LocationsUNDP Zambia Staff United Against PSEA
November 30, 2019
UN PSEA Coordinator, Ms. Anna Stone, facilitating the UN Zambia PSEA training session
In 2019, whilst addressing a high-level meeting on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the world to condemn and end sexual exploitation and abuse, including in the UN family.
It is no surprise, therefore, that UNDP Zambia Country Office takes an active stance on violence against women and girls. In November 2019, the Country Office was not hesitant to contribute towards preventing sexual exploitation and abuse in the country by hosting a training session for its staff members.
During the opening session, Resident Representative, Lionel Laurens emphasised that SEA constitutes a serious misconduct, which could lead to dismissal of an individual if found wanting. In her definition of the meaning of SEA, she noted that, “identifying the offence is not based on consent but rather on the nature of the relationship, whether the relationship is abuse of someone’s position or power.” Understanding the correlation and power balance between individuals is critical to avoid SEA.
The training revealed the different forms of SEA and their definitions, power relations, effects of SEA and referral channels for victims of SEA.
According to Violet Jere, who is transport officer at UNDP, “I did not know there were so many different types of sexual harassment until after the training, which revealed that there are four types of harassment.”
UNDP Procurement Associate, Joseph Kaibande Sakala, and ICT Manager, Mwiya Nyambe, engaging with the content of the session
The training was facilitated by the UN PSEA Coordinator Ms. Anna Stone. Her training was interactive with plenty of anecdotes to elucidate her explanations whilst reiterating the SEA Bulletin (ST/SGB/2003/13) that sexual exploitation and abuse, in its variety of forms, has been found to exist to a greater or lesser extent in all duty stations.
Ms Stone also said that it was for this reason that all duty stations of the UN have an obligation to create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and abuse regardless of personal perceptions.
Speaking after the training, UNDP GEF 5 Project Officer, Ms. Nancy Mukumbuta exclaimed that the training was insightful as it revealed areas of concern that are often disregarded as normal, when in fact they are not so. She underscored that cultural differences were predominantly at the heart of misconceptions of SEA.
The training was very revealing. It taught us to understand the different cultural backgrounds that exist within our organization and how it is important to respect the diversity that exists because what is normal in one culture, may not be normal in another. In fact, as Zambian women we now know that there are boundaries in how some men behave and it is ok to say no— Nancy Mukumbuta, UNDP GEF 5 Project Officer
According to UNDP Governance Consultant, Anthony London, the training was an excellent opportunity to understand the various avenues of reporting SEA. He said, “there are channels that have been laid out for us to report SEA – that is formal and informal channels. It is very important that the channels are utilized otherwise they will disappear.”
Earlier in the year, the UN Communications Group invited Ms Marie Diop, the then PSEA Advisor, ai to provide an insight into the intricacies and depths of SEA during UNCG Retreat of February 2019.
The awareness programme during the UNCG meeting also drew communications persons to developing a communications and advocacy plan that would be implemented to prevent and end SEA in Zambia. Ms Diop said that it was necessary that a concerted One UN Zambia awareness programme be designed and implemented to guarantee widespread outreach within the UN family.
Ms Diop also noted that the unspeakable acts of a few should not be allowed to tarnish the good work of thousands of men and women who uphold UN values.
