UN victims’ rights advocate urges survivors to ‘come forward’

The United Nations Victims’ Rights Advocate, Najla Nassif Palma, has urged survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel to “come forward”, while calling for stronger action across the UN system and for Member States to put victims’ rights first.Her office works to ensure victims “have a voice, assistance and justice”. The mandate was established by Secretary-General António Guterres in 2017 as part of the UN’s strategy to combat sexual exploitation and abuse.Speaking to UN News’s Ana Carmo following the release of a new report, Ms. Nassif Palma highlighted progress in expanding access to medical, psychosocial and legal support, as well as education and livelihood assistance for children born as a result of exploitation. However, she warns that significant gaps remain.