P2P Webinar on the PSEA Implementation in Humanitarian Response: Ensuring a victim-centred approach
HUMANITARIAN LEADERSHIP SERIES
PSEA Implementation in Humanitarian Response: Ensuring a victim-centred approach
Thursday, 3rd October 2019
Ms. Jane Connors
United Nations Victims’ Rights Advocate
&
Ms. Isabella Castrogiovanni
UNICEF Senior Coordinator on Sexual Exploitation and Workplace Abuse
New York 09:00; Dakar 13:00; Geneva 15:00; Beirut / Amman 16:00; Addis Ababa / Nairobi 16:00
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) is the primary mechanism for inter-agency coordination of humanitarian assistance, involving the key UN and non-UN humanitarian partners. Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and sexual harassment (SH) has been a core commitment of the IASC since 2002, as reflected in a number of actions taken to reinforce these commitments, including the adoption of the Six Principles on PSEA, with clear standards for humanitarian workers and a plan of action on PSEA. In December 2018, the IASC Principals endorsed a scale-up plan on PSEA through a call for collective action and investment by IASC members in all countries with Humanitarian Response Plans or Refugee Response Plans. It is based on a review of the existing IASC commitments on PSEA, and where these commitments can be further strengthened through collective implementation at country level. The proposal focuses on achieving three key outcomes on PSEA in the areas of 1) safe and accessible reporting, 2) quality victim/survivor assistance and 3) enhanced accountability, including investigations. To deliver on these outcomes, an enhanced PSEA structure at country level is being established that builds upon existing good practice in the field and contributes to a broader accountability strategy.
The plan is aligned with the Secretary-General’s system-wide to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse (launched in 2017), which prioritizes the rights and dignity of victims; and focuses on combatting impunity; building multi-stakeholder networks of support and re-orienting our approach to strategy communication to raise awareness of sexual exploitation and abuse worldwide. As a means of operationalizing the focus on victims’ rights, in 2017, the Secretary-General appointed a global United Nations Victims’ Rights Advocate and called for the designation of Field Victims’ Rights Advocates in four countries.
The webinar will introduce the IASC Plan for accelerating protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian response, as well as the work of the victims’ rights advocates. It will consider how a victim-centred approach can be integrated in its implementation to strengthen responses to victims - from reporting, to support and accountability. The aim is to strengthen coordination and collaboration, coherence and consistency across the sector in operationalizing a victim-centred approach.
For help logging on to the webinar, see the login guide here.
Questions are welcome in advance of the webinar
You can e-mail questions to the Peer-2-Peer project before the webinar or submit them to the presenters live during the webinar, via the chat function. All documents relevant to this webinar and a recording of the event (and previous webinars) are posted on the P2P Support website.
We hope you can join us for the webinar!
Panellists
Ms. Jane Connors, Victims Rights’ Advocate
Ms. Connors is the United Nations Victims’ Rights Advocate on sexual exploitation and abuse. Previously, she served as the Director of International Advocacy for Amnesty International. From 1996 to 2015 she held various positions at the United Nations. Before joining the UN, she held posts in law schools at universities in the United Kingdom and Australia. Ms. Connors has published widely on UN human rights mechanisms, the human rights of women and children, and gender-based violence.
Ms. Isabella Castrogiovanni, UNICEF Senior Coordinator on Sexual Exploitation and Workplace Abuse
Ms. Castrogiovanniis UNICEF Sr. Coordinator on SEA and Workplace Abuse in the Office of the Executive Director. She is a political scientist and protection expert with over 20 years of experience with the United Nations in East Africa, central and south east Asia, the Balkan region and the Middle East. She holds a master’s degree in Political Sciences and International Relations from the University of Florence, and a master’s degree in International and Comparative Legal Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies.
Introducing the facilitator
Ms. Najat Rochdi, Team Leader & Director, Peer2Peer Support
Ms. Rochdi is the Team leader and Director of the Peer 2 Peer Project. Prior to taking up this role Ms. Rochdi was the Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic, where she also served as RC, HC. Ms. Rochdi, has extensive experience in development and humanitarian affairs, she served as RC, HC in Cameroon. She served as Deputy Director in charge of Policy, Communication and Operation in UNDP Geneva. Prior to her tenure with UN Ms. Rochdi was Deputy minister in the Moroccan Government.
Best Regards,
Peer-2-Peer Support Team