PROTECTION AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE POLICY

INTRODUCTION:
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) is Particular forms of GBV that have been reported in humanitarian contexts, specifically alleged against humanitarian workers.

Sexual Exploitation: Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another

Sexual Abuse: The actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

OVERVIEW:
This section outlines the CDO Policy and Procedures for Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, including the mandatory awareness-raising training and reporting procedures. All CDO staff members are expected and required to understand what SEA is, engage in behavior that respects and fosters the rights of beneficiaries, and report in good faith any SEA allegations, concerns or suspicions, or retaliation related to SEA.

THIS POLICY APPLIES TO:
CDO staff, whether national, international, full time, part time or engaged on short-term contracts, e.g. consultants, researchers etc.
Volunteers, trustees and board members of CDO, Civil Development members and other representatives.
Staff and representatives of partner agencies and any other individuals, groups or organizations who have a formal/contractual relationship with CDO that involves any contact with children (unless it is formally agreed that a partner organization may enforce its own safeguarding or protection policy).
Donors, journalists, celebrities, politicians and other people who visit CDO programs or offices in order to make contact with children must be made aware that this Protocol applies to them while visiting our programs or offices.
All staff and partners are expected to abide by this policy in their personal and professional life. Failure to do so can lead to disciplinary action including termination of contract.

DESCRIPTION:
The CDO Standards of Conduct states:
CDO staff members shall provide humanitarian assistance and services in a manner that respects and fosters the rights of beneficiaries. For this reason and because there is often an inherent and important power differential in the interactions between staff members and beneficiaries, CDO strongly discourages staff members from having any sexual relationships with beneficiaries.
In addition, CDO staff members shall protect against and prevent sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (SEA) of beneficiaries. Abusive and exploitative sexual activities with beneficiaries are absolutely prohibited.
This is not an exhaustive or exclusive list. Staff, consultants, contractors, partners and other representatives should at all times avoid actions or behavior which may allow behavior to be misrepresented, constitute poor practice or potentially abusive behavior.

BASIC STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES:
In order to protect the most vulnerable populations and to ensure the integrity of CDO’s activities, the following specific standards shall be followed:
1. Exchange of money, employment, goods, assistance or services for sex, including sexual favors or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour, is prohibited.
2. Sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18) is prohibited, regardless of the age of majority or age of consent locally. Mistaken belief regarding the age of a child is not a defence. This prohibition shall not apply if the CDO staff member is legally married to someone under the age of 18 but over the age of majority or consent in both the CDO staff member and spouse’s country of citizenship.
3. Sexual exploitation and abuse among CDO staff members are prohibited.
4. Using the services of prostitutes or sex workers is prohibited, regardless of the legal status of prostitution in the laws of the CDO staff members’ home country or duty stations. This prohibition extends to the use of prostitution outside working hours, including while on Rest & Recuperation and home leave.
The above-mentioned acts are not intended to be an exhaustive list. The above-mentioned acts, as well as other types of sexually exploitive or sexually abusive behavior constitute serious misconduct and, as such, are grounds for disciplinary measures, including summary dismissal.
All CDO staff members, particularly managers, are obliged to create and maintain an environment that prevents SEA. The failure of CDO staff members to appropriately prevent or follow-up on claims of SEA, may be reflected in the staff members’ performance appraisal and constitute grounds for disciplinary measures.
As set out in the policy, every CDO staff member shall:
Read and ensure that they understand:
1. A Report in good faith SEA allegations, concerns or suspicions or retaliation related to SEA that they have witnessed, or know of, by other CDO staff members, employees or other personnel of CDO Contractors, any other person working on CDO projects, or by people employed by or working for other organizations.
2. Cooperate fully with those responsible for investigating a report or complaint about SEA.

CDO head office and all the offices and branches in Iraq shall, within their area of responsibility:
1. Serve as focal points for the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (“PSEA focal point”), who will inform CDO staff members under their supervision of the contents of rules and policy of CDO, remind them of CDO’s zero tolerance policy for SEA at every appropriate opportunity, and ensure that their staff receive a copy of this policy.
2. Act as role models in making every reasonable effort to create and maintain an environment that assists in preventing SEA by CDO staff members;
3. Take appropriate action upon receipt of any report or complaint about SEA allegations, concerns or suspicions or retaliation related to SEA.
4. Ensure that each agreement signed with an CDO Contractor includes the CDO standard clause on PSEA, or receive approval from the Gender Coordination Unit if the standard clause cannot be used owing to exceptional circumstances;
5. Ensure that all CDO staff members under their supervision participate in available training on PSEA and related issues on a regular and timely basis and as needed;
6. Take reasonable steps to prevent and monitor SEA-related retaliation against and by all CDO staff members under their supervision;
7.Discuss PSEA, as appropriate, as part of the Staff Evaluation System process.
When PSEA focal points receive any SEA report or complaint from any source, including from the local referral complaint mechanism, they should promptly report the issue to the HR department in CDO head office.
Reference to the above and below rules and instructions about CDO SEA policy I hear by and
I undertake not to abuse the power and influence that I have by virtue of my position over the lives and wellbeing of persons of concern.
I will never request any service or favour from persons of concern in return for protection or assistance. I will never engage in any exploitative relationships – sexual, emotional, financial or employment-related – with beneficiaries or other persons of concern.
Should I find myself in such a relationship with a beneficiary that I consider non-exploitative and consensual, I will report this to my supervisor for appropriate guidance in the knowledge that this matter will be treated with due discretion. I understand that both my supervisor and I have available to us normal consultative and recourse mechanisms on these issues.
I will act responsibly when hiring or otherwise engaging persons of concern for private services. I will report in writing on the nature and conditions of this employment to my supervisor.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROTECTION AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE POLICY
I affirm that I have read and understood the CDO policy of Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse