Three Truths to Address Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment in the UN

The UN Secretariat building in New York City. Credit: UN Photo/Manuel ElíasBy Peter A GalloNEW YORK, Nov 15 2022 (IPS) The U.S. Government has recently published ‘Engagement Principles’ on Protection from Sexual Exploitation Abuse & Sexual Harassment within International Organizations’, and while any involvement from Member States is to be encouraged, these principles do not address the fundamental need for either deterrence or for accountability. The concept of a “survivor-centred approach” – sadly – is an irrelevant sound bite to appease a political lobby. Post-incident care and support for the victim is not only admirable but very necessary but serves no deterrent purpose, and any bearing it might have on the prosecution of an offender will be indirect at best. Nothing done for victims after an incident will prevent future victims being similarly assaulted. One of the accepted tenets of criminology is that criminal activity is not discouraged by procedures, committees, working groups or focal points, nor is there any deterrent effect in increasing the penalty for anyone convicted of the offence; criminal activity is minimised by maximising the likelihood of the perpetrator being held accountable for their actions. The UN choses to ignore that, and will not acknowledge three basic truths the Member States must recognise: FIRST: that any sexual assault is a serious criminal offence that should be prosecuted as such. In the real world...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Civil Society Featured Gender Gender Violence Global Headlines Health Human Rights TerraViva United Nations IPS UN Bureau Source Type: news