Policy on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse

PURPOSE:

Protection of our beneficiaries is of paramount importance to the INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY particularly as it may be perpetrated by humanitarian workers, including INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY employees, volunteers, interns, Board Members, incentive workers, partners, and all those that work on behalf of our mission.   INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY is guided in its preventive efforts by the UN Secretary-General’s Bulletin on “Special Measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse,” published in 2003 and expanded that directive to include a prohibition on all types of exploitation and abuse of our beneficiaries.   POLICY:  INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY and INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY Staff recognize the unequal power dynamic and the resulting potential for exploitation inherent in our work with beneficiaries.  INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY and INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY Staff further recognize that exploitation undermines the credibility of our work and severely damages victims of these exploitive acts and their families and communities.   INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY expects its Staff to uphold the highest ethical standard of integrity, accountability and service in the delivery of goods and services while executing the responsibilities of their position.    INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY Staff are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with beneficiaries.  Sexual activity with children (defined according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as all persons under the age of eighteen) is strictly prohibited regardless of the age of majority or age of consent locally.  Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defense.  This strict prohibition does not apply where the employee is legally married to someone under the age of eighteen (18).

Given the inherently unequal power dynamics when working with beneficiaries, INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY Staff should avoid recruiting beneficiaries to work for them in a personal capacity (e.g., as domestic workers) because of the potential and/or perception of abuse or exploitation, particularly in regards to employing younger children.   INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY Staff must never abuse his/her power or position in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, neither through withholding assistance nor by giving preferential treatment.  Requests/demands for payment, privilege or any other benefit, including sexual favors or acts, are strictly prohibited.  INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY s employees are prohibited from engaging in any forms of intimidating, humiliating, degrading or aggressive behavior towards beneficiaries.    REVIEW:   This policy will be periodically reviewed by the Senior Technical Advisor – Beneficiary in the Human Resources Department.