UNICEF's fight against sexual misconduct
Learn about our efforts to tackle sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, as well as sexual harassment.
UNICEF is committed to tackling all forms of sexual misconduct and sexual violence. The United Nations distinguishes between sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual violence against children.
Sexual exploitation refers to any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, perpetrated by aid workers against the children and families we serve. Sexual abuse is the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions, perpetrated by aid workers against the children and families we serve. Read about UNICEF's work.
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favour, verbal or physical conduct or gesture of a sexual nature, or any other behaviour of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation to another when such conduct interferes with work, perpetrated by aid workers against fellow aid workers. Read about UNICEF's work.
Sexual violence against children is the programmatic definition for related misconduct perpetrated by anyone other than aid workers. It occurs in every country, across all segments of society. A child may be subjected to sexual violence at home, at school or in their community. Read about UNICEF's work.
Sexual exploitation and abuse
In every context in which UNICEF operates, whether in emergency or non-emergency settings, people trust development and humanitarian workers to assist and protect them. The vast majority do so with professionalism and integrity. However, some aid workers abuse their position of power through the sexual exploitation and abuse of those who depend on them, including children. These acts violate criminal laws.
No one should be harmed at the hands of our own personnel, partners or other associates. UNICEF prohibits sexual exploitation and abuse, applying the Secretary-General’s Bulletin on Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13) and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Six Core Principles. In 2019, we also launched the UNICEF Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment.
UNICEF continuously strives to better tackle sexual exploitation and abuse and to improve the safety of the people we serve, especially in settings where the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse rises. Our goal will always be zero victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, but we know that sexual violence is ubiquitous. It is harder to address an unreported case than a reported case – so we take measures to protect those who report, to assist victims, to address the individual accountability of perpetrators, and to learn from our mistakes. While UNICEF protects confidential case details, we also seek to bring transparency to our work tackling sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, including the challenges we face.
UNICEF’s programming to protect children
UNICEF’s Child Protection programming helps prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. We’re on the ground in more than 150 countries and territories, providing a first line of response for children at risk. UNICEF aims to provide timely assistance to every victim of sexual exploitation and abuse, including through safety and protection, medical care, psychosocial support, education, livelihood support and material assistance, as well as legal assistance and support for children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse.
UNICEF’s work with implementing partners
UNICEF works together with our implementing partners to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse in their operations. UNICEF requires that all civil-society-organization implementing partners are assessed on their capacity to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse and meet specific core standards. One way that UNICEF supports implementing partners is through the UNICEF Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Toolkit.
UNICEF’s work within the United Nations system
UNICEF’s public accountability with respect to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse
UNICEF publicly posts information about reported cases of sexual exploitation and abuse on the UN system-wide tracker, whether the allegations involve personnel or partners implementing its programmes.
Annually, UNICEF’s Executive Director certifies that all known UNICEF cases of sexual exploitation and abuse have been or are being addressed. Past certifications are on the UNICEF Executive Board website (such as here).
UNICEF’s reporting on its review of sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of misconduct is also detailed in the Annual Reports issued by the Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (“OIAI”, a key component of the UNICEF independent internal oversight system) to the UNICEF Executive Board. The annual reports set out OIAI’s case management, an analysis of the allegations received, disposition of completed cases, and disciplinary measures and other actions taken by UNICEF in response to misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. This high-level report is complemented by an addendum detailing the status of all investigations closed during the calendar year.
In all cases, UNICEF shields personal data to protect the safety, security, privacy and due process rights of individuals and maintain the integrity of investigations.
Sexual harassment
UNICEF considers sexual harassment to be a form of misconduct, and takes any reports of sexual harassment seriously. Sexual harassment may occur in the workplace or in connection with work, for example during official travel or social functions related to work. While typically involving a pattern of conduct, sexual harassment may take the form of a single incident. Sexual harassment may involve any conduct of a verbal, nonverbal or physical nature, including written and electronic communications.
Sexual harassment may occur between persons of the same or different genders, and individuals of any gender can be either the affected individuals or the alleged offenders. Sexual harassment may be perpetrated by any colleague, including a supervisor, a peer, a subordinate or a partner. An offender’s status as a supervisor or a senior official may be treated as an aggravating circumstance. Sexual harassment can take a variety of forms – from looks and words, to physical contact of a sexual nature. It can be verbal and non-verbal.
Report sexual exploitation or abuse, sexual harassment or other types of misconduct
If you become aware of credible information regarding a possible situation of sexual exploitation or abuse, sexual harassment or other types of misconduct, please report it directly or through your head of office to UNICEF’s Office of Internal Audit and Investigations by emailing integrity1@unicef.org.
If you are uncertain that the situation is considered sexual exploitation or abuse, if UNICEF personnel are involved or if an alleged incident is related to UNICEF programmes or operations, please consider reporting anyway. It’s better for a report to be made and not needed, than to be needed and not made.
All UNICEF personnel have a duty to report alleged incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse, prohibited conduct, as well as other types of misconduct and wrongdoing, and shall not be retaliated against for complying with this duty.
To request protection against retaliation for making a report or cooperating in an investigation (whistle-blower protection), or if you need confidential advice on ethics matters related to UNICEF, please contact the UNICEF Ethics Office (ethics@unicef.org). Learn more about our procedures: