Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. Report of the Secretary-General.

Over 90 per cent of the persons consulted confirmed that there has been an unprecedented and consistent focus on system-wide measures to combat sexual exploitation and abuse since 2017. Awareness of the Secretary-General’s bulletin and the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse was universal, but levels of understanding varied. Based on the consultations, it appears that notable progress has been made, despite challenges in terms of funding, trust in accountability measures and victim support mechanisms. This progress includes the ongoing establishment of system-wide coordination efforts and standards at the global level, improved transparency in the reporting of incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse, faster investigation timelines, increased capacity at the country level and significant investment in the development of technical tools and guidance. However, while progress has been steady, it remains limited and fragile.