PSEAH key documents

For employees

• Equal Opportunities in the Workplace: FDFA Action Plan 2028
• Code of Conduct for Staff Abroad
• Respect in the workplace

FDFA staff can find more on PSEAH on the intranet:

• internal guidance
• internal tools

For contractual partners

• Code of Conduct for Contractual Partners

General Links

• Legal Basis: Federal Act of 24 March 1995 on Gender Equality
• FDFA Whistleblowing Platform

International Policies

On 18 October 2018, at the summit Putting People First – tackling sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH) in the international aid sector, Switzerland together with many other countries, the United Nations, international financial institutions and NGOs committed to introduce processes to put an end to SEAH.

These Commitments aim to bring about long-term change and improve institutional standards:

• Improve support for survivors, victims and whistle-blowers; enhance accountability and transparency; tackle impunity.
• Initiate cultural shift that promotes organisational and personal accountability through strong leadership and better human resources processes.
• Define and meet minimal standards.
• Strengthen organisational capacity and capability to meet these minimum standards across the international aid sector.

Since 2018, many efforts have been undertaken by the UN, donors and INGOs to strengthen PSEAH mechanisms. Relevant Policies and Guidelines have been developed by leading committees and agencies and good practice is being developed and tested all over the world.

In July 2019, Switzerland as a member of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) agreed with 28 other donors and the EU on a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at preventing SEAH in the aid sector. These DAC Recommendations on Ending Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment in Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance represent the most important reference document for the FDFA/SDC.

Please find below the relevant international policies and guidelines to inform your own work on PSEAH:

• DAC PSEAH Recommendations
• UN Secretary General's Bulletin - Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse
• UK Safeguarding Summit, October 2018
• UN SEA Glossary
• UN Preventing sexual exploitation and abuse
• IASC six core principles relating to sexual exploitation and abuse, September 2019