Member States reaffirm their commitment to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse and to supporting victims

UN Photo/Evan Schneider

9 Oct 2017

Member States reaffirm their commitment to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse and to supporting victims

Trust Fund

The Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse was established by the United Nations in March 2016. The purpose of the Trust Fund is to provide greater support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations and related personnel.

Since 2016, the Trust Fund had received more than $400,000 in voluntary contributions from five Member States. Part of these funds are being utilized to implement projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the projects will provide specialized services for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, and strengthen community-based complaint reception networks. Similar projects are being identified in the Central African Republic, Liberia and Haiti.

As of September 2017, ten additional Member States had committed to making contributions to the Trust Fund. These contributions reinforce the Secretary-General’s clear commitment to putting the rights and dignity of victims first. With the most recent contributions, the total amount available to the Trust Fund will rise to approximately $1.5 million dollars. This amount includes around $100,000 in funds from withheld payments to troop- and police-contributing countries whose personnel have been the subjects of substantiated allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. Click here to read more.

 

Voluntary Compact

The Secretary-General has invited Member States to enter into a Voluntary Compact on Elimination of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, as described in his report on Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (A/71/818, of 28 February 2017). The Compact is a visible demonstration of solidarity and commitment between Member States and the Organization to combat sexual exploitation and abuse. The Compact contains a statement of common purpose and it defines specific commitments of both the United Nations and its Member States in this regard.

The Secretary-General introduced the Compact at the High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of 18 September 2017, which brought together world leaders and leaders of regional and civil society organizations to support the Secretary-General's strategy aimed at comprehensively responding to sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel. A large number of Member States have signed or indicated their intention to sign the Compact. Click here to read more.

As of 8 March 2021, 103 Member States had signed the Voluntary Compact. Click here for an updated list of the signatories.