The Executive Committees on Humanitarian Affairs and Peace and Security (ECHA/ECPS) United Nations and Nongovernmental Organization Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse was established in February 2005 with the aim of preventing acts of sexual exploitation and abuse and improving response to such acts when they occur.

The Task Force is comprised of approximately 30 UN and non-UN entities which have formed partnerships to address sexual exploitation and abuse in countries where there are peacekeeping missions and organizations conducting development, peacekeeping and humanitarian work.

Co-chaired by Department of Field Support Under-Secretary-General Susana Malcorra and Office of Humanitarian Affairs Assistant-Secretary-General Catherine Bragg, this Task Force took up the work of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises.

The Task Force works on four pillars of protection from sexual exploitation and abuse:

1. Engagement with and support of local populations
2. Prevention
3. Response
4. Management and coordination 

The Task Force supports the establishment of UN and NGO policies and develops measures to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. It has produced the following tools:

• A Statement of Commitment on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN and non-UN Personnel.
• Guides for training senior managers and focal points on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Interviews with Resident and Humanitarian Coordinators about good practice relating to Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
• The awareness-raising video “To Serve with Pride”.
• The UN strategy on assistance to victims, adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, and an accompanying implementation guide.

The ECHA/ECPS Task Force website provides information on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The site also contains tailored information and tools for specific target groups such as Staff Members, Focal Points and Senior Managers. The site is available in English, French and Spanish and can be viewed at  www.un.org/pseataskforce .