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Forgotten Women has a strict ethical code of conduct which has zero tolerance to sexual exploitation of the weak and vulnerable.
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During any natural disaster, war or famine, women tend to be the ones who suffer the most. Women are 14 times more likely to die in any emergency because they do not receive the relevant aid. Women across the world are being exploited, the Forgotten Women team has witnessed women having to compromise their dignity for basic food. When a mother has to choose between food or starvation for her children, she will do anything because the vulnerable surroundings around her become a battle of survival. Our reports show that girls as young 9 have and are being exploited for a bar of soap, this is the sad reality which many of us are not aware of. Sexual acts in exchange for desperately needed aid supplies is an abuse of power and tends to go unreported.
Understanding The Problem
1- Power Imbalance: The fundamental issue lies in the power imbalance between aid providers and recipients. Women and girls in desperate situations are often left with no choice but to comply with the demands of those controlling access to essential resources.
2- Lack of Safeguards: Insufficient oversight and accountability within humanitarian organisations can lead to the abuse of power by those delivering aid.
3- Cultural and Social Vulnerability: Societal norms and the breakdown of traditional protective structures during crises exacerbate the vulnerability of women and girls.
Recent Past
West Africa, just one example that has fallen victim to ill treatment by aid agencies. In 2002 investigative reports (by Save the Children, UNHCR, U.N. Refugee Agency) revealed the following:
1- Individuals, mainly women had been exploited by humanitarian aid workers demanding sex from girls under the age of 18 for cooking essentials such as oil and bulgur wheat
2- In 2006 (Haiti, Sudan and the Ivory Coast) found that aid workers from various organisations asked children to conduct sexual activities on each other whilst this was filmed in exchange for basic food rations and money
3- Reports in 2014 found peacekeepers who travelled to disaster and emergency zones largely from the French military engaged in sexual abuse of children as young as 8 in exchange for food and money
4- Peacekeepers also engaged in sexual relations with women, many women would fall pregnant, a nickname for the babies born was ‘peacekeeper babies’
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Tragically, there have been reported cases where aid has been withheld from women until they were forced to offer sex due to desperation.
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In Syria, there have been reports of women and young girls entering short-term marriages with officials in exchange for ‘sexual services’ in order to receive hot meals. This highlights the severe and pervasive nature of sexual exploitation in humanitarian crises. This exploitation often targets the most vulnerable populations, such as widows, divorcees, and female internally displaced persons (IDPs), who lack the protection and support typically provided by male family members. These situations are not isolated to Syria but are a global issue seen in various conflict and disaster zones. The phenomenon of transactional sex, including forced marriages for survival, underscores the urgent need for systemic changes in how humanitarian aid is delivered.
Safeguarding
Forgotten Women has a strict ethical code of conduct which has zero tolerance to sexual exploitation of the weak and vulnerable. We are dedicated to providing aid and protection to those in need, and to honour our safe aid policy, we exclusively deploy women on the front lines to deliver aid, ensuring women-to-women contact.
Additionally, this approach can help build trust within the communities being served, as the recipients of aid feel more secure and respected, knowing that their dignity is being prioritised. It also sets a precedent for other humanitarian organisations to follow, emphasising the importance of safeguarding measures and ethical practices in aid delivery.
The #MeToo movement (defined as a social movement against sexual violence and sexual assault), which emerged as a global social movement against sexual violence and sexual assault, has significantly impacted various sectors, including the humanitarian sector. Its influence has given survivors to speak out and creating an environment of accountability and heightened awareness of sexual misconduct. The #MeToo movement has emboldened survivors within the humanitarian sector to come forward and report incidents of sexual violence and exploitation. This increase in reporting helps to expose and address previously hidden abuses.
Sex for aid and sexual exploitation should not and will not be tolerated. Part of our safe aid delivery is to provide loving arms of comfort and emotional support these beautiful women long for. Sunny Bahia, Forgotten Women
Our objective is to offer women the opportunity to develop their independence and protect their dignity. Every woman deserves the right to live a safe and happy life, with your support we can make that a reality.