The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is fully committed to creating a safe, inclusive and dignified environment for the communities we serve, and for all our volunteers and staff. Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) can happen to anyone, regardless of their gender, age, location, or other factors. If you’re a survivor, or a witness to SEAH, and are looking for information on how to report, this page can help.
If you are an IFRC member of staff, and you are concerned that an adult or child is being, or is at risk of being, abused, exploited or harmed, you must report this at your earliest opportunity. This includes incidents of sexual harassment against colleagues in the workplace. You can report anonymously, although we encourage you to share your details to enable us to provide needed support and referrals.
If you have experienced sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment, know that you are not to blame, you are not alone, and you can access support. We know it can be difficult to report your own experiences of SEAH, but we encourage you to use our reporting lines and subsequent support services if and when you feel ready.
To report an SEAH incident or concern, click the link below to access IFRC’s Integrity Line, or read our FAQ below to find out more.
Anyone can report any incident or misconduct that affects the integrity of IFRC personnel, assets or operations. The IFRC’s Integrity Line reporting system is available for anyone to report any possible sexual misconduct involving the IFRC and our Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies operations or personnel around the world. This includes sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, and child safeguarding.
All reports are triaged and handled confidentially by our professionally trained case managers. See our Whistleblower Policy for further details regarding whistleblower protection and our PSEA Policy for information on how we apply a survivor-centred approach.
The steps and resources included below are specific to reporting, investigating and responding, and are adapted from the PSEA Manual, which covers the entire development of a safeguarding policy from planning to implementation.
These steps can also be accessed on the Key Actions page to be seen in context with the others.
It can be very difficult for individuals to report SEA concerns and we know that it can take years for an individual to come forward with an allegation of sexual exploitation or abuse, such as rape or sexual harassment. This is why trust is paramount as well ensuring that enough time is allowed for survivors to heal and recover.
As it is currently the case that many community members will not make a report, it is important to give volunteers and staff training and access to a safe reporting mechanism.
To learn more, read Guideline 13 of the Manual, Reporting SEA Concerns, as well as the IFRC's Whistleblower Protection Policy, which National Societies can adopt in lieu of their own policy.
See also the Reporting Concerns page on the PGI Hub, or the page on the main IFRC website.
For examples of incident reporting forms, see Tool 8 of the Manual and the PGI in Emergencies Toolkit, under the Implementation chapter. Soon to be published is the Do's and Don't's of Responding to SEA guidance.
How a report of SEA is handled can be a significant factor in the psychological impact on a survivor, as well as during their recovery. The organization is accountable for the way in which it responds to SEA. All complaints should be managed in a timely, fair and appropriate manner, with the safety of all persons involved given priority at every stage.
Investigations should be carried out by qualified, objective investigators, who have professional training and experience in conducting SEA inquiries.
To learn more, read Guideline 14 of the Manual, Investigating and responding.
Read more about IFRC's Office for Internal Audits and Investigations (OIAI) responsibilities and procedures. This office oversees SEA investigations for the IFRC.
When there is an allegation of SEA, it is essential to put the welfare of survivors and whistleblowers at the center of our response (and not just focus on the subject of the complaint). This approach helps avoid causing further harm.
The most senior representative of the National Society in the field is responsible for ensuring that assistance is provided.
To learn more, read Guideline 15 of the Manual, Providing assistance to survivors.