In the recent years, there has been a growing international concern about sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) in humanitarian and development assistance. In July 2019, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) adopted the “DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment in Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance.” In 2023, at the G7 Hiroshima Summit under Japan’s Presidency, the G7 leaders confirmed their commitment to the elimination of SEAH in the G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué.

In light of these developments, MOFA conducts awareness-raising activities such as staff training. It also makes available the summaries of Japan’s basic position and the DAC Recommendation on the MOFA website Note 32 to promote public understanding.

JICA raises awareness of the importance of SEAH prevention among a wide range of relevant parties involved in JICA projects through its website, which posts the president’s call for eliminating SEAH,Note 33 and through its employment regulations and ethics guidelines for JICA personnel that take into account SEAH prevention measures. In addition, it works to develop a consultation service as well as a response and monitoring system in case of an incident.

In addition, MOFA is taking measures such as incorporating SEAH prevention into the implementation guidelines for the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects from FY2022 onward.

1. Note 32: International Efforts to Address Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH) in Development Cooperation
   https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/about/doukou/page24_000019.html (in Japanese only)
2. Note 33: Ending Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment
   https://www.jica.go.jp/english/our_work/compliance/seah_eradication.html

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