House Approves Bill Aimed at Protecting Women in Humanitarian Crises

On March 2, the House approved, 416-0, a bill (H.R. 912) that would require humanitarian aid organizations to adopt a code of conduct prohibiting the sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children in relief operations.

Sponsored by Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA), the Humanitarian Assistance Code of Conduct Act would require all nongovernmental organizations receiving U.S. funds to adopt a code of conduct consistent with the following core principles of the United Nations Interagency Standing Committee Task Force on Protection From Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises:

Sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers constitute acts of gross misconduct and are therefore grounds for termination of employment;
Sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18) is prohibited regardless of the age of majority or age of consent locally;
Exchange of money, employment, goods, or services for sex, including sexual favors or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior, is prohibited;
Sexual relationships between humanitarian workers and beneficiaries are strongly discouraged since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics;
When 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; and
Humanitarian agencies are obliged to create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of their code of conduct.

Stressing the importance of passing H.R. 912, Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) said that “in the wake of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami and the genocide in Darfur, we have witnessed untold suffering. And yet…we have learned from other crisis situations that people in some crises become victims of additional and incomprehensible violations, sexual exploitation and abuse. The most vulnerable groups, women and children, are at greatest risk. The passage of the Humanitarian Assistance Code of Conduct Act of 2005 ensures that steps will be taken to protect the most vulnerable people from sexual exploitation and abuse by those providing aid and humanitarian relief operations.”

Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) stated, “Over the past year, the United Nations has investigated over 150 allegations of sexual abuse by United Nations peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Women have charged that they have been raped by U.N. peacekeepers, the very military forces specifically sent there to protect and to defend them. There have been charges that children as young as 12 and 13 were bribed with food for sex. Women trying to feed their families were forced to trade sex for money or food or jobs.” He added, “The United States is a most generous Nation…and American humanitarian organizations provide invaluable expertise and hands-on assistance in crisis zones around the globe. With the passage of our legislation, refugees and internally displaced people can have even more confidence that American assistance is distributed according to the highest standards of conduct.”