Information on the projects and their positive impact on the lives of victims, and children born as a result of sexual exploitation, is contained in the fifth annual report of the fund released earlier this week, covering 2022.
Contributions to the Trust Fund may be made by governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, private institutions, or individuals.
“The Secretariat is grateful to the 24 Member States that support the Trust Fund and looks forward to continued contributions. I encourage Member States and others to contribute,” said Catherine Pollard, UN Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC).
Rebuilding lives
Since its establishment in 2016, the Trust Fund has received $4.8 million in contributions from Member States and from payments withheld from staff members who have proven cases of sexual exploitation and abuse.
“This helps to fund aid and support services to victims and children born of sexual exploitation and abuse by the UN and related personnel”, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York.
To date, more than 43,000 affected victims and community members have participated in income-generating activities or received various forms of support. The additional funding will help victims and their children rebuild their lives, break stigma, and facilitate reintegration within their communities”, he added.
New projects in the pipeline
In the seven years since it was established, the Trust Fund has funded 17 projects that have been completed or are still being implemented.
In 2022, six Trust Fund projects were initiated in areas affected by political and other insecurity as well as natural disasters, including earthquakes and floods.
Projects are implemented in the Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Liberia, and South Sudan. They provided support for 1,224 direct beneficiaries.
In April 2023, the Trust Fund Review Committee approved 12 new projects to be implemented in CAR, DRC, Guatemala, Haiti, Iran, Myanmar, Somalia, and South Sudan.
About $2.3 million is needed
An estimated $2.3 million is needed for these newly approved projects.
As of this May, the Trust Fund has disbursed/committed more than $2.7 million for completed or ongoing projects.
The Secretariat is appealing for voluntary financial contributions to the Trust Fund and intends to raise $3 million for the 12 projects recently approved and to prepare for the next proposal cycle.
Supporting income generation
The Trust Fund was created by Secretary-General António Guterres in 2016 to strengthen the response and support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN staff. To avoid stigmatization, the beneficiaries include not only victims but also those who are at risk, or who are in the most vulnerable situations in their communities.
The fund provides many aids for victims. This includes immediate assistance such as medical care and psychosocial support, longer-term projects such as vocational training and income-generating activities, as well as assistance with school fees for children born as a result of exploitation and abuse.
Victims experience devastating consequences beyond the psychological and physical.
Stigmatization is common
They are often scorned by their families and community members, and may be left with no support to fend for themselves. To address this, Trust Fund projects support income generation by providing victims with knowledge and tools that empower them to be economically active and self-sustaining.
According to a beneficiary in DR Congo: “After attending a sewing workshop and business training. I was able to elaborate a business plan. The trainers will continue to teach us. Now, after a few months, I can support myself and my family.”
Schooling support
Providing educational support to children born of sexual exploitation or abuse is another very important Trust Fund and is done in many countries.
According to a beneficiary living in Haiti: “With this project, my child’s schooling was paid for without difficulty. The support also provides food for my child throughout the school year.”
The Fund also supports community outreach to raise awareness among the local population of their rights and support available to them.