CODE OF
CONDUCT:
To Prevent
Harassment, Including
Sexual Harassment,
AT UNFPA EVENTS
[Link]
#codeofconduct
Ensuring rights and choices for all since 1969
PURPOSE • Making sexual comments about appearance,
UNFPA is committed to enabling events at which everyone clothing or body parts
can participate in an inclusive, respectful and safe • Rating a person’s sexuality
environment. • Repeatedly asking a person for dates or asking for sex
UNFPA events are guided by the highest ethical and • Staring in a sexually suggestive manner
professional standards, and all participants are expected • Unwelcome touching, including pinching, patting,
to behave with integrity and respect towards all rubbing or purposefully brushing up against a person
participants attending or involved with any UNFPA event. • Making inappropriate sexual gestures, such as
pelvic thrusts
APPLICABILITY • Sharing sexual or lewd anecdotes or jokes
The Code of Conduct applies to any UNFPA event, which • Sending sexually suggestive communications in any
shall include meetings, conferences and symposia, format
assemblies, receptions, scientific and technical events, • Sharing or displaying sexually inappropriate images
expert meetings, workshops, exhibits, side events and any or videos in any format
other forum organized, hosted or sponsored in whole or
• Attempted or actual sexual assault, including rape
part by UNFPA wherever it takes place, and any event or
gathering that takes place on UNFPA premises whether or
not UNFPA is organizing, hosting or sponsoring. COMPLAINT PROCESS
The Code of Conduct applies to all participants at A participant who feels that they have been harassed
a UNFPA event, including all persons attending or involved at a UNFPA event may report the matter to the organizer
in any capacity in a UNFPA event. of the UNFPA event or relevant security authority, and
Any other entity responsible for a UNFPA event commits a participant who witnesses such harassment should
to implementing the Code of Conduct. make such a report. Such reporting shall have no effect
on any applicable rules and procedures that may apply
The Code of Conduct is not legal or prescriptive in nature. in UNFPA or to other personnel. The organizer of the
It supplements, and does not affect, the application of other
UNFPA event will be expected to take appropriate action
relevant policies, regulations, rules and laws, including laws
regulating the premises in which the UNFPA event takes in accordance with its applicable policies, regulations
place and any applicable host country agreements. and rules.
PROHIBITED CONDUCT Examples of appropriate action may include, but are
not limited to:
Harassment is any improper or unwelcome conduct that • requesting the perpetrator to immediately stop the
might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offending behavior
offense or humiliation to another person. Harassment
in any form because of gender, gender identity and • suspending or terminating the perpetrator’s access
expression, sexual orientation, physical ability, physical to the UNFPA event or refusing registration at future
appearance, ethnicity, race, national origin, political UNFPA events, or both
affiliation, age, religion or any other reason is prohibited • conveying the complaint to any investigative or
at UNFPA events. disciplinary authority with jurisdiction over the
Sexual harassment is a specific type of prohibited person accused of harassment
conduct. Sexual harassment is any unwelcome conduct • conveying a report to the employer or entity with
of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected jurisdiction over the person accused of harassment
or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation. Sexual for appropriate follow-up action
harassment may involve any conduct of a verbal,
nonverbal or physical nature, including written and The victim of alleged harassment may also seek help from
electronic communications, and may occur between other relevant authorities, such as the police, bearing
persons of the same or different genders. in mind the applicable legal framework.
Harassment and sexual harassment are particularly A participant should never knowingly make a false or
serious when committed against children (persons misleading claim about prohibited conduct.
under the age of 18) or other individuals in a position
of vulnerability.
PROHIBITION OF RETALIATION
Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not Threats, intimidation or any other form of retaliation
limited to: against a participant who has made a complaint or
• Making derogatory or demeaning comments about provided information in support of a complaint are
someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity prohibited. UNFPA or other entity responsible for a UNFPA
• Name-calling or using slurs with a gender/sexual event will take any reasonable appropriate action needed
connotation to prevent and respond to retaliation, in accordance with
its applicable policy, regulations and rules.