Christian Saunders took up his responsibilities as Special Coordinator on improving the United Nations response to sexual exploitation and abuse in September 2022. His role is to work across the United Nations system’s offices, departments, and agencies to strengthen the UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse, wherever it may occur, from headquarters locations to the most remote field bases. Mr. Saunders coordinates efforts across the United Nations system to streamline approaches, enhance system-wide cooperation and coherence through the development and adoption of aligned mechanisms and procedures.
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The UN works with partners, communities and member states to achieve a harmonized, inclusive and effective approach to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. -
Local communities are essential partners in preventing and addressing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. -
The Special Coordinator for Improving the UN’s Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse can often be found in the field raising awareness and promoting an inclusive approach to preventing and addressing sexual misconduct. -
Raising awareness among Member States on victims/survivors’ rights. Combating sexual exploitation and abuse with a victim-centred approach is a key priority for the Victims’ Rights Advocate. -
Engaging with local partners and crisis affected populations is crucial to ensure that people 'know their rights' and recognize and report sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. -
The UN works to foster an accountable organizational culture of zero tolerance for inaction on sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. -
Practitioners on protection from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, gather to facilitate knowledge and best practice exchange. -
Ensuring the community perspective is integrated in all efforts to prevent and address sexual exploitation and abuse is critical.
In May 2024, Najla Nassif Palma assumed the role of the United Nations Victims’ Rights Advocate. Her system-wide mandate is to prioritize the rights and dignity of victims/survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations and related personnel. ASG Najla Nassif Palma advocates to ensure victims/survivors will have a voice, assistance, and justice. She works with United Nations entities across the system to ensure that victims/survivors receive appropriate personal care, follow-up attention and information on the progress of their case. She also works closely with government institutions, civil society and national legal and human rights organizations in both host countries and the countries of alleged perpetrators to build networks of support and to assist in ensuring that the full effect of local laws, including remedies for victims, are brought to bear.
The Department for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC) is responsible for enforcing United Nations policies on conduct in UN peace operations. In this regard, DMSPC works closely with the Department for Peace Operations and the Department for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs. The Conduct and Discipline Service (CDS), provides overall direction for conduct and discipline issues, including on combatting sexual exploitation and abuse.
The UN has recognized sexual exploitation and abuse as a system-wide challenge that demands a unified response. In line with this new strategy, the Secretary-General called on all Agencies, Funds, and Programmes to step up, adopting stronger measures to prevent, detect, report, and take decisive action against those who commit these abhorrent acts.