Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation & Abuse in Liberia

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2.0 Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) in Liberia 2.1 PSEA Coordination 2.1.1 UNCT Coordination Officer for Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse In 2005, a new post was designated in the RC office of the UNCT Liberia. (See Terms of Reference for this post in the Annexes). Funding for the post was mobilized in-country by UN agencies on a cost-share basis. Funds were also mobilized by the RC for a period of one year from the United States Government Office for Disaster Assistance (OFDA). The purpose of the post is to: 1. Enhance internal coordination within the UNCT and between the UNCT and UNMIL on prevention and response to SEA. 2. Enhance external coordination among the UN, GOL, local and international NGOs on prevention and response to SEA 3. Enhance information sharing on PSEA activities within the United Nations system as well as external partners. 4. Act as liaison between the UNCT, ICN, GOL, and other stakeholders, including donors. 5. Ensure that PSEA issues are considered and addressed in the programming and policy development processes within the UNCT. The existence of such a position in the Resident Coordinator’s office within the context of an integrated mission has allowed the issue of PSEA to be incorporated into the UN planning, programming and policy discussions and has contributed to the “One UN” approach by developing a strong working relationship between UNCT and UNMIL on this issue. This has provided an enabling environment for the PSEA successes described below. Achievements: • A fully-functioning UNCT SEA Focal Point Network that meets monthly (See TOR, Annex 3) • Enhanced internal capacity within the UNCT to train its staff and implementing partners on prevention and response for SEA in the UN Common System • Regular reporting to the RC and UNCT on PSEA status across a range of indicators (See Annex 4) • A Focal Point Toolkit developed, containing IEC, reference and training materials • Regular SEA training sessions conducted for UN agency staff, contractors and implementing partners. During the period 2005-2008, a total of 1627 UN 4 staff members and representatives of implementing partners have been trained • Development of a common mechanism for reporting and dissemination of information among staff and community members • Establishment of regular joint SEA Focal Point training sessions among UNMIL and UNCT focal points and alternates and development of a common SEA FP training module • Enhanced information-sharing between UNCT SEA Focal Point Network, UNMIL Focal Point Network, CDU, ICN and government coordination mechanisms such as the GBV Task Force and the Protection Core Group • Increased coherence among stakeholders in PSEA policy development and planning and implementing activities Challenges: • Limited time for SEA Focal Points to carry out core functions and meet all aspects of their TOR, especially the training function • Inadequate level of information-gathering from the field • Low level of SEA reports, both from UN staff and beneficiaries • Lack of core funding for PSEA Coordination Officer Position or related PSEA activities 2.1.2 In Country Network (ICN) The ICN is a network of representatives from the United Nations and international NGOs that serves as the primary body for coordination and oversight on prevention and response to SEA among the humanitarian community. The Chair of the ICN in Liberia is Mr. Jordan Ryan, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator. The PSEA Coordination Officer in the RC Office and the Conduct and Discipline Unit at UNMIL act as the Secretariat for the ICN. The Network is made up of various UN agencies represented by focal points from UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP, UNHCR, UNDP, UNMIL, the MSG Liaison Officer, Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), Save the Children UK, American Refugee Committee (ARC), Oxfam, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and International Rescue Committee (IRC). The ICN is divided into three working groups relating to Awareness, Monitoring & Reporting and Coordination. It is through these working groups that GOL, Local NGOs, and community members
are incorporated into the work of the ICN. The PSEA Coordination Officer chairs and acts as secretariat for all three working groups, which meet regularly. As of 2008, the wider ICN group meets on a quarterly basis. 2.1.3 Protection Core Group (PCG) In January 2006, the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) cluster approach was introduced in Liberia with UNHCR as the lead agency. UNHCR established a Protection Core Group Secretariat at national and county levels1 and served as Chair until April 2007, when responsibility for the national activities of the PCG was handed over to the Ministry of Justice. At county level, the handover has been to the Ministries of Gender and Justice. The Protection Core Groups act as the main mechanism for coordination of protection activities in the counties. Through this network, protection and non-protection actors alike (UN, Government, and CSOs) are active in efforts to respond to the protection issues in their communities. Within the structure of the PCG, specific sub-clusters focus on SGBV, child protection, rule of law, land and property. The SGBV sub-cluster is known as the GBV Task Force at county level, and is led by the county Gender Coordinators (See below). To improve information-sharing and ensure proactive follow-up of individual protection cases, Review Committees were established country-wide with the aim of handling each case/issue separately by mandated partners. In June 2006, the decision was made at the ICN level to have the county-level PCGs act as the ICN’s SEA coordination mechanisms in the counties through the establishment of SEA sub-clusters. Several PCGs decided to link the SEA sub-cluster to the SGBV sub-cluster so as to rationalize the use of time and human resources. A TOR was developed (See Annex 5) for these sub-clusters, which included developing a SEA work plan for training, sensitization, awareness-raising and monitoring of SEA in the counties. It is important to note that these groups are not intended to be a venue for reporting cases of SEA. Such cases were to be reported to the relevant agency using its internal SEA reporting structure. Under the leadership of the county gender coordinators and with support from UNHCR, 13 out of the 15 counties2 have developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for dealing with SGBV including SEA (See Annex 6). The SGBV SOPs are drafted within the GBV task forces 1 Except River Cess County. 2 In two of seven offices (FO Monrovia and SO Voinjama) the SGBV SOPs remain in draft form and are under review by the offices and SGBV Task Force members. 5 Since 2004 UNHCR has funded an NRC implemented Protection Monitoring Project. Some 400 monitors together with Supervisors and Database assistants report on individual protection cases in the communities throughout Liberia. Since 2006, the cases reported by monitors are handled and referred for follow up through county “review committees” under the PCG framework. Out of all protection cases reported in 2007, 80% came from UNHCR/NRC monitors. (under the auspices of Protection Core Groups) for each county. The SOPs are intended to facilitate collaborative and concerted actions to respond to SGBV problems in the county. Their use has been observed to facilitate the work of referral networks, case prevention and response, enhanced respect for survivors, and accountability in general. Achievements: • Protection and non-protection actors (UN, government and CSO) are active in efforts to address SEA throughout the country as members and participants in protection networks • SGBV referral networks exist, which can be used as referral pathways for SEA survivor response even though cases are not formally reported in the subcluster • Protection-related training is provided to government, civil society and communities, including training on SEA awareness and response • Standard Operating Procedures for GBV have been developed at county level Challenges: • Limited capacity of Government to assume full control of the PCG without outside support • Low response rate and follow-up of non-SEA reported cases among members. Only 30% of the cases reported in 2007 received follow-up and response, due mainly to the lack of logistics and human resources capacity of members • Weak law enforcement and judicial sectors are unable to adequately play their role in protection, especially outside Montserrado County • Lack of capacity, funding and logistics for SEA Subclusters to carry out annual work plans for PSEA • Limited financial, human, and logistical resources to bring PSEA activities to some of the more remote districts and communities • Need to engage non-protection-oriented organizations in the SEA Sub-cluster 2.1.4 National GBV Task Force The GBV Task Force in an inter-agency body chaired by the Ministry of Gender and Development and tasked with overall implementation of the National GBV POA. Under the theme “One Leader, One Team, One Program,” the Task Force is the main policymaking and coordinating body for
Page 1 and 2: Prevention and Response to Sexual E
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents Executive Summary
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Page 7: Within the UN system, implementatio
Page 11 and 12: Anti Rape Campaign Since January 20
Page 13 and 14: a major gap countrywide. As a resul
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Page 19 and 20: Qualifications and Experience: •
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Page 25 and 26: 11. Forced (Early) Marriage: occurs
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Page 33 and 34: 4.8 SEA Campaign Work Plan SEA Camp
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Page 39 and 40: 4.10 Press Release, 30 June 08 Thou
Page 41 and 42: Outputs Status Responisble Organiza
Page 43 and 44: 4.12 Next Steps for PCGs on PSEA in
Page 45 and 46: 4.13 SEA Reporting Template 1. Date
Page 47 and 48: Photographs: Christopher Herwig Des

Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation & Abuse in Liberia

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