Sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in humanitarian contexts

Area of Science:

• Humanitarian Aid
• Public Health
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) by aid workers is a persistent challenge in humanitarian contexts.
• SEAH has wide-ranging impacts on individuals and communities, including adverse effects on sexual health.
• Existing investments have not fully eradicated this complex issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of research on SEAH in humanitarian settings.
• To identify critical knowledge gaps in the evidence base for SEAH prevention and response.
• To inform future research and policy agendas.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on SEAH in humanitarian contexts.
• Analysis of current knowledge on SEAH impacts, risk factors, and organizational cultures.
• Identification of system-wide and population-level knowledge gaps.

Main Results:

• Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding effective programming approaches and accountability mechanisms for SEAH.
• Health-care programming offers potential avenues for SEAH prevention and response.
• Gaps remain in understanding perpetration patterns and the specific challenges faced by marginalized groups.

Conclusions:

• Addressing SEAH requires a comprehensive research agenda to fill identified evidence gaps.
• Future strategies must integrate prevention, response, and accountability mechanisms.
• Policy and programming must consider the unique needs of affected populations, especially marginalized groups.