Report on PSEA Initiatives in Yemen and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Upholding Human Dignity in Humanitarian Aid

The persistence of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) perpetrated by aid workers presents a significant challenge to the integrity of humanitarian operations and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work of Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) focal points within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is critical to addressing this issue. This report details the PSEA initiatives in Yemen, highlighting their direct contribution to several key SDGs.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: PSEA efforts are fundamental to protecting women and girls from violence and exploitation, a core target of SDG 5.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: By establishing robust reporting mechanisms and codes of conduct, PSEA work aims to end abuse and build accountable, transparent institutions.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Preventing the severe physical and psychological trauma of SEA is essential for ensuring the well-being of aid recipients.

PSEA Strategy and Implementation in Yemen

The OCHA Yemen office has demonstrated a pioneering role in integrating PSEA measures into its operations. The appointment of a dedicated PSEA Focal Point in 2016 marked a significant step towards institutionalizing these protections. Key achievements contributing to SDG 16 (Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) include:

1. The co-founding of an inter-agency PSEA network in Yemen, fostering a collaborative approach to protection.
2. The development and implementation of a comprehensive PSEA action plan, ensuring its dissemination to all staff levels, from senior management to support personnel.
3. Establishing OCHA Yemen as the first office in the Middle East and North Africa region to formalize such a comprehensive PSEA action plan.

Challenges in Achieving SDG-Aligned Protection

Several significant barriers impede the full realization of PSEA objectives and related SDGs in Yemen. These challenges directly threaten progress on ensuring gender equality and access to justice.

• Cultural Barriers: The taboo nature of discussing sexual abuse creates a climate of silence, making it difficult for survivors to speak out, which directly undermines efforts related to SDG 5.
• Fear of Reprisal: Survivors often fear stigma, retaliation, or the loss of access to life-saving assistance. This fear creates a critical protection gap and jeopardizes the principles of SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by conditioning aid on silence.
• Reporting Difficulties: The combination of cultural sensitivity and fear makes confidential reporting extremely challenging, hindering the accountability mechanisms required under SDG 16.

Strategic Interventions and Community Engagement

To overcome these challenges, the PSEA strategy in Yemen focuses on embedding protection principles into every aspect of humanitarian work. The following interventions are employed to build trust and empower communities, thereby advancing key SDG targets:

1. Building Trust with Vulnerable Groups: Field visits are utilized to conduct focused group discussions in safe spaces, particularly for women. This approach helps build the trust necessary for survivors to report abuse, directly supporting the empowerment targets of SDG 5.
2. Community-Level Awareness Campaigns: Direct engagement in communities, especially in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), includes awareness sessions and the distribution of informational materials. These activities inform people of their rights and the availability of safe, confidential reporting channels.
3. Mainstreaming PSEA: Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse is treated as an integral component of all humanitarian missions, not a peripheral task. This ensures that the principles of dignity and safety are central to aid delivery.
4. Promoting Secure Reporting: A consistent emphasis is placed on the fact that all reports, including rumours, are taken seriously and can be made anonymously through official channels like the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), reinforcing the commitment to justice and accountability under SDG 16.

Conclusion: A Collective Responsibility for the SDGs

The United Nations maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. Upholding this standard is a collective duty essential for protecting the dignity of aid recipients and ensuring the credibility of humanitarian action. Fulfilling this responsibility is intrinsically linked to the success of the Sustainable Development Goals.

• All personnel must complete mandatory PSEA training and adhere strictly to the UN Code of Conduct.
• It is an obligation to report any and all suspicions or allegations of SEA through official channels without attempting to conduct personal investigations.
• Encouraging and enabling communities to report safely is paramount to creating an environment free from exploitation.

By embedding PSEA principles into all operations, the humanitarian community can better safeguard vulnerable populations and make meaningful progress toward achieving a just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) by aid workers in Yemen connects to several Sustainable Development Goals. The core issues of protecting vulnerable populations, ensuring accountability, and promoting gender equality are central to the 2030 Agenda.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal is directly relevant as the article focuses on sexual exploitation and abuse, a form of gender-based violence that disproportionately affects women and girls. The narrative of Saba Gawbah, the “first and only female staff member in the field at the time,” also highlights the gender dynamics within humanitarian organizations themselves. Her work in building trust specifically “with women—through focused group discussions in safe spaces” underscores the gendered nature of the problem and the solution.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article’s theme of accountability and institutional integrity. The article discusses the need to prevent abuse of power by aid workers and establish robust systems for justice. It explicitly mentions the “UN Code of Conduct,” the establishment of an “inter-agency PSEA network,” and formal “reporting channels” like OIOS. These efforts are about building “effective, accountable and transparent institutions” within the humanitarian sector to prevent and respond to violence and exploitation.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article addresses the power imbalance between aid workers and the communities they serve, particularly vulnerable groups like internally displaced persons (IDPs). Sexual exploitation is an extreme manifestation of this inequality. The efforts described, such as raising “awareness about their rights” and ensuring they can report concerns without fear of “losing access to aid,” are aimed at empowering these communities and reducing their vulnerability, thereby addressing the inequalities that make them targets for abuse.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific targets under the identified SDGs are applicable.

1. Targets under SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The article’s entire focus is on preventing “sexual exploitation and abuse” perpetrated by aid workers against community members, which directly aligns with this target.
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The work to create “safe spaces” for women and build trust with them addresses the specific forms of discrimination and vulnerability that make them targets of exploitation.

2. Targets under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article addresses a specific form of violence—sexual violence and exploitation—and details efforts to prevent it within humanitarian contexts.
   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. Although the article emphasizes women, the work in IDP camps and the broad nature of PSEA inherently includes the protection of children, who are extremely vulnerable to the forms of abuse and exploitation mentioned.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The creation of a “comprehensive PSEA action plan,” the establishment of an “inter-agency PSEA network,” and the promotion of clear reporting mechanisms (“report through OIOS”) are all concrete examples of building accountable and transparent institutional practices within OCHA and the wider UN system.

3. Targets under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The work of raising awareness among displaced communities about their rights and providing them with safe, confidential channels to report abuse is a direct form of empowerment. It aims to include the most vulnerable in their own protection, challenging the power dynamics that enable exploitation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

• Indicators for Target 5.2 and 16.1 (Eliminating Violence)

  • Number of reported cases of sexual exploitation and abuse: The article highlights that reporting is “extremely difficult” due to fear and stigma. An increase in confidential reports through established channels could indicate greater trust and awareness, which is a sign of progress. The article urges people to “report any suspected cases.”
  • Number of people reached through awareness-raising activities: Progress can be measured by tracking the number of “awareness sessions” held, “flyers and posters” distributed, and people engaged in “focused group discussions,” especially in high-risk areas like IDP camps.

• Indicators for Target 16.6 (Accountable Institutions)

  • Existence and implementation of institutional PSEA action plans: The article proudly notes that “OCHA Yemen was the first office in the Middle East and North Africa region to establish a comprehensive PSEA action plan.” The development and rollout of such plans across all offices is a clear indicator of institutional commitment.
  • Percentage of staff trained on PSEA: The call to action to “Complete your training, sign the pledge, and stay informed” implies that staff training and compliance are key metrics for ensuring institutional accountability.
  • Establishment of safe and accessible reporting mechanisms: The article mentions the importance of confidential reporting and points to a specific channel (“report through OIOS”). The existence and community awareness of such mechanisms are crucial indicators of an effective system.

• Indicators for Target 10.2 (Empowerment and Inclusion)

  • Community trust in reporting mechanisms: While difficult to quantify, the article identifies “building trust” as the key to addressing underreporting. This can be measured qualitatively through “focused group discussions in safe spaces” and community feedback sessions to gauge their confidence in the system’s confidentiality and effectiveness.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: un.org