WFP ACTIONS TO PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE AND

UNCLAS ROME 004208

SIPDIS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY AND IO/D
USAID FOR DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OFDA AND PPC
USDA/FAS FOR MCHAMBLISS/RTILSWORTH
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH/USAID
USUN FOR LSHESTACK
NSC FOR JDWORKEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF AORC EU EAGR WFP UN
SUBJECT: WFP ACTIONS TO PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE AND
EXPLOITATION OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED CHILDREN

REF: (A) GENEVA 2742, (B) STATE 136848, (C) STATE 146665

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SUMMARY
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1. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) IS ACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNICEF-OCHA TASK FORCE ON PROTECTION
FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN HUMANITARIAN CRISES,
AS AGREED TO BY THE UN INTER-AGENCY STANDING COMMITTEE
(IASC) ON JUNE 20. A WFP-INTERNAL ACTION PLAN HAS BEEN
FINALIZED, WHICH WILL OPERATIONALIZE IN STAGES THE IASC SIX
CORE PRINCIPLES. IN GUINEA, WFP AND ITS UN PARTNER AGENCIES
HAVE ALREADY PROMULGATED A CODE OF CONDUCT, THE TEXT OF
WHICH IS TRANSCRIBED BELOW. END SUMMARY.

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WFP ACTIONS TO DATE
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2. WFP HAS PARTICIPATED IN ALL OCHA-UNICEF TASK FORCE
MEETINGS ON THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING THE CHAIRING OF A WORKING
GROUP DEALING WITH ASSISTANCE DELIVERY MECHANISMS (SUCH AS
RATION CARDS AND ENTITLEMENTS).


3. A WFP-SPECIFIC PLAN OF ACTION HAS BEEN FINALIZED WHICH
INCORPORATES ALL SIX OF THE IASC CORE PRINCIPLES INTO A CODE
OF CONDUCT, AFFIRMING THAT HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A
DUTY OF CARE TO BENEFICIARIES AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE
THAT BENEFICIARIES ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THE
WFP PLAN DELINEATES WFP IN-HOUSE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOLLOW-
UP ACTIONS ON EACH OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES.


5. IN ITS PLAN OF ACTION, WFP AFFIRMS A CLEAR ZERO-TOLERANCE
TOWARDS ABUSERS. EXISTING DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES FOR WHEN
VIOLATIONS OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OCCUR ARE IN THE PROCESS
OF BEING INCORPORATED INTO STAFF RULES AND REGULATIONS.


6. WFP/GUINEA HAS, ALONG WITH OTHER UN AGENCIES IN GUINEA,
ADOPTED A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT INCLUDES THE IASC CORE
PRINCIPLES.


7. THE TEXT OF THE WFP/UN GUINEA CODE OF CONDUCT IS
TRANSMITTED HEREWITH. BEGIN TEXT.

"CODE OF CONDUCT FOR HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF
IN GUINEA - AS INDIVIDUALS SERVING OR EMPLOYED BY A
HUMANITARIAN OR DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION WORKING IN GUINEA
WE ARE BOUND TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN LAWS AND UN CONVENTIONS, ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS
TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, TREATIES AND
COVENANTS GOVERNING OUR WORK. WE ARE ALSO BOUND TO FOLLOW
STAFF RULES AND CODES OF CONDUCT GUIDING STAFF MEMBERS OF
THE ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH WE WORK.

-WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY FOR ANY
ABUSES OF THIS CODE OF CONDUCT OR ANY OTHER ILLEGAL ACTS
COMMITTED. SPECIFICALLY, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE BY
HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT WORKERS CONSTITUTE ACTS OF
GROSS MISCONDUCT AND WILL RESULT IN TERMINATION OF
EMPLOYMENT.

ARTICLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS

-WE WILL RESPECT THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE
REGARDLESS OF SEX, RACE, RELIGION OR LANGUAGE ACTING WITH
IMPARTIALITY, INTEGRITY AND TACT IN ALL THAT WE DO.
-WE WILL ENSURE THAT OUR PERSONAL CONDUCT AND ACTIONS ARE IN
LINE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL LAWS, UN CONVENTIONS, TREATIES
AND COVENANTS GOVERNING OUR WORK.
-WE WILL UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF ALL CHILDREN AS DEFINED IN THE
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD AND THE ADDITIONAL
PROTOCOLS TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD AND
ENSURE THAT THEIR BEST INTERESTS ARE ALWAYS HELD PARAMOUNT.
-WE WILL RESPECT THE NATIONAL LAW AND LOCAL CULTURE,
TRADITIONS, RELIGIONS, CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES THAT ARE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE UN CONVENTIONS, TREATIES AND COVENANTS.
-WE WILL NOT BE ABUSIVE OR DISCOURTEOUS TO ANY MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC OR BENEFICIARIES.
-WE WILL STRIVE TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF
EFFICIENCY, COMPETENCE AND INTEGRITY.

ARTICLE II: SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE

-WE WILL DISCOURAGE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE AND
PROMOTE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS CODE OF CONDUCT. WHEN IN
A MANAGEMENT POSITION, WE WILL ACCEPT ADDITIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP SYSTEMS THAT
MAINTAIN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
-WE WILL NEVER USE THE OFFICE OR KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM
OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS FOR PRIVATE GAIN INCLUDING ACCEPTING
GIFTS OR SEXUAL FAVORS FOR THE PROVISIONS OF SERVICES OR
SUPPLIES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED BY MY AGENCY, OFFERING
JOBS, OR GIVING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.
-WE WILL NEVER PHYSICALLY, SEXUALLY, OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY HARM
INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
-WE WILL NOT BECOME INVOLVED IN SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18, REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF
MAJORITY OR AGE OF CONSENT LOCALLY. MISTAKEN BELIEF IN THE
AGE OF THE CHILD IS NOT A DEFENSE.
-WE WILL NOT BECOME INVOLVED IN SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH DIRECT
BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGE OR SEX.
-WE WILL NOT BE ACCOMPLICES TO OR PARTY TO ANY FORM OF
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OR ABUSE.

ARTICLE III: DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

-WE WILL NOT WORK UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS,
CONSUME ALCOHOL OR DRUGS AT THE WORKPLACE, OR OPERATE THE
ORGANIZATION'S EQUIPMENT OR VEHICLES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.


ARTICLE IV: USE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S RESOURCES AND
INFORMATION

-WE WILL NEVER EXCHANGE ASSISTANCE THAT IS DUE TO
BENEFICIARIES FOR GIFTS, FAVORS OR ANY KIND OF REMUNERATION
FROM ANY SOURCES.
-WE WILL PROPERLY ACCOUNT AND CARE FOR ALL MONEY, EQUIPMENT
AND PROPERTY ASSIGNED TO US BY OUR ORGANIZATION.
-WE WILL EXERCISE THE UTMOST DISCRETION IN HANDLING
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND MATTERS OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS.

SIPDIS
-WE WILL NOT ALTER, DESTROY, OR MISPLACE ANY OFFICIAL
DOCUMENT, RECORD OR FILE ENTRUSTED TO US.

ARTICLE V: ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

-WE WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE ONLY TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
-WE WILL REPORT IMMEDIATELY ANY BREACHES TO THE CODE OF
CONDUCT, ACTS OR CONCERNS OF EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE BY A
HUMANITARIAN OR DEVELOPMENT WORKER TO THE HEAD OF AGENCY OR
SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE AT FIELD LEVEL OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR
WHICH WE ARE WORKING.
-WE WILL NEVER MISREPRESENT OUR FUNCTIONS, TITLES OR DUTIES.

ARTICLE VI: AWARDS, HONORS, REMUNERATION

-WE WILL NOT ACCEPT HONORS, DECORATION, FAVOR, SEXUAL
FAVORS, GIFTS OR REMUNERATION FROM ANY SOURCE OTHER THAN THE
ORGANIZATION WE WORK FOR, OTHER THAN GIFTS SYMBOLIC IN
NATURE, EXCEPT WHEN DULY AUTHORIZED BY THE ORGANIZATION.

ARTICLE VII: OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL INTERESTS

-WE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT, PAID OR
VOLUNTEER, WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF MY AGENCY.
-WE WILL ENSURE THAT OUR PERSONAL VIEWS AND INTERESTS DO NOT
UNDERMINE THOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION WE SERVE.
-WE WILL NEVER ALLOW PERSONAL POLITICAL OPINIONS TO
INTERFERE WITH OUR WORK OR THE OBJECTIVES OF THE
ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH WE WORK.

ARTICLE VIII: TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATIVE EMPLOYMENT

-WE WILL NEVER TRAFFIC IN PEOPLE, ILLEGAL OR NON-
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, ARTIFACTS, PRECIOUS METALS OR STONES OR
FIREARMS. WE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE RESALE OF ANY OF
THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED.
-WE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE EXPLOITATIVE EMPLOYMENT OF
ANY PERSON."

END TEXT OF UN GUINEA CODE OF CONDUCT.

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COMMENT
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8. USMISSION/ROME UNDERSTANDS THAT WFP WILL TEAM UP WITH
UNICEF IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION ON A PILOT BASIS ON
JOINT STAFF TRAINING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON UN
TRAINING MODULES RELATED TO THE IASC CORE PRINCIPLES. COST
EFFECTIVENESS OF INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATION RELATED TO
TRAINING IS AN EVIDENT PLUS. AND, AS A KEY MEMBER OF THE WFP
EXECUTIVE BOARD, THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO
REQUESTING PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (COMMENCING IN OCTOBER
2002) RELATED TO FIELD LEVEL IMPLEMENTATION OF WFP'S NOW IN-
PLACE ACTION PLAN.