Office of the Victims' Rights Advocate
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The Victims’ Rights Advocate on a field visit in South Sudan
What We Do
The Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate seeks to put the rights and dignity of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations and related personnel at the forefront of the United Nation’s prevention and response efforts. We work with all entities of the United Nations system, so victims get the assistance and support they need. We also work in collaboration with Member States, civil society, including national human rights institutions to build networks of support and help ensure that the full effect of local laws, including remedies for victims, are brought to bear.
"I have the right" | Victims of Sexual Exploitation & Abuse
Weaving a Way to Independence
Recent News
INTERVIEW: ‘Extremely difficult conversations’: Seeking justice for sexual abuse victims
30 April 2023 - Critics have said justice takes too long, and perpetrators are not always held accountable in cases of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by UN personnel. Appointed by the Secretary-General in 2017, Jane Connors, the UN’s first Victims’ Rights Advocate, is tasked with getting a victim-centred approach installed across the system’s more than 35 entities.
United Nations System-wide Training Module on the Rights and Dignity of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment
27 January 2023 - The Office of the Victims' Rights Advocate, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Chief Executives Board Task Force on Addressing Sexual Harassment, has produced a United Nations System-wide Training Module to provide participants with a clear and practical understanding of what the victim-centred approach means and what needs to be done to put a victim/survivor first. The training module, intended for all United Nations staff and related personnel, outlines the responsibilities of each person working for the United Nations so they will know how to respond in accordance with the victim-centred approach when they become aware of an allegation of sexual misconduct. See more information about the training module, including all materials.
Guterres vows to improve UN’s handling of sexual exploitation and abuse
15 March 2022 - UN Secretary-General António Guterres released his annual update on the Organization’s efforts to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) on Tuesday, dovetailing with his system-wide strategy, launched in 2017, to stamp out incidents by placing victims at the heart of efforts, throughout the system.
Despite pandemic, UN continues to fight "scourge" of sexual exploitation and abuse
21 March 2021 — UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday, released his annual update on how the Organization is working to stamp out the “scourge” of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) through its zero-tolerance policy, which required special measures this year in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sexual abuse a problem for the whole UN system: Victims' Rights Advocate
14 November 2020 — As the UN’s first-ever Victims’ Rights Advocate, Jane Connors has to confront an uncomfortable reality: sexual abuse and exploitation – or SEA for short - carried out by UN personnel.
Restoring dignity to victims of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN personnel
6 July 2020 — Projects supported by a UN trust fund for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel, are helping victims to regain their dignity, learn new skills, and improve their livelihoods.
More support needed for victims of sexual abuse by UN personnel
13 March 2020 — Although measures to support victims of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) committed by UN personnel are proving effective, there is still room to do more, the senior official leading these efforts told journalists in New York on Friday.