Government Response
The government explicitly agrees to include updates on each aspect of commitments, even nil returns, in future progress reports for transparency.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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37 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
In recent years DFID has included a specific safeguarding section in its annual reports and...
In recent years DFID has included a specific safeguarding section in its annual reports and accounts. In 2019–20 this included important data on the number of safeguarding reports that DFID received. This is good practice and should be replicated by … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating the FCDO intends to replicate DFID's approach of including a specific safeguarding section with data in its annual reports and accounts, subject to finalising the structure.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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38 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
The Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative has lost its way since Foreign Secretary Hague...
The Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative has lost its way since Foreign Secretary Hague left the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The permanent team of staff dedicated to the initiative is small and funding has dwindled. Similar to our findings … Read more
Government Response
The government states PSVI remains a top priority and that FCDO plans to develop a three-year strategy, including an evidence-based Theory of Change with embedded monitoring, evaluation, and learning, with consultations beginning in early 2021.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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39 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Progress on tackl…
We hope the FCDO will work positively with its implementing partners to combat sexual exploitation...
We hope the FCDO will work positively with its implementing partners to combat sexual exploitation and abuse in ODA funded programmes. The FCDO should ensure that safeguarding is properly budgeted for in programme contracts and is not undermined by wider … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO states it already actively encourages partners to budget for safeguarding and integrate it into tender processes, viewing it as integral to risk management and value for money. It also confirms it continues to convene and support other UK ODA spending departments on this issue.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 39 of 35 classified
Accepted 16
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 5
Not Addressed 17
Total 35 recs + 4 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
10 Nov 2020 To committee Letter from Minister Nigel Adams MP, Minister of State for Asia on ODA staff terms and conditions on sexual relations with beneficiaries - 6 November 2020
Parliament page
22 Oct 2020 To committee Letter from Chair to Minister Adams on ODA staff terms and conditions on sexual relations with beneficiaries - 22 October 2020
Parliament page
22 Oct 2020 To committee Letter from Minister Adams on ODA staff terms and conditions on sexual relations with beneficiaries - 16 October 2020
Parliament page
15 Sep 2020 Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to the Chair on HMG’s funding relationship with Save the Children
Parliament page