Recommendations & Conclusions
16 items
1
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 means to report their concerns and complaints. This might include …
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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 means to report their concerns and complaints. This might include face-to-face reporting if they prefer and will often involve community- based organisations and safe spaces for women to report, without necessarily going through the formal mechanisms set up by the aid providers. These community-based organisations should also be encouraged to hold open and frank conversations with aid beneficiaries about any concerns they have about the aid organisations operating in the area, to encourage them to open up about the experiences they have had.
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
2
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 of this report) is also key to ensuring that robust …
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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 of this report) is also key to ensuring that robust investigations are undertaken and complaints against perpetrators are upheld.
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
4
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 that the outcomes of investigations are unreliable. Therefore, there is …
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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 that the outcomes of investigations are unreliable. Therefore, there is a risk that the employment cycle schemes could be used to retaliate against people who raise legitimate concerns and they might fail to properly identify and prevent the re-employment of perpetrators.
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
12
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 mechanisms and ensure that survivors have confidence in local authorities …
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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 mechanisms and ensure that survivors have confidence in local authorities to restrain their abusers and offer meaningful protection. (Paragraph 53) 50 Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
14
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 to victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse where …
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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 to victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse where the perpetrator was British or employed by a British aid organisation. In particular, they should use their experience and contacts to help the victims and survivors to navigate the local legal system, where applicable.
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Government response AI 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 …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
19
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 organisation that is actively anti-racist, where all staff are valued …
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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 organisation that is actively anti-racist, where all staff are valued and safeguarding against sexual exploitation and abuse is ingrained in its daily operations. They should be reprimanded when it is clear this hasn’t happened.
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Government response AI 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 …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
22
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 of aid delivery. The FCDO should enforce the enhanced due …
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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 of aid delivery. The FCDO should enforce the enhanced due diligence procedures developed by DFID and ensure compliance is more than a tick-box exercise at its delivery partners.
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
25
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 the regular reporting mechanisms fail. It should also outline any …
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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 the regular reporting mechanisms fail. It should also outline any other avenues it is exploring to ensure that proper oversight is introduced.
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
27
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 that have misused immunity provisions.
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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 that have misused immunity provisions.
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
31
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 fund for victims to contribute to the vital services it …
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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 fund for victims to contribute to the vital services it supports. (Paragraph 117) Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries 53
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating it has recently agreed to provide funding for the UN trust fund for victims.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
32
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 be punished. The UK should design its programmes for preventing …
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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 be punished. The UK should design its programmes for preventing sexual exploitation and abuse in a way that seeks to tackle apathy among middle and senior level leadership in peacekeeping missions and builds a strong safeguarding culture.
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
33
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 125) The role of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
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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 125) The role of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
36
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
For transparency, future progress reports should include an update on each aspect of the commitments, even if it is a nil return.
Government response AI summary
The government explicitly agrees to include updates on each aspect of commitments, even nil returns, in future progress reports for transparency.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
37
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 the FCDO.
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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 the FCDO.
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
38
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 for the aid sector, it could be improved through better …
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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 for the aid sector, it could be improved through better engagement with local populations. The FCDO should use the merger as an opportunity to reinvigorate the PSVI and the Gender Equality Division should develop a coherent strategy for the initiative which is coordinated with the wider priorities of the Unit. The FCDO should consider how the Research and Evidence Division can help to improve monitoring and learning so the initiative can be strengthened in future and adopt longer funding cycles to enable long-term planning.
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Government response AI 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.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
39
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Progress on tackling t…
Accepted
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 value for money requirements. It should also show leadership on …
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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 value for money requirements. It should also show leadership on this issue among other UK ODA spending departments. (Paragraph 140) 54 Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries
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Government response AI 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 …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office