Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Najla Nassif Palma, the United Nations Victims’ Rights Advocate, has called for stronger action by Member States to support survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel. She emphasized the need to ensure victims are heard and are guaranteed assistance and justice, following the release of her 2024–2025 annual report.
Ms. Nassif Palma’s mandate, established by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2017, prioritizes a victim-centred approach across the UN system. This focuses on prevention, response, and accountability shaped by survivors’ perspectives. Over two years, she has visited more than ten countries, engaging directly with survivors to understand their experiences and priorities.
Ms. Nassif Palma stressed that listening directly to victims is crucial and drives her advocacy. Her office collaborates with Senior Victims’ Rights Officers and Victims’ Rights Focal Points in the field to connect survivors with medical care, psychosocial support, legal aid, education, and livelihood opportunities.
The report outlines progress in expanding assistance to victims and children born of exploitation and abuse, including access to education support, skills training, and income-generating activities to help rebuild independence and dignity. More UN entities and peacekeeping missions, such as MINUSCA, MONUSCO, and UNMISS, have allocated dedicated resources to victim assistance.
Ms. Nassif Palma highlighted improvements in how the UN listens to victims and incorporates their voices in decisions affecting them. She also stressed the importance of partnerships with civil society organizations, particularly women-led groups working directly with survivors at the community level, to ensure survivor experiences inform UN policies and programs.