Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—The WHO Africa Regional Workplace (WHO AFRO) in collaboration with WHO Headquarters and WHO Ethiopia, hosted the primary regional workshop on stopping and responding to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PRSEAH). The three-day occasion, held from Could 15 to 17, introduced collectively 79 contributors from 47 African nations to judge achievements from the final biennium, talk about challenges, and discover revolutionary actions associated to PRSEAH.
The workshop follows the harrowing revelations of sexual exploitation and abuse through the tenth Ebola outbreak within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which underscored the necessity for systemic modifications inside the group. In response, WHO launched the #NoExcuse initiative in February 2022 to forestall SEAH and shield communities. This initiative focuses on reforms that foster a tradition of accountability, transparency, and belief, with victims and survivors at its core.
In his welcoming speech, Dr. Owen Legal guidelines Kaluwa, WHO Consultant to Ethiopia, emphasised the group’s zero-tolerance coverage for SEAH, stating, “There is no such thing as a room inside WHO for perpetrators of SEAH or bystanders who fail to talk up. Every of us is answerable for stopping and responding successfully to SEAH wherever it might happen.”
The workshop agenda included a complete assessment of previous achievements and challenges, strategic discussions on integrating PRSEAH into emergency preparedness and response and figuring out particular actions for the subsequent two years. Classes had been designed to advertise a shared understanding and method among the many AFRO PRS community. They included case research, expertise sharing, and panel discussions to handle questions and improve collaboration and effectiveness throughout WHO’s three organizational ranges.
Key classes included:
- Reflections on the Previous Biennium: A assessment of achievements and challenges confronted in implementing PRSEAH methods throughout the AFRO area.
- Strategic Priorities for 2024-2025: Outlining priorities and engagement strategies with member states and governments.
- Integration into Emergency Preparedness and Response: Exploring finest practices and case research from nations like Nigeria and Mozambique.
- Accountability Framework and Organizational Tradition Change: Discussing roles, obligations, and methods to foster a zero-tolerance tradition in opposition to SEAH.
Dr Patrick Abok, Emergency Preparedness and Response cluster lead, reaffirmed:, “The choice to host the workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was pushed by strategic issues relating to affect and visibility. Ethiopia’s recurrent emergencies and the alignment of PRSEAH with the nation’s Well being Emergency Response framework provide a novel alternative for significant engagement and sensible integration of SEAH prevention measures.”
The regional workshop in Addis Ababa marked a big step in WHO’s ongoing efforts to fight SEAH inside its operations and communities, by bringing collectively consultants, stakeholders, and representatives from throughout the African continent, WHO goals to strengthen its PRSEAH initiatives and guarantee a safer, extra accountable atmosphere for all.
Dr. Khawla Akel, PRSEAH Coordinator, emphasised the significance of everybody understanding their position in stopping or responding to SEAH. The purpose is to rebuild belief and set up WHO as a pacesetter in addressing SEAH. As a part of the SURGE Flagship initiative, 200 first responders obtained coaching on module 4 (GBV & PSEA) utilizing nationwide sources. Efforts to boost sufferer help included coaching 28 PRSEAH trainers from the Regional Well being Bureau and Bureau of Ladies Affairs and adapting coaching materials to the Ethiopian context. Moreover, there was a deal with linking referrals with financial empowerment providers.