When Band-Aids Don’t Work: Ending Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Humanitarian Aid Workers

Humanitarian action is selfless, impactful, and supposed to help the people in the world who need it most. However, what happens when the people tasked with helping instead cause even more harm? Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by aid workers in humanitarian settings habitually occurs in countries that need humanitarian aid the most. Misconduct allegations have been made against numerous organizations in various geographic locations. If the abuser raises more donor funds or is deemed an essential employee, often little consequences occur, leaving the victim to face continued abuse and hardships. Until it stops, those in the most vulnerable of circumstances will continue to experience additional agony. Band-aids are not working; it is time to implement zero-tolerance policies towards SEA in the humanitarian aid sector and protect humanitarian aid beneficiaries. 

History Repeats: SEA in Humanitarian Settings

Current policies aimed towards ending SEA in humanitarian aid settings are not working, as evidenced by the continued abuse instances. According to The New Humanitarian, in the past 25 years, abuse in humanitarian settings by aid workers has occurred in the Balkans, West Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Haiti, Central African Republic (CAR), and now Iraq. In this time, there have been allegations against the UN, UNICEF, and recently against Save the Children and Oxfam. The issue of SEA in humanitarian aid settings has yet to be properly addressed with little accountability occurring. 

In 2002, when the first reporting of sexual abuse and exploitation by aid workers came to light, then UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers downplayed the issue. However, a task force was created to prevent the sexual abuse. In 2003, the UN implemented rules against paying for sex and “strongly discouraged” relationships between UN staff and beneficiaries. Unfortunately, sexual exploitation and abuse continued to happen. Later in 2007, the UN implemented a policy on “providing medical, legal, psychological, and practical support to victims of UN-related SEA.” Once more, sexual exploitation was brought into the international spotlight yet nothing substantial occurred to change the overall picture and the issue was brushed aside. Now, numerous allegations in Iraq have come to light, and once again officials have a chance to create systematic change and end SEA in humanitarian settings. 

In Iraq, whistleblowers claim that managers and authority figures ignored allegations of abuse for years, using the phrase “what happens in Iraq, stays in Iraq.” In 2018, Oxfam was finally allowed to reapply for aid after the UK banned them for three years due to evidence of sexual exploitation of Haitians by Oxfam staff. Now, the UK has again suspended Oxfam from aid funding. Oxfam is repeatedly being accused of sexual exploitation and abuse, and they have lost their ability to apply for funding. However, this solution is merely a Band-Aid for what is an overarching issue in the world of humanitarian aid as many other NGOs are continuing to engage in SEA. Managers and supervisors working for NGOs such as Oxfam have faced little consequences for sexually exploiting and abusing aid beneficiaries; therefore, enacting permanent solutions is necessary to finally end SEA in humanitarian aid settings.

Getting to Zero Tolerance

Previous policies and ways of addressing SEA against aid beneficiaries need to be updated and changed. According to the International Development Committee (IDC), recommendations for preventing sexual misconduct include a zero-tolerance policy to abuse, support for SEA survivors, and a strengthened position for female aid beneficiaries. This power imbalance between aid givers and female aid beneficiaries is at the core of the issue, and it must be addressed to make any substantial changes to end SEA in humanitarian settings. Humanitarian organizations must provide immediate assistance to SEA survivors and punishment, without exception, to abusers. When the idea of “what happens in Iraq, stays in Iraq'' takes hold, no systematic change can happen, and the status quo remains. Reports need to be taken seriously with zero tolerance to those that commit abuse against aid beneficiaries. Not only should the organization where the accused work immediately take action against abusers, but an independent body should also be made to thoroughly handle and investigate abuse reports.

The UK recognized this need for better policies regarding SEA against aid beneficiaries by aid workers. Other recommendations from the IDC include: creating safeguards, implementing reporting mechanisms between old organizations and the local population, informing beneficiaries of their rights, reporting SEA cases, and providing support services to those affected by SEA. Sexual exploitation and abuse must be discussed openly and safely, especially at the first implementation of humanitarian aid in crisis situations. Creating public education campaigns on what constitutes abuse and examples of unacceptable behavior could begin conversations regarding SEA. Open communication is key to ending SEA and beneficiaries must understand acceptable and unacceptable behavior as well as the options they have if an instance of SEA occurs. 

Humanitarian aid organizations waiting until numerous allegations of SEA are uncovered to implement policies are not steps to prevent SEA. On a similar note, removing international aid once the damage has been done will not benefit those already impacted by abuse. Therefore, organizations must create policies that prevent SEA before it can happen in the first place. Implementing strict zero-tolerance rules against relationships among aid givers and beneficiaries, giving significant financial and emotional support to the SEA survivors, and continuing to talk about the problems could potentially help reduce or even solve the problem. 

SEA in humanitarian settings needs to be widely spoken about and understood to prevent further instances of abuse. Systematic change can only occur if people understand the problem. Beneficiaries must advocate for NGOs to aid in the crisis they are involved in, not further exacerbate the issue. The power imbalance between aid givers and female aid beneficiaries also needs to be addressed to solve this issue. A substantial change could finally occur by understanding this imbalance and creating policies that empower female aid beneficiaries. We must no longer sit idly by, as it is time to end sexual exploitation and abuse against humanitarian aid beneficiaries and heal affected communities.