United Nations Action on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

A/RES/71/278View PDF

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 123aStrengthening of the United Nations System, published in 2016.

What other versions does this mandate have?

7 versions · 2017–2024

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/78/331

2024A/RES/78/331United Nations action on sexual exploitation and abuseLatestCompare with previous version
2023A/RES/77/333United Nations action on sexual exploitation and abuseCompare with previous version
2022A/RES/76/303United Nations action on sexual exploitation and abuseCompare with previous version
2021A/RES/75/321United Nations action on sexual exploitation and abuseCompare with previous version
2019A/RES/73/302United Nations action on sexual exploitation and abuseCompare with previous version

Versions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

1 entity

A dot marks an entity citing this document in its “Mandates and background” narrative rather than only its Legislative mandates list. Many do both.

Extracted automatically from each entity’s budget submission.

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 topics

Crime Prevention Criminal Investigation Gender-Based Violence Peacekeeping Operations Sex Crimes

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

10 reports of the Secretary-General submitted under this mandate, 2018–2026.

Reports

Span

2018–2026

9 years

2026A/80/644Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse report of the Secretary-General
2024A/78/774Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse report of the Secretary-General
2024A/79/789Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse report of the Secretary-General
2023A/77/748Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse report of the Secretary-General
2022A/76/702Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse report of the Secretary-General

Identified automatically from the metadata in each report’s UN Digital Library catalogue record.

What does this mandate say?

15 operative paragraphs

Reaffirms its commitment to the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse throughout the United Nations system, including the agencies, funds and programmes;

Expresses its support to the Secretary-General, the Office of the Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and all relevant departments in their efforts to implement the zero-tolerance policy, in particular to strengthen the Organization’s prevention, reporting, enforcement and remedial action in order to promote greater accountability, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to continue to work in close consultation with Member States for the effective implementation of the policy;

Stresses the importance of States holding accountable those responsible for sexual exploitation and abuse, in a timely and appropriate manner, and that prevention and accountability are critical for the United Nations and its Member States to demonstrate their collective commitment to the zero-tolerance policy and for maintaining the trust of the international community and providing justice for victims, in this regard emphasizes that genuine accountability rests on the cooperation of the Member States, and also emphasizes the need to enhance international cooperation in this regard;

Calls upon Member States deploying non-United Nations forces authorized under a Security Council mandate to take appropriate steps to investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse and to hold perpetrators accountable;

Urges all non-United Nations forces authorized under a Security Council mandate to take adequate measures to prevent, and combat impunity for, sexual exploitation and abuse by their personnel;

Recognizes that a culture of impunity could result in an increase in sexual exploitation and abuse, and in this regard underlines the necessity of investigating promptly and taking appropriate measures, including through prosecution where appropriate, and of reporting to the United Nations promptly on action taken;

Reaffirms that all categories of United Nations personnel must be held to the same standard of conduct so as to preserve the image, credibility, impartiality and integrity of the United Nations, and remains committed to further consideration of ways of ensuring managerial, command and individual accountability;

Pays tribute to the tens of thousands of peacekeepers who risk their lives while serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations, underscores that acts of sexual exploitation and abuse damage the credibility, effectiveness and reputation of the United Nations, in this regard commends the troop- and police-contributing countries that have taken effective steps to prevent, investigate, combat impunity and hold accountable those individuals responsible for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse, and highlights the importance of establishing best practices within the United Nations system;

Requests the Secretary-General to continue to promote effective coordination and collaboration with regard to the audit, evaluation and investigation functions of the Office of Internal Oversight Services in order to ensure an integrated approach to oversight, bearing in mind the operational independence of the Office;

Underscores that victims of sexual exploitation and abuse should be at the core of the United Nations efforts, throughout the United Nations system, in implementing the zero-tolerance policy, in this regard highlights the importance of providing expeditious support to victims and welcomes voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen coordination across United Nations entities in order for victims to receive immediate basic assistance and support in accordance with their individual needs, and also encourages the relevant authorities of non-United Nations personnel serving under a mandate of the Security Council to provide adequate assistance and support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by their personnel;

Also underscores that troop- and police-contributing countries bear the responsibility for investigating and holding their personnel accountable for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse in accordance with their national laws, in this regard takes note of Security Council resolution 2272 (2016), and requests the Secretary-General to consult with Member States, as appropriate, in particular troop- and police-contributing countries, regarding the implementation of the Operational Guidance for the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 2272 (2016);

Requests the Secretary-General and all relevant entities to immediately inform the Member States concerned about allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel system-wide, as well as by non-United Nations personnel serving under a Security Council mandate, of which United Nations entities may become aware, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Member States concerned receive all available information to allow for appropriate follow-up by their national authorities;

Stresses that enhanced transparency of credible reporting of allegations contributes positively to the effectiveness of the United Nations in combating sexual exploitation and abuse;

Also stresses the importance of further improving the collaboration between the Secretary-General, United Nations system entities and Member States, including troop- and police-contributing countries, regarding sexual exploitation and abuse, and emphasizes the need to maintain a frequent exchange of information on all aspects related to sexual exploitation and abuse;

Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session an item entitled “Sexual exploitation and abuse: implementing a zero-tolerance policy”, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to report, pursuant to resolution 57/306 of 15 April 2003, on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, including on progress made in implementing a zero-tolerance policy within the United Nations system, for consideration by the General Assembly, in line with existing mandates and procedures.

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