A) Objectives of the pledge:
Prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment are critical in humanitarian action to prevent harm and maintain trust, safety and integrity.
Humanitarian, fragile, and/or conflict-affected situations heighten the risks that humanitarian personnel commit sexual exploitation and abuse against those they serve. Such risks are underpinned and caused by power imbalances linked to social, age and gender-related inequalities, compounded by weak or non-existent policies, operational accountabilities and frameworks and capacity to adequately equip staff to prevent and respond to such abuse of power. Incidents are frequently underreported due to fear of reprisals, lack of trust in reporting mechanisms, or lack of access to justice, health services, psychosocial support and other relevant services.
We pledge to better prevent and respond to sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment through advocacy for institutional and leadership commitment and through increased support to capacity development and system strengthening. The aim of the pledge is to both support the strengthening of the Red Cross Red Crescent’s protection of persons who come into contact with, or benefit from, the movement’s protection or assistance, staff, volunteers, and associated personnel as well as support the movement’s efforts to strengthen its victim/survivor-centred responses to ensure that support is provided to those whose rights have been violated by Red Cross Red Crescent movement’s actors.
B) Action plan:
For the years 2024-2028, the Icelandic Government and the Icelandic Red Cross hereby pledge:
- Advocacy
- To actively advocate for and support Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse at international fora including with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
- Capacity strengthening
- To enhance the capacity of the Icelandic Red Cross to strengthen partners’ capacity to prevent and respond to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
- Implementation
- To increase financial and technical support to actions to prevent and respond to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
- To keep supporting and implementing protection, gender-responsive and inclusive humanitarian action in order to prevent and build an environment for better response to safeguarding concerns.
C) Indicators for measuring progress:
Evaluation criteria
- Number of Icelandic Red Cross staff trained and further enabled to provide technical support to partners to build and maintain PSEA capacity.
- Number of National Societies in Africa region and/or Middle East supported to undertake safeguarding self-assessment or safeguarding action plans.
- Number of National Societies in Africa region and/or Middle East supported to develop policies on PSEA and to build and implement safe systems.
D) Resource implications:
N/A