Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,??
Mr. Dennis Francis,?at the Interactive awareness-raising theatre event for the prevention and action regarding sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment
[As Delivered]
9 October 2023
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me begin by extending my sincere thanks to the Permanent Mission of Switzerland for their invitation to this evening¡¯s event, tackling an issue of utmost importance.
The distressing reality is that sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment happen everywhere, all the time.
At the United Nations, we advocate for an absolute zero tolerance policy to any of these abhorrent behaviours.
While we are deeply committed to fostering an unconditionally safe work environment across our organization, sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment are associated with remarkably low reporting rates, meaning that our official awareness merely scratches the surface of a much larger problem.
?
But one fact is undeniable: these misconducts are insidiously pervasive and profoundly harmful.
And they?must end.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment are entrenched in the abuse of power and gender inequality.
Between men and women, between employees and supervisors, or between the older and the younger.
While these trends are systemic in nature, ultimately it is individuals perpetrate them.
And we all have a responsibility,?especially?those of us in positions of power or influence, to speak up and to speak out against such wrongdoings.
It is of paramount importance that we, the United Nations, demonstrate a steadfast commitment to addressing misconduct, by holding Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ personnel accountable, by ending impunity, and by prioritizing support and justice for victims.
But for us to get the complete picture, we must strengthen our whistleblower mechanism to facilitate and encourage reporting without fear of retaliation.
Excellencies,
In partnership with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Women, my predecessor launched a joint campaign to promote training on gender equality and preventing sexual harassment among Permanent Mission staff.
In the first phase of the campaign, 44 Permanent Missions pledged to ensure their staff complete mandatory online trainings on these important topics. Let us all commit today to working towards getting that number to 193.
My commitment is that under the guidance of my Advisory Board on Gender Equality, we can build upon these efforts and foster a more engaged and proactive Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ community, dedicated to maintaining respectful and safe work environments for all the people.
And, events like this one are key to spreading awareness and spurring society-wide mindset shifts.
Colleagues,
At the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, we have an obligation to make our workspaces equal, respectful, and just.
We must lead by example and ensure that our own practices align seamlessly with our principles.
Prioritizing active listening, with a primary focus on victims and the most vulnerable, is the cornerstone of an inclusive and sustainable future, for all.
Only by working together will we end this destructive scourge.
Let us all be agents of change. Let us unite and act for an equal and just future.
I thank you.