JIU Visits Uganda and Central African Republic for SEA Review

During the week of November 11^th, Inspector Eileen Cronin visited Uganda and the Central African Republic as part of the JIU review on policies and practices to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in the United Nations system organizations. Inspector Cronin interviewed and conducted focus group discussions with 61 senior leaders and technical staff of JIU partnering organizations to understand the implementation of SEA-related policies. In addition, there was a short brainstorming workshop with 89 technical focal points from UN organizations and NGO counterparts.

During the visits, in Uganda, the Girls Empowering Girls programme, in collaboration with UNICEF, held an educational session on SEA with their programme participants. Inspector Cronin also met and interviewed staff from an Italian NGO, Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), in the Central African Republic. In collaboration with UNHCR, COOPI operates a free helpline, “Ma Mbi Si, which means “listen to me”, to support victims of gender-based violence including SEA.

The mission highlighted the UN’s implementation of prevention tactics, response, training, and reporting channels on SEA for UN personnel and targeted communities where the UN operates. Through her time in Uganda and the Central African Republic, Inspector Cronin collected data related to challenges in organizing prevention activities and in reporting SEA misconduct. The data collected from the mission will be analyzed for the review, alongside findings from upcoming visits to Vienna and Chisinau to conclude the data collection phase of the review. The report is due to be published in the Summer of 2025.

COOPI staff in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Girls Empowering Girls holding an educational session on SEA in Uganda.