Second spotlight event of the Group of Friends for the Elimination of Sexual Exploitation

GoFESH – 2nd Spotlight Event
December 8th 2021
Ambassador´s Choreography

Opening Remark

Honorable speakers,

Dear participants,

Good morning to everyone and thank you for joining us today in the second spotlight event of the Group of Friends to Eliminate Sexual Harassment. As you might already know, this Group of Friends is a platform created with an aim to spur discussions and coordinate actions in various multilateral fora. As with the previous event, co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Israel, our goal is to raise awareness on the issues of sexual harassment, especially within the UN system. As I stated in my speech during the 72nd session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR, the prevention of sexual harassment and exploitation in UN agencies, NGOs and other treaty bodies remains a key subject. It is of utmost importance that we continue our collective efforts towards the solution of this complicated and longstanding issue.

For that reason, we have with us today two speakers who will talk about the situation within the UN system, and the existing challenges. Our first speaker is Dr. Gaya Gamhewage, who is the Director ad interim on the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the office of the Director General of the World Health Organization. Dr. Gaya will talk to us about her experience, as she has been working within the UN for over 20 years, and will further discuss new policies regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.

We are also joined by Mr. Gareth Price-Jones, the Executive Secretary at SCHR,  he Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. The SCHR is also a standing invitee at the Interagency Standing Committee, which means he will provide us with a wider view of what is going on both within the UN agencies, and external organizations, such as NGOs, collaborating with the UN. Mr. Price-Jones will touch on the work the SCHR is doing regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, bearing in mind that the next PSEAH Champion within the IASC will be Andrew Morley, of World Vision International, which is also a part of the SCHR.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear participants,
I am proud to see that this second spotlight event of the Group of Friends to Eliminate Sexual Harassment has served as a channel through which conversation on the prevention and, ultimately, the eradication of all forms of sexual misconduct, has resumed. I would first of all like to thank our speakers, Dr. Gaya Gamhewage and Mr. Gareth Price-Jones. Dr. Gaya gave us a new perspective on the matter, after sharing with us her experience. She also added a gender perspective to the conversation, which is extremely important since the main recipients of sexual harassment are women, and it is paramount that we get their view on this topic. Mr. Price-Jones, on the other hand, gave us the view of the IASC and Civil Society Organizations, through sharing with us his work with all NGOs within the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. NGOs and their work, should not be overlooked since they all work closely with the UN and reports of sexual harassment have also been noted during their activities and operations.

This is an issue that we have been dealing with for decades, however, now is the time when more and more people – mostly women- are finally coming forward to report the atrocities they have experienced. In the last few years the reporting of sexual misconduct within the UN and all other related organizations has become easier, and the anonymity and confidentiality of the process is one of the elements that urges victims to come forward. Nevertheless, we will not stop our continuous efforts until all types of sexual harassment are able to be prevented everywhere.

We will keep our promise as a member state of the Group of Friends to eliminate sexual harassment, to do all that is possible in order to raise awareness and stop this pathogenesis once and for all.

I would like to further thank all other member states of the Group of Friends for their constant and substantial work on the matter and all the attendees who have added so many different perspectives and views to today’s conversation. It will be an honor to see you and continue this discussion in our next spotlight event, which will be organized by the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands.

Group of Friends for the Elimination of Sexual Exploitation
2 Images