Seventh Report - Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries

Select Committee
International Development Committee HC 605 14 January 2021
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 39 items (35 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 39 of 39 classified)
Accepted 16
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 5
Not Addressed 17
Government response
Seventh Special Report: Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries: Government Response to the Seventh Report of the Committee, Session 2019–21 · published 6 Apr 2021
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Recommendations & Conclusions

16 results
1 Recommendation Accepted
Para 20
Aid organisations must be alert to the barriers that might prevent aid beneficiaries from reporting...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 26
We hope work to improve investigations at UK ODA receiving partners will continue under the...
Conclusion
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 Summary
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
Para 29
The work undertaken by the UK government and the sector as a whole to improve...
Conclusion
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 Summary
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
Although the aid sector faces additional challenges due the international nature of many of its...
Conclusion
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 Summary
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
Para 57
The FCDO should consider how it can join-up its diplomatic and aid functions to better...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 73
Aid organisations must acknowledge the extreme power imbalances that have been a feature of the...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 90
The measures promoted by the Safeguarding Leads Network appear to be consistent with DFID’s enhanced...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 98
The Committee recognises that there remain gaps in impartial oversight led by donor organisations.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 104
The UN should not invoke immunity to protect perpetrators of sexual exploitation and abuse from...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
The UN trust fund for victims is an important resource for ensuring that beneficiaries who...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 124
We welcome ICAI’s review of sexual exploitation and abuse in international peacekeeping.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
The UK should work with the UN to strengthen monitoring and oversight of peacekeeping missions,...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 132
For transparency, future progress reports should include an update on each aspect of the commitments,...
Recommendation
For transparency, future progress reports should include an update on each aspect of the commitments, even if it is a nil return.
Government Response Summary
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
Para 133
In recent years DFID has included a specific safeguarding section in its annual reports and...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 137
The Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative has lost its way since Foreign Secretary Hague...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
We hope the FCDO will work positively with its implementing partners to combat sexual exploitation...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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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