The US Embassy urges action to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

The U.S. Embassy in South Sudan on Saturday joined its partners in the humanitarian and development aid communities to commemorate a day of action to protect against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the aid sector.

A press statement on Monday said the day is important for accountability and protection against violations of USAID programming, which are critical to the success of humanitarian and development work.

“The U.S. Embassy in South Sudan urges all involved in the humanitarian and development assistance sectors to commit to a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment and to uphold the dignity and safety of all individuals , by actively preventing such acts,” the statement reads in part. “We call for a swift investigation into all allegations, with the support of the transitional government authorities, coupled with swift and appropriate action against the perpetrators, while ensuring that survivors are supported.”

“Further, we all have a responsibility to promote a culture of accountability and encourage reporting of concerns without fear of retaliation,” the statement said.