Attachments
FORWARD
I am pleased to introduce the Annual Report of the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (The Trust Fund) which highlights activities conducted in, and a financial overview for, 2022. It provides information on the launch of the first annual cycle for proposals, as well as the impact of Trust Fund projects and lessons learned.
Throughout 2022, the Department of Management Strategy,
Policy and Compliance (DMSPC) stepped up its engagement with entities across the United Nations system to coordinate assistance and support for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse to fund paths to realizing sustainable economic independence for them.
In 2022, six Trust Fund projects continued in locations affected by political and other insecurity as well as environmental disasters, including earthquakes and floods. Throughout, the Trust Fund Secretariat remained flexible and guided project implementing partners on ways to mitigate the effects of these events.
In the seven years since its establishment, the Trust Fund has financed 17 projects which are completed or being implemented, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have sought to build on its experience, including by introducing an annual cycle for the receipt of Trust Fund proposals. This provided an opportunity to increase awareness of the Trust Fund and its mandate among humanitarian, development organizations and peacekeeping. This generated submission of many proposals, which pointed to gaps in provision of support and services to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse and the difficulties presented by the absence of an overall funding mechanism for victims’ assistance and support globally.
In early 2023, a revitalized Trust Fund Review Committee met in person for the first time since the end of the pandemic. It reviewed proposals shortlisted from all submissions during the out of the annual cycle and approved 12, the implementation of which will be reported in 2024.
The Secretariat is grateful to the 24 Member States which support the Trust Fund and looks forward to continued contributions. The broader outreach accompanying the introduction of the annual cycle revealed the need for additional and sustainable funding to support victims. Accordingly, In March 2023, a new funding appeal was released, and I look forward to strong support.
Our commitment to support victims of sexual exploitation and abuse must remain unwavering.
Catherine Pollard
Under Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance