How CHS Alliance is building a safer & more accountable aid system
Power imbalances between people affected by crises and aid workers can lead to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), a key accountability issue.
Protection from SEAH is woven into the nine commitments of the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS). CHS Alliance produces key tools and guidance to support organisations, such as the CHS PSEAH Index and the guide to taking a victim/survivor approach.
Gathering momentum: PSEAH initiatives making an impact
For an aid system that strives for accountability, it cannot afford to take its attention off the need to ensure robust systems and processes that protect people from abuse. Over the last few years, the Alliance network has developed some initiatives that are now gathering pace to help organisations create safer and more accountable organisations.
The initiatives address various levels of the aid system—individual, institutional, and collective—promoting accountability through behaviour change. All aim to prevent and respond to abuses of power, improving the aid system’s ability to meet the CHS Commitments.
Our flagship initiatives include:
PSEAH Index: Gives organisations verifying their performance against the CHS the ability to determine whether they have the policies and practices in place to protect people in vulnerable situations.
Harmonised Reporting Scheme: Increases accountability and transparency on SEAH and reduces under-reporting through the development of a way to harmonise reporting of SEAH incidents.
Investigator Qualification Training Scheme: Strengthens global capacity for survivor centred SEAH investigations, for effective local response.
Misconduct Disclosure Scheme: In partnership with SCHR, this CHS Alliance hosted initiative prevents known abusers from moving undetected between organisations, breaking the cycle of harm.
Insights from these different initiatives are helping to build accountability across organisations and the wider sector. Through tools, guidance, research, and learning, they are transforming the aid system’s culture, ensuring it prioritises the dignity and rights of those affected by crises. But to tip the balance, we need even more aid actors to get involved and make the most of this collaborative work.
See how CHS Alliance’s PSEAH initiatives work together to create a safer aid system for all. If your organisation is not yet involved in any of them, make sure to get in touch with us to participate and be part of the change we need: