Ahead of DfID’s Safeguarding Summit in London NGO Safe Space calls for all organisations in the system – governments, charities, UK Charity Commission, donors, private sector contractors and influencers – to reform in six keys areas:
- Commit to specific actions to address sexism, racism and other unequal power relations within the development and humanitarian sector as a prerequisite to ending all forms of exploitation and abuse
- Increase victims’ confidence to speak up by demonstrating that reports of abuse are being taken seriously and perpetrators are being brought to justice.
- Provide mandatory psycho-social and legal support to every person who experiences exploitation and abuse at work.
- Take proactive measures to promote greater diversity in senior leadership roles, including on Board of trustees, and within systems for investigating allegations of abuse.
- Ensure that all staff undertake regular diversity training and that all training for staff is gender-sensitive. Strengthen approaches to safeguard against abuses of power towards women and minority groups deployed overseas.
- Support and resource the establishment of a fully independent body to investigate cases of abuse and exploitation and to oversee implementation of a Code of Conduct against all forms of sexual harassment, abuse and bullying in the sector.
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