Summary:
The recent meeting hosted by Cooperation Canada gathered members and participants from various organizations to discuss the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH). The discussion aimed to strengthen the community of practice, emphasize the importance of intersectionality, and address challenges in implementing PSEAH measures in both international and Canadian contexts. Key topics included adapting policies between headquarters and field operations, donor roles in supporting partners, best practices for managing partnerships, and culturally informed education. The group expressed the need for robust reporting and investigation mechanisms, shared resources, and cross-organizational learning to mainstream safeguarding efforts.
Key takeaways:
- Adapting PSEAH policies between headquarters and field operations is essential to address differing local and international standards.
- Regional coordination and cross-learning among organizations can enhance safeguarding measures.
- Culturally relevant, trauma-informed educational resources are vital, particularly for youth and Indigenous communities.
- Smaller organizations benefit from shared tools, training, and best practices to manage resource limitations effectively.
- Establishing a baseline budget for PSEAH measures in projects would standardize funding and effort allocation.
- Clear guidelines are needed for handling “gray zones” where local laws differ from Canadian standards.
- Donor support and involvement in facilitating PSEAH measures and knowledge-sharing with grantees and partners are crucial.
- Effective knowledge transfer within membership-based organizations can aid members involved in direct programming.
- Resources equivalent to those from CHS and international safeguarding hubs are necessary for Canadian-based efforts.
- Reporting and investigation mechanisms must be strengthened to support fair, culturally sensitive processes.
Next Steps:
- Develop and distribute Canadian-based PSEAH resources that meet high international standards.
- Coordinate regional workshops and learning sessions focusing on cultural and linguistic diversity in safeguarding.
- Promote partnerships and dialogue between smaller and larger organizations for shared learning and resource development.
- Integrate guidelines and examples for managing “gray zones” and legal nuances into training programs.
- Explore funding strategies and establish baseline budget standards for PSEAH in development and humanitarian projects.
- Facilitate sectoral conversations on handling complaints involving partner and subpartner organization staff.
- Enhance mechanisms for reporting and conducting investigations, including shared resources and training.
- Create cross-learning initiatives to assist organizations in transferring knowledge to their members and partners.
- Foster continuous community of practice meetings for sharing strategies and reinforcing safeguarding practices.
