Frontline health care heroes advocate for zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) | WHO

Following the devastating floods that swept across Rwanda in May 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) partnered with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) to support a critical group in the emergency response: frontline workers. The action was organized in parallel with the UN nationwide joint campaign “Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) on the Frontline” during the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”.is initiative offers essential Training for frontline health workers. The aim is to raise their awareness and provide them with the necessary Knowledge and skills to detect SEA, making you a proactive partner in prevention.

Sexual exploitation and abuse are extreme forms of abuse of power that cause untold harm to the most vulnerable and undermine the work of the humanitarian community. Recognizing the critical role of health workers in emergency situations, WHO, in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, conducted a comprehensive PSEA training for 267 health workers. The training was funded by the Central Response Emergency Fund (CERF) and delivered in seven district hospitals in the areas most affected by the floods: Rubavu, Karongi, Nyabihu, Ngororero, Rutsiro, Gakenke and Burera. “Sexual exploitation and abuse are too often associated with health emergencies and other humanitarian crises. Frontline workers are the cornerstone of a successful response to any health emergency, and our partnership with WHO to train these workers is an important milestone in preventing abuse wherever emergency responders are deployed,” says Prof. Dr. Claude Muvunyi, Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre.

In a disaster, health workers are the most important line of defense

Justin Ndangamira, Head of Emergency Department at Kibuye Hospital, who played a major role in the flood relief effort and was one of the participants’ trainers, testified: “Imagine when a disaster strikes, people leave behind everything they own, from clothes to sanitary pads. Now a young woman expecting her menstruation is at risk of exploitation as she does not have the financial means to buy sanitary pads. Therefore, we must be vigilant in such situations and ensure that those with power and financial means do not abuse or harass the vulnerable in exchange for material needs.” By equipping these frontline heroes with knowledge of PSEA, we not only protect beneficiaries but also promote a culture of respect and accountability within the humanitarian response.

“WHO has a strict zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of sexual misconduct, including sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and any failure to address such conduct. The rights and well-being of victims and survivors are at the forefront of our work. Abuse of power and the perpetuation of sexual misconduct by those entrusted with the delivery of aid not only harm the vulnerable but also undermine the credibility of humanitarian efforts. It is therefore imperative to prevent sexual misconduct, ensure perpetrators are held accountable and prioritize support for survivors. Such measures are essential to rebuild trust and maintain the moral fabric of our efforts. This training is therefore very important to equip health workers with the necessary tools to prevent sexual misconduct,” says WHO Country Representative in Rwanda Dr Brian Chirombo.

The trainings covered a wide range of topics, from understanding sexual exploitation and its impact, identifying and reporting incidents, supporting survivors and creating safe and inclusive environments. “Our knowledge of sexual exploitation and abuse was not sufficient before the training to prevent sexual exploitation. This training helped us to identify the weaknesses in our previous interventions, things that we had not noticed,” says Francoise Uwamariya, the Gender-Based Violence Officer at Kibuye Hospital’s Isango One Stop Center. “We also realized that we need to sensitize and train all the different institutions that intervene in disaster situations, as it is possible that some of their staff may abuse their power and privileges to sexually exploit the vulnerable.”