Code of conduct and associated PSEA principles

1. Code of conduct
You work in a crisis affected area.
One of your colleagues is having casual sex with a person from the
community who is benefitting from your organisation’s humanitarian
program.
They are both adults and not married.

2. Code of conduct
What would be the right thing for your colleague to do?
Select the correct answer and click 'submit’.
1.The relationship will have to end - it is not in line with the ACT Alliance
Code of Conduct.
2. Nothing. It is nobody’s business and it is not against the law since
they’re both adults.

3. Code of conduct
What would be the right thing for your colleague to do?
Correct. Since this is a crisis-affected area there is a risk of a conflict of
interest and abuse of power. No staff member should ever engage in
sexual relationships with members of crisis-affected populations given
their increased vulnerability. Since such relationships are based on
inherently unequal power dynamics, they can undermine the credibility
and integrity of aid work. In the ACT Alliance Code of Conduct, such
behavior is defined as sexual exploitation and abuse and strictly
prohibited.

4. Code of conduct
Abuse of power
Those in positions of authority or trust are expected to carry this out in
responsible ways that do not take advantage of others, especially those
who are more dependent or vulnerable. Women and children are
particularly vulnerable. Abuse of power is manifested in how those with
less social power are treated physically, psychologically, emotionally,
and/or sexually. Sexual activity, even when consensual, between those
of unequal power is an abuse of power.

5. Code of conduct
Sexual exploitation and abuse
Any abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust, for
sexual purposes; profit monetarily, sexually or politically from the sexual
exploitation of another; and sexual abuse.

6. Code of conduct
Exploitation
Use of one’s position of authority, influence, or control over resources to
pressure, force or manipulate someone by threatening or coercing him
or her with negative repercussions. This could be withholding project
assistance, not approving a staff member’s work support requests,
threatening to make false claims about a staff member in public, etc.