Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Click here to submit an allegation
The UN has a “zero tolerance” policy on sexual exploitation and abuse.
If you are the victim of sexual exploitation or abuse conducted by a UN member of staff in Guyana, or by one of our partner organizations, you can report it, confidentially, via this online form (24 hours), or by calling +592 632 0222 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday).
This reporting mechanism is available for anyone to use.
All United Nations staff and partner organizations in Guyana and around the world are strictly prohibited from:
- Engaging in any type of sexual conduct with another person in exchange for money, employment, preferential treatment, goods, or services.
- Engaging in any type of sexual conduct with a person under 18 years of age.
- Engaging in any type of sexual conduct with those people to whom services, assistance, and/or with respect to whom there is a protection mandate are provided.
- Engaging in any sexual practice that is humiliating, degrading, or involves any type of exploitation.
Reporting wrongdoing
You can report wrongdoing, including allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, in several ways. The information you submit will be treated confidentially, and the identity of the complainant or victim will be protected. Information about the allegation will be shared only with the relevant and independent investigating authorities in the UN.
Making allegations that you know to be false may render you liable to legal or disciplinary proceedings.
Reporting mechanisms
You can make a complaint or allegation through any of the following mechanisms:
Click here to submit an allegation via the confidential Guyana online reporting form.
Call the Guyana PSEA phoneline: +592 632 0222. (9am – 5pm Monday-Friday).
Submit a report via the international Office of Internal Oversight Services ‘Report Wrongdoing’ online form.
Call the international ‘Report Wrongdoing’ hotline: + 1 212 963 1111. (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Submit a report of SEA to the individual reporting mechanism of a specific United Nations entity.
What is Sexual Exploitation and Abuse?
Sexual exploitation: is 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: is actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.
Sexual Harassment versus sexual exploitation and abuse
SEA occurs against a project beneficiary or member of the community. Sexual harassment typically occurs between personnel/staff and involves any unwelcome sexual advance or unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
Who does the UN’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy apply to?
The policy applies to all UN Personnel and UN Implementing Partners.
- "UN Personnel” means staff members of the UN Secretariat or any UN System Organization, UN Volunteers working with any such organization, people deployed to a UN System Organization under Stand-by Personnel arrangements or on reimbursable loans, interns, people deployed to a UN System Organization through an employment agency or similar arrangements, gratis personnel, and individuals who have a consultancy contract with a UN System Organization, as well as international or regional military forces operating as part of a UN Peacekeeping Mission or otherwise under or associated with a UN mandate.
- "UN Implementing partner" is an entity to which a UN office or entity has entrusted the implementation of a programme and/or project specified in a signed document, along with the assumption of responsibility and accountability for the effective use of resources and the delivery of outputs. Implementing partners may include – but are not limited to Government institutions, Inter-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, including NGOs, the sub-contractors of implementing partners.
Relevant resources
United Nations: Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Taking action on sexual harassment at the UN
List of UN agency reporting websites
UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services
United Nations Internal Justice System
Office of Internal Oversight Services