In line with the Secretary-General’s Bulletin “special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse” (ST/SGB/2003/13), UNDP adopts structures and procedures for ensuring compliance with the zero-tolerance policy. Standard operating procedures for UNDP beneficiaries and contractors will be in place for submission and receipt of complaints, and reporting.

General Assembly Resolution 48/104 on the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women defines violence against women to include sexual harassment, which is prohibited at work, in educational institutions, and elsewhere (Art. 2(b)), and encourages development of penal, civil or other administrative sanctions, as well as preventative approaches to eliminate violence against women (Art. 4(d-f)). The Beijing Platform for Action., recognizes sexual harassment as a form of violence against women and as a form of discrimination, and calls on multiple actors including government, employers, unions, and civil society to ensure that governments enact and enforce laws on sexual harassment and that employers develop anti-harassment policies and prevention strategies. In alignment with UNDP policies and commitments, as well as with our efforts to ensure that stakeholders work with a comfortable environment, UNDP Iraq will vigorously work at full capacity towards elimination of the culture of impunity that surrounds sexual abuse and harassment. UNDP Iraq believes that the policies, procedures, and special measures will work effectively only when the victims believe they will be heard, and the perpetrators suffer real consequences for their actions.