Syria - Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

February 2023 - Years of active conflict and displacement inside Syria have resulted in severe protection risks including widespread sexual and gender-based violence for millions of conflicted-affected people. Sexual exploitation and abuse of beneficiaries by humanitarian aid workers is a serious concern for the international humanitarian and development community and represents one of the most egregious failures of protection. The prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers on beneficiaries is a priority of the United Nations Secretary-General and the international community to ensure that assistance does not harm beneficiaries. With GAC’s support the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is maintaining and expanding the systematic inter-agency approach between humanitarian organizations to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse of beneficiaries by aid workers within Syria. Project activities include: (1) strengthening codes of conduct of aid workers within humanitarian organizations; (2) developing and strengthening a community-based complaints mechanism for complainants or survivors sexually exploited or abused by aid workers; and (3) establishing and strengthening networks amongst humanitarian organizations inside Syria to manage the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse of beneficiaries by aid workers.

The expected outcome for this project is an improved inter-agency system across the three operational hubs of Syria to safely receive complaints protect and assist survivors and ensure appropriate follow up. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or food insecure.