Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

Women's Light Foundation operates a policy of zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) committed by its staff, volunteers, interns, board members, contractors or partners. SEA constitutes gross misconduct and is grounds for immediate termination of employment, volunteer placement or partnership.

This policy reflects the standards set out in the United Nations Secretary-General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13) and the Core Humanitarian Standard, and is a mandatory commitment under our organisational framework.

These definitions follow accepted humanitarian sector usage.

• Sexual exploitation means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust for sexual purposes, including profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
• Sexual abuse means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.
• Beneficiary means any member of a community we serve, including people receiving assistance, participating in programmes, or seeking support from us.

1. Sexual activity with any person under the age of 18 is prohibited, regardless of the age of majority or age of consent locally. A mistaken belief about a person's age is not a defence.
2. The exchange of money, employment, goods, assistance or services for sex — including sexual favours or any other form of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour — is prohibited.
3. Sexual relationships between our personnel and beneficiaries are prohibited, as they are based on inherently unequal power and undermine the credibility and integrity of the work.
4. Personnel who develop concerns or suspicions about SEA by a colleague, whether in this organisation or not, must report it through the mechanisms set out in this policy.
5. Personnel are obliged to create and maintain an environment that prevents SEA, and managers at every level have particular responsibility to support and develop systems that do so.

• Ensure every person is briefed on this policy before they begin work with communities, and that they sign acknowledgement of it.
• Include PSEA obligations in every contract, volunteer agreement and partnership agreement.
• Maintain functioning, accessible reporting channels and make communities aware of them in a form they can use.
• Act on every report received, and never dismiss one because of the reporter's status.
• Conduct reference and background checks proportionate to the role, particularly for roles involving contact with children or survivors.

Concerns may be reported by anyone — a community member, a member of staff, a volunteer, a partner or a member of the public — through the Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism, by email to contact@womenslight.org, or by telephone.

• Reports may be made anonymously.
• Where the person reporting is the person affected, no further action is taken without their informed consent, except where there is a legal obligation or a risk to a child or another person.
• Confidentiality is maintained throughout, with information shared only with those who need it to act.
• Retaliation against anyone who makes a report in good faith is itself a disciplinary offence.
• Reports made in bad faith, knowing them to be false, are a disciplinary matter.

On receipt of a report, the Foundation will ensure that the immediate safety and support needs of the person affected are addressed first, including referral to medical, psychosocial and legal services through our GBV referral pathway. Support is not conditional on the person agreeing to an investigation or to any formal process.

Investigation is conducted by a person independent of the subject of the report and of their line management. Where the report concerns a member of the Bureau, the Board of Advisors appoints an independent investigator. Where the conduct may constitute a criminal offence under Cameroonian law, the wishes of the person affected guide any referral to authorities, subject to legal obligations regarding children.

Substantiated cases result in termination. The Foundation will not provide a neutral reference for a person dismissed for SEA.

All response is survivor-centred, in line with the IASC Guidelines on Gender-Based Violence. The person affected determines what happens next wherever possible; their safety, confidentiality, dignity and right to self-determination guide every decision; and they are not required to repeat their account to multiple parties.

Any organisation entering a partnership, sub-grant or contract with Women's Light Foundation must maintain a PSEA policy of equivalent standard, or formally adopt this one. Failure to act on a credible SEA report is grounds for terminating a partnership.

This policy is reviewed annually by the Bureau, and sooner where Cameroonian law, sector standards or our own experience indicate the need. The current version and effective date are shown in the document status panel.