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Week Ending March 4, 2005

 

                                                                                         

HR 912 to ensure the protection of beneficiaries of US humanitarian assistance.

 

 

BRIEF

   The lion’s share of international humanitarian assistance is decided upon by Congress and distributed through the appropriation bill that funds Foreign Operations, Export Financing and related agencies and programs. Most of those appropriated dollars are managed and dispersed by the US Agency for International Development via the State Department. Few recipients are granted funds with no strings attached. Common conditions include not using the funds for abortion or military materiel. In recent years government transparency has been a demand. This bill adds another condition.

   The bill prohibits giving funds to an organization that does not adopt a program equal to the six core principals of the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crisis.

   The funds so regulated are those granted for “Migration and Refugee Assistance”, US Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund”, “International Disaster and Famine Assistance”, or “Transition Initiatives”.

 

 

Sponsor: Representative William D. Delahunt (D-MA-10th)

Vote: Passed House 416 to 0, 1 'Present', 16 not voting (RC 43)

Cost to the taxpayers: CBO calculates no significant budgetary effect.

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MORE INFORMATION

The Six Core Principles of the United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises:

(1) `Sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers constitute acts of gross misconduct and are therefore grounds for termination of employment.'.(2) `Sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18) is prohibited regardless of the age of majority or age of consent locally. Mistaken belief regarding the age of a child is not a defense.'.(3) `Exchange of money, employment, goods, or services for sex, including sexual favors or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior, is prohibited. This includes exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries.'.(4) `Sexual relationships between humanitarian workers and beneficiaries are strongly discouraged since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics. Such relationships undermine the credibility and integrity of humanitarian aid work.'.(5) `Where a humanitarian worker develops concerns or suspicions regarding sexual abuse or exploitation by a fellow worker, whether in the same agency or not, he or she must report such concerns via established agency reporting mechanisms.'.

(6) `Humanitarian agencies are obliged to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of their code of conduct. Managers at all levels have particular responsibilities to support and develop systems which maintain this environment.'.

 

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