Gender-based Violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) is harm done to someone because of their gender. It could involve force, threats, lies, cultural pressures, or money. Mostly, girls and women are victims of GBV. However, LGBTIQ+ people, boys, and men can also be victims. All types of sexual and gender-based violence violate someone’s human rights. Many of these acts are crimes and can be punished under Malaysian law.

Sexual exploitation and abuse are unacceptable behaviours and prohibited for all United Nations and NGO partners’ staff members.

What is Sexual Exploitation?

Any actual or attempted misuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust for sexual purposes. For example, a teacher using their power to force a refugee child to commit a sex act or an aid worker withholding much-needed services unless a refugee has sex with them. It also includes trafficking and prostitution.

What is Sexual Abuse?

Any actual or threatened sexual activity carried out forcefully or under unequal or coercive conditions. This can include rape, sexual assault, or verbal sexual harassment.

Sexual exploitation and abuse can occur to anyone – men, women, boys, girls, of any age, with or without disabilities, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and in any circumstances.

Adhering to the United Nations standards of conduct, staff members of UNHCR and NGO partners must not:

• Engage in sexual activity with anyone in exchange for money, employment, preferential treatment, goods, or services.
• Engage in sexual activity with anyone under 18 years of age.
• Indulge in any other form of sexually humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour.

If you are aware of, have concerns or suspicions about a potential case of sexual exploitation and abuse by a UNHCR, UN, NGO partners’ staff member, or the staff of refugee learning centres or community organizations, you can report this directly to the UNHCR Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at UNHCR Headquarters:

• Email: inspector@unhcr.org
• Online reporting form: https://www.unhcr.org/igo-complaints.html
• Confidential fax: +41 22 739 7380
• Mail: UNHCR, 94 Rue de Montbrillant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland

When making a report, you should include:

1. What happened?
   • • Detail what you know about the incident(s)
2. Who committed the alleged wrongdoing?
   • • If possible, provide full names, job titles, and organisation, and information on any other involvement
3. When and where did the incident(s) occur?
   • • If possible, include dates and times

Your report will be treated with discretion and kept strictly confidential and will not affect your UNHCR case. If a criminal act has been committed, you can also make a police report. All complainants and whistle-blowers will be linked with support services and assistance.

UNHCR seeks to support any refugee or asylum-seeker who has experienced gender-based violence (GBV), such as domestic violence, sexual violence, forced or child marriage, harassment, or human trafficking. If you or someone you know needs GBV assistance, please reach out to one of the UNHCR partners listed below.