(2021) Défenseure des droits des victimes des Nations Unies : rapport annuel 2021

Annual Report 2021 ANNUAL REPORT 2021 1 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE ‘We must be vigilant and spare no effort to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse and uphold the rights and dignity of victims’ António Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations ANNUAL REPORT 2021 2 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Contents 4 6 9 13 Foreword Policy Advocacy Operational Imprint Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate (OVRA) Cover L-0337 | United Nations Secretariat, New York, OVRA is grateful for the generous pro bono NY 10017 USA Email ovra@un.org @UN_OVRA support provided by visual artist Greta Kotz (http://gretakotz.com), who produced a series of representational portraits portraying victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. Image credit cover: Portrait by Greta Kotz, (USA) 2022.| Design: Yvonne The portraits seek to convey that victims Nelson Brand Design, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (United Nations Online Volunteer).| Every effort has been made to acknowledge can be of any age, sex, gender, sexual photographers for their work. Any copyright holders we have been unable to include or to whom inaccurate acknowledgement has been orientation, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or made are invited to contact OVRA.| ©OVRA 2022 ability. They are representational and do not depict real victims. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 3 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Foreword It is five years since the United Nations Secretary- The Covid-19 pandemic continued to impact on our General pledged to put the rights and dignity of work, but we sought to overcome the challenges it victims at the centre of our efforts to prevent created and stepped-up efforts to uphold victims’ and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse by rights. Towards the end of the year, United Nations United Nations staff and related personnel. Since staff returned to working on-site. As restrictions on I began work as the first United Nations Victims’ travel were relaxed, I was very happy to be able to Rights Advocate, there have been steps forward in take up the invitation of the United Nations Resident integrating a victims’ rights approach to policies Coordinator to visit Kenya, a country with a large and procedures related to these wrongs across our United Nations footprint. I was pleased to discuss complex system, including humanitarian, peace, and implementation of the victim-centred approach with development settings. United Nations colleagues, including senior leaders, civil society, and Government actors. This year we saw the deployment of Senior Victims’ Rights Officers (SVROs) in the Central African One focus of our work in 2021 was fostering Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo partnerships in local, national and international and Haiti. They are full-time and system-wide staff contexts. My Office’s collaboration with the Global dedicated to realizing victims’ rights, and have Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions contributed to the prioritization of the rights and (GANHRI) led to creation of a guide for national dignity of victims on the ground. I am committed to human rights institutions on prevention and response increasing the number of advocates for victims’ rights to sexual exploitation and abuse, training and in the field. Accordingly, I champion the appointment awareness-raising, support for victims, including in of other Officers wherever they are needed, or, if that accountability processes, and advocacy for legislative is not possible, the appointment of focal points for reform. An online event, co-sponsored by the Office victims’ rights. of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Permanent Missions of I am delighted that the United Nations Country Teams Australia, Costa Rica and Germany, provided a and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse venue for Member States and national human rights Networks in Nepal and Guatemala designated victims’ institutions to discuss opportunities for collaboration rights focal points with a system-wide mandate with the United Nations to support victims. mirroring my role and that of the SVROs. The focal points provide consolation and support to victims In the spirit of ‘One United Nations’, with the and advise senior United Nations officials in the International Organization for Migration (IOM), country on implementation of a victims’ rights OHCHR and the Chief Executives Board Task Force approach to prevention and response to sexual Secretariat on addressing sexual harassment, the exploitation and abuse. Office began the development of a training module ANNUAL REPORT 2021 4 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE and a short film to promote greater understanding of victims’ rights and strengthened integration of a Four years of upholding the rights and dignity of victims A timeline victims’ rights approach to sexual misconduct across the United Nations system. September 2017 | Secretary-General introduces Jane I thank donors which provided voluntary contributions Connors as the first United Nations Victims’ Rights to my Office, and States which have agreed to Advocate, along with the Circle of Leadership and the sponsor junior professional officers to expand its Voluntary Compact at the High-level Meeting on the work: Australia, Germany, Israel, Switzerland, and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. the United Kingdom. I am also grateful to the online May 2018 | First projects financed by the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse United Nations Volunteers, interns and staff from launched in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. other offices who have given time and expertise, both July 2018 | General Assembly approves dedicated posts remotely and in-person, to support my mandate. We for field advocates in the Central African Republic, have much to build on in 2022, but a long way to go Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. December 2018 | Establishment of the Office of the to translate policies and commitments on sexual Victims’ Rights Advocate. exploitation and abuse into practice to fulfil victims’ December 2018 | First project financed by the Trust Fund rights. in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse launched in the Central African Republic. July 2019 | General Assembly approves dedicated post for a field advocate in South Sudan. December 2019 | High-level Steering Group endorses Jane Connors United Nations Protocol on the Provision of Assistance to Victims’ Rights Advocate Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. May 2020 | Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate completes the pilot project to map assistance and services available to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse in 13 countries. April 2021 | United Nations Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Working Group in Nepal designates the first Victims’ Rights Focal Point. August 2021 | First project financed by the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse launched in Haiti. October 2021 | United Nations Country Team in Guatemala designates Victims’ Rights Focal Point. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 5 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Policy Mandate The Victims’ Rights Advocate is tasked to lead efforts to prioritize the rights and dignity of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by anyone working for the United Nations in prevention and response efforts of the United Nations system, including its agencies, funds and programmes, at headquarters and in the field. With the support of her Office and SVROs in the field, the Victims’ Rights Advocate collaborates with Government institutions, international intergovernmental and regional organizations and civil society, including national human rights and legal aid organizations, to build networks of support and help ensure that reliable pathways exist for victims to file complaints, assistance is rapidly and sensitively delivered, and victims’ rights are protected during United Nations and national accountability processes. In 2021, the Victims’ Rights Advocate pushed forward It will include a short film on the United Nations’ existing workstreams and introduced new initiatives victims’ rights approach to sexual misconduct. As to elevate the rights and dignity of victims. part of joint preparatory efforts to strengthen a system-wide understanding of the victim-centred Training module on a victim-centred approach approach, the partners led by OVRA also mapped existing United Nations system trainings on sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. The OVRA, together with OHCHR, IOM, and the Secretariat module and short film will be launched in 2022. of the Chief Executives Board (CEB) Task Force on Methodologies to gather victims’ feedback Addressing Sexual Harassment began work to create a training module to strengthen understanding of the victim-centred approach to sexual misconduct To ensure that the United Nations response to sexual directed at all United Nations personnel, including exploitation and abuse at country level is informed third-party contractors and implementing partners. by victims’ opinions so that policies are truly aligned ANNUAL REPORT 2021 6 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE ‘Victims will be able to express their views on the quality and appropriateness of assistance and the way it was delivered’ Legal aid roster with their priorities and needs, OVRA progressed work to develop methodologies to gather their feedback on provision of assistance and services. Lack of legal aid and support is a significant obstacle Victims will be able to express their views on the to realizing victims’ rights to accountability, including quality and appropriateness of assistance and the paternity and child support claims. In 2020, the way it was delivered. The methodology will be piloted Victims’ Rights Advocate convened a system- in Haiti this year and rolled out in countries where wide consultation on legal aid for victims which victims have received support. recommended the creation of a roster of qualified lawyers and legal aid organizations willing and able to Update to mapping of services available to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse offer pro bono legal assistance to victims in criminal and civil proceedings, including paternity and child support claims. The methodology and framework to In collaboration with United Nations Country Teams create and maintain the roster was finalized in 2021 in 13 countries, OVRA administered a survey to and will be piloted in one or more of the four countries update information on victims’ services included in a where Senior Victims’ Rights Officers are present in pilot mapping project completed in May 2020. Some 2022. progress has been made, but significant gaps remain. Partnership with GANHRI Statement on victims’ rights National human rights institutions are well-placed to The Victims’ Rights Advocate is close to finalizing a support the mandate of the Victims’ Rights Advocate statement on victims’ rights which sets out the rights on the ground. OVRA strengthened its partnership of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United with GANHRI and its member institutions and Nations staff and related personnel. It is intended jointly produced a guide for national human rights to ensure victims know and understand their rights institutions setting out avenues for collaboration, and serve as a common point of reference for anyone including facilitating legal aid, developing reporting working for the United Nations. Plain language, mechanisms, and conducting awareness-raising and child-friendly and language versions of the statement advocacy.1 The guide was released in English and will be produced in 2022, as will versions for people French in October 2021, along with a promotional with disabilities. OVRA will develop complementary video, at an online event on the margins of the guidance on implementation after the statement has seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly, co- been issued. 1 Guide for National Human Rights Institutions, October 2021, available at www.un.org/preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/ sites/www.un.org.preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/files/ ovra_guide_for_nhris-en.pdf ANNUAL REPORT 2021 7 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE ‘The Victims’ Rights Advocate looks forward to deepening partnerships with national human rights institutions in 2022’ sponsored by OHCHR and the Permanent Missions experience in approaching institutional mechanisms 2 of Australia, Costa Rica and Germany. The Victims’ on sexual harassment to assist United Nations Rights Advocate looks forward to deepening system Organizations implement a victim-centred partnerships with national human rights institutions approach in responses to sexual harassment. in 2022. Guidance on the scope and duration of assistance for victims Led by the Victims’ Rights Advocate and based on consultations held with stakeholders and the experience of the Senior Victims’ Rights Officers, a guide on the scope and duration of assistance for victims was initiated and will be available in 2022. Preventing and addressing sexual harassment The Victims’ Rights Advocate co-led, with representatives of the World Bank, Workstream 2 of the Chief Executives Board (CEB) Task Force on Addressing Sexual Harassment within the Organizations of the United Nations System, established in 2017 by the Secretary-General. The Workstream developed principles on ‘Advancing a Common Understanding of a Victim-centred Approach to Sexual Harassment within the Organizations of the United Nations System’ setting out general principles which was approved by the High-Level Committee on Management in July 2021.3 Workstream 2 is working on a draft survey aimed at gathering information from victims on their 3 Advancing a Common Understanding of a Victim-centred Approach to Sexual Harassment within the Organizations of the United Nations System, July 2021, available at https://unsceb.org/sites/default/ files/2021-09/A%20Victim-centred%20Approach%20to%20Sexual%20 Harassment%20%20.pdf. 2 For a summary note of the event, see https://www.un.org/ preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/content/events. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 8 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Advocacy The Victims’ Rights Advocate continued efforts within the United Nations system, with Member States, intergovernmental and regional organizations, civil society and academic institutions to advocate for a victim-centred and rights-based approach to prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse. In 2021, the Victims’ Rights Advocate: of Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment commissioned • Chaired a brown bag discussion, sponsored by the by the 2021 IASC Champion, United Nations Office of the Special Coordinator on improving the Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director United Nations response to sexual exploitation Natalia Kanem and participated at the Principals’ and abuse, on victims’ right to assistance for level roundtable launch and discussion on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse Review. practitioners. • • Co-hosted, with OHCHR, three online sessions for Participated in the Annual Humanitarian Coordinators’ Retreat. OHCHR Heads of Field Presences on the victim• centred approach. Briefed United Nations Country Teams, United Nations Networks on Preventing • Participated in the Organisation for Economic Co- Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Resident and operation and Development (OECD) Development Humanitarian Coordinators and other colleagues Assistance Committee High-Level Roundtable on through in-person and online events within the the OECD’s recommendation on ending sexual United Nations system on the victim-centred exploitation and abuse in development co- approach. operation and humanitarian assistance. • • Participated in the Community of Practice Contributed to the independent external Inter- organized by The Netherlands and USAID Agency Standing Committee (IASC) review on adopting a victim-centred approach to ANNUAL REPORT 2021 9 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE ‘OVRA advocates for a victim-centred and rightsbased approach to prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse’ employment accountability in the context of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. • Facilitated advocacy sessions on sexual harassment organized by UN Women with Gender Focal Points and participated in a UN Women Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Focal Point Capacity-Building Workshop. • Delivered webinars on the victim-centred approach for university students, including at institutions in Argentina, France, Japan, Poland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. • Addressed external events on victims’ rights, including as keynote speaker to the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) Exchange 2021. • Developed a Frequently Asked Questions document in English and French on the work of the Office disseminated through the official OVRA Twitter account @UN_OVRA.4 4 ‘Frequently Asked Questions on the work of the Victims’ Rights Advocate and Senior Victims’ Rights Officers’, July 2021, available at www.un.org/preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/sites/www. un.org.preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/files/un-ovra-qabooklet.pdf ANNUAL REPORT 2021 10 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Selected media | Top left: Victims’ Rights Advocate attends the CHS Exchange online, September 2021. Top right: social media card marking four years of the United Nations’ victim-centred approach to sexual exploitation and abuse, September 2021. Middle left: Renan Hédouville, Human Rights Ombudsperson, Haiti at the online event on ‘Strengthening the United Nations’ victim-centred response to sexual exploitation and abuse’, October 2021. Middle right: Alexandra Finch, Intern, Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate, June 2021. Bottom left: Victims’ Rights Advocate meeting with Dr. Gaya Gamhewage at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, August 2021. Bottom right: Victims’ Rights Advocate attends the Security Council Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, September 2021. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 11 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE ONLINE EVENT Strengthening the United Nations’ victim-centred response to sexual exploitation and abuse 28 October 2021 (Thursday) | 09:00 -11:00 am EST Raising awareness of the important potential of United Nations’ partnerships with national human rights institutions in delivering the Secretary-General’s victim-centred and rights-based approach to addressing sexual exploitation and abuse. Participants will exchange good practices and discuss opportunities in national contexts for collaboration. Hosted by the Victims’ Rights Advocate In partnership with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions 76th session of the General Assembly Contact: ovra@un.org Register here: bit.ly/OVRA_GANHRI Platform: Zoom Simultaneous interpretation in French and Spanish Co-sponsored by: • Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights • Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations • Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations • Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations Events | Top left: Online event ‘Strengthening the United Nations’ victim-centred response to sexual exploitation and abuse’, October 2021. Bottom right: Jus Gentium Conference at the Institute for International Humanitarian Studies, Aix-Marseille on ‘Advocating for Victims’ Rights in the United Nations: a Conversation with Jane Connors’, November 2021. Publications | Top right: Frequently Asked Questions on the work of the Victims’ Rights Advocate and Senior Victims’ Rights Officers, July 2021. Bottom left: Guide for National Human Rights Institutions, October 2021. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 12 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Operational Country visits In October 2021, OVRA and the SVRO in the Central African Republic participated in a review that Country visits are a vital part of the work of assessed the factors contributing to the significant the Victims’ Rights Advocate, allowing her to number of allegations of sexual exploitation and connect directly with victims and gain a first-hand abuse, which led to the repatriation of a contingent. understanding of how United Nations entities are OVRA provided input on strengthening the provision supporting victims on the ground. of support to victims and advised on the integration of a victims’ rights approach in risk mitigation These visits, which had been suspended since March measures. 2020 due to COVID-19, resumed with a visit to Kenya, a country with a large United Nations presence, having global and regional entities and national level representation from 28 November to 10 December 2021. The visit, conducted at the invitation of the Resident Coordinator, coincided with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and included the participation of the Special Coordinator on improving the United Nations response to sexual exploitation and abuse, the World Health Organization Director on Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment and UNHCR’s Senior Coordinator on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment to underline the fact that sexual exploitation and abuse are system-wide concerns. Participants met with representatives of United Nations entities, Government and civil society organizations, beneficiaries, and service providers in Nairobi, at Kakuma refugee camp, Kalobeyei integrated settlement and Lodwar. The Victims’ Rights Advocate also met with representatives of the International Peace Support Training Centre in Nairobi, and will visit the training centre again in 2022. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 13 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Country visits | Top: Victims’ Rights Advocate visit to the International Peace Support Training Centre in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2021. Bottom: Senior Victims’ Rights Officer, Fernanda Pérez Solla and interpreter Sammuelle NzangaNdaranga, in Bangui, Central African Republic, October 2021. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 14 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Senior Victims’ Rights Officers • Supported the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) investigations across the country By the end of 2021, dedicated SVROs were deployed to provide emotional support and ensure victims’ in the Central African Republic, the Democratic rights are upheld. Republic of the Congo, Haiti and South Sudan. These Officers built on the achievements of the Field • Participated in a review that assessed the Victims’ Rights Advocates (FVRAs) who undertook factors contributing to the significant number victims’ rights functions along with their existing of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, duties. The work of the FVRAs and SVROs shows which led to the repatriation of a contingent. that the presence of a dedicated and trusted person on the ground, tasked to see that victims’ rights are • prioritized, makes a real difference. Prepared project proposals to be submitted to the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse aimed at provision of Central African Republic psychosocial support, and delivery of incomegenerating activities and legal assistance to Post-election violence the WE Central African Republic victims. OVRA in WHERE OPERATE MAP - ENGLISH VERSION (updated 2022) challenged the capacity to deliver assistance early in the year, but FVRA, Alex Cudgenselhey, sought to • Consolidated cooperation with local partners to promote and uphold victims’ rights through outreach facilitate access to birth certificates and legal and other strategies. In July, the dedicated SVRO, assistance to victims on paternity and child Fernanda Pérez Solla, arrived in the country to carry support claims. the work forward. Notably, she provided support and assistance to victims in remote areas after the repatriation of the Gabonese battalion. In 2021, she: • Developed partnerships with local organizations, such as the Mukwege Foundation, to facilitate Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate Where we operate Nepal Haiti Guatemala South Sudan Central African Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Senior Victims’ Rights Officer Victims’ Rights Focal Points ANNUAL REPORT 2021 15 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Senior Victims’ Rights Officer ‘The presence of a dedicated and trusted person on the ground, tasked to see that victims’ rights are prioritized, makes a real difference’ provision of immediate care and longer-term • support to victims. Collaborated with the UNFPA and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to facilitate medical and psychosocial support for victims through local • Led awareness-raising and outreach activities on partners. prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. • • Managed the implementation of projects financed Reinforced cooperation with international and by the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual local civil society organizations, including through Exploitation and Abuse. missions to Bambari and Bossangoa. • • Prepared new project proposals for the Trust Fund Fostered information exchange on victims’ which focus on strengthening livelihood support cases among colleagues in the United Nations directed to create long-term and sustainable Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission transformation in victims’ life prospects. in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). • • Prepared for and supported victims during the Coordinated assistance and support for victims, in visit of a Member State to gather DNA samples close collaboration with MINUSCA, the Prevention to support processes to resolve outstanding of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Task Force and paternity claims. the gender-based violence and child protection • subclusters. Supported victims in OIOS investigations related to personnel responding to the tenth outbreak Democratic Republic of the Congo of the Ebola disease in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The FVRA in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Christine Besong, served for most of 2021, providing • Participated in an Inter-Agency Standing invaluable support to victims, including those who Committee’s mission led by WHO and UNICEF, and had been harmed by personnel responding to the including UNFPA to the Democratic Republic of tenth outbreak of the Ebola disease in the eastern the Congo, to identify gaps in support for victims; Democratic Republic of the Congo. In late November strengthen community awareness and networks 2021, Mihaela Aurelia Pórumb took up the post of and community-based complaints mechanisms. SVRO. In 2021, these colleagues: Haiti • Responded to complaints from victims received through community-based networks. In 2021, natural hazards and political instability led to increased gang violence and insecurity in Haiti ANNUAL REPORT 2021 16 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE making access to victims even more challenging. • Organized workshops with the Prevention of The SVRO, Ritu Gambhir, who took over from FVRA Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Coordinator on Carla Pessanha Loque in August, made every effort to prevention tools and activities to mitigate the risks ensure that assistance to victims was delivered. of sexual exploitation and abuse. In 2021, they: • • Reinforced collaboration through joint activities Oversaw the implementation of a project providing with the Office de la Protection du Citoyen – the school support packages to 36 children born national human rights institution in Haiti – of sexual exploitation and abuse, and income including through the development of training generating activities for 30 mothers, with the modules on the prevention of sexual exploitation support of the Resident Coordinator, IOM, the and abuse. United Nations Development Programme and local • • partners. South Sudan Disbursed grants, with IOM, from the Central In South Sudan, SVRO Maria Nakabiito led inter- Emergency Relief Fund to fund lifesaving needs of agency efforts to facilitate system-wide and children born as a result of sexual exploitation or coordinated implementation of victims’ assistance. abuse, and their mothers. In 2021, she: With the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs and • Collaborated with UNFPA to develop a project for the Department of Management Strategy, Policy the Trust Fund to provide specialized services to and Compliance’s Conduct and Discipline Service victims and children born of sexual exploitation sought to facilitate the resolution of paternity and and abuse. child support cases involving former personnel of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti in • Worked with the United Nations Country Team, line with the wishes of the children and their with the support of the United Nations Mission mothers. in South Sudan (UNMISS), to strengthen the coherence of inter-agency referral mechanisms • • Facilitated DNA sample collection to support and initiate discussions on the development of an resolution of paternity and child maintenance claims. inter-agency victim assistance tracking system. Cooperated with lawyers in various countries on • Continued discussions with rule of law paternity and child maintenance proceedings practitioners on harmful practices that impede and updated victims on the status of these the realization of victims’ rights, such as child proceedings. marriage. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 17 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE Portraits | Top left, Alexandre Cugdenselhey, former Field Victims’ Rights Advocate, Central African Republic. Top middle: María Fernanda Pérez Solla, Senior Victims’ Rights Officer, Central African Republic. Top right: Christine Besong, former Field Victims’ Rights Advocate, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Middle left: Mihaela-Aurelia Pórumb, Senior Victims’ Rights Officer, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Middle: Carla Pessanha Loque, former Field Victims’ Rights Advocate, Haiti. Middle right: Ritu Gambhir, Senior Victims’ Rights Officer, Haiti. Bottom left: Maria Nakabiito, Senior Victims’ Rights Officer, South Sudan. Bottom middle: Karelia Ramos González, Victims’ Rights Focal Point, Guatemala. Bottom right: Inah Fatoumata Kaloga, Victims’ Rights Focal Point, Nepal. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 18 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE ‘In the absence of a fully funded position, the Victims’ Rights Advocate encourages the appointment of system-wide focal points in other locations’ • Developed terms of reference for victims’ rights focal points to be appointed by each United Explainer Nations entity in South Sudan to foster greater Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse usage of the victim assistance tracking system and information-sharing. • In March 2016, the Secretary-General created Briefed the gender-based violence subcluster on victims’ rights and the United Nations’ victim- • the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse to support United centred approach. Nations and non-United Nations entities’ Organized trainings in collaboration with UNMISS support. projects that provide victim assistance and Child Protection Unit on the responsibilities of Child Protection Offices regarding victims’ The Trust Fund is administered by the assistance. Department of Management, Strategy, Policy Focal points for victims’ rights • and Compliance. It funds: children born as a result of sexual In 2021, the United Nations Country Team and exploitation and abuse, including medical Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Networks in Nepal and Guatemala designated their first victims’ rights focal points with system-wide mandates to champion victims’ rights and strengthen respective prevention from sexual exploitation and abuse and victim assistance strategies. Specialized services for victims and care, and psychosocial support • Community outreach • Communications • Legal assistance for victims, including in paternity and child support claims • Income generation projects for victims In consultation with the Victims’ Rights Advocate, Special measures for protection from sexual the focal points advise the most senior United exploitation and sexual abuse (13 February 2015) Nations official in the country and the Prevention of A/69/779 [66] Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Coordinator on the victims’ rights approach to addressing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. In the absence of of an expanding community of practice, including the a fully funded position, the Victims’ Rights Advocate Victims’ Rights Advocate, the SVROs and other staff encourages the appointment of system-wide focal committed to upholding the rights and dignity points in other locations. These focal points are part of victims. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 19 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE ‘The focal points advise the most senior United Nations official in the country and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Coordinator on the victims’ rights approach to addressing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse’ Nepal In Nepal, the UNCT Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Working Group appointed Inah Fatoumata Kaloga, UNICEF Chief, Child Protection, as its first system-wide focal point for victims’ rights in April 2021 to strengthen a victims’ rights approach to addressing sexual exploitation and abuse in the country. The UNCT is finalizing common referral pathways for victim assistance. It is encouraging better integration of services for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse within existing gender-based violence and child protection networks. The focal point partnered with a local organization to map available services to victims. She has also advised on victims’ rights in relation to open cases of sexual exploitation and abuse involving personnel of United Nations system implementing partners. Guatemala In Guatemala, the UNCT appointed Karelia Ramos González, UNFPA Technical Coordinator as its first system-wide victims’ rights focal point in October 2021. As part of its Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Action Plan, the UNCT drafted a countrylevel victim assistance strategy in consultation with OVRA and the inter-agency Specialized Group on Gender Empowerment. The Network in Guatemala established the first reporting hotline in the country and mapped focal points and services available to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. The UNCT will operationalize its first community-based complaint mechanisms and victim assistance strategy in 2022. ANNUAL REPORT 2021 20 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE ‘The biggest challenge is getting people’s minds off the usual – which tends to focus immediately on protection of the reputation of the organization and punishment and accountability of the perpetrator’ Jane Connors Victims’ Rights Advocate ANNUAL REPORT 2021 21 VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE