{"id":1977,"date":"2025-05-21T04:55:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T04:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/?page_id=1977"},"modified":"2025-05-21T05:00:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T05:00:40","slug":"reporting-fraud-corruption-and-misconduct-including-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/reporting-fraud-corruption-and-misconduct-including-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Reporting Fraud, Misconduct and Sexual Exploitation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-2f48c9f9abde422f2ed18ef3081306b7\" style=\"background-color:#338ec9\">Please beware of individuals claiming false affiliation to UNHCR and\/or its partners including outside the UNHCR Office or on various social media platforms. Do not trust anyone who claims to provide services on behalf of UNHCR including resettlement in exchange for money or favours. Remember, all UNHCR services are free of charge. Please immediately report fraud concerns to&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"mailto:arecafrd@unhcr.org\">aulca@unhcr.org<\/a>.<\/strong><br>Your report will be treated with strict confidentiality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-6c1449ddfd07df0ed7e8e464f835121f\" style=\"background-color:#338ec9\">UNHCR has zero tolerance for fraud, corruption and misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#faeb00\"><strong>All services provided by UNHCR and its partners are free of charge!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is fraud?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fraud is any act with the objective of intentionally misleading another in order to obtain a benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>All UNHCR services are free of charge!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not trust anyone or any organization asking you to pay for the services of UNHCR or its partners. If money or any other form of favours, including of a sexual nature, is requested from you, you should report it to UNHCR and\/or the nearest police station immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be aware that any UNHCR services offered to you in exchange for money are fraudulent. For genuine information about UNHCR\u2019s work and services, please consult&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/\">UNHCR\u2019s Help websites<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is misconduct?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The United Nations defines misconduct as \u201cany failure by a staff member to comply with his or her obligations under the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/about-us\/un-charter\">Charter of the United Nations<\/a>, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/undocs.org\/ST\/SGB\/2018\/1\">Staff Regulations and Staff Rules<\/a>&nbsp;or other administrative issuances, or to observe the standards of conduct expected of an international civil servant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Possible misconduct can include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sexual exploitation and abuse of people of concern.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fraud (e.g. falsifying a document).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Corruption (e.g. taking money from refugees or others).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Theft and embezzlement (e.g. stealing equipment or money).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Workplace harassment (e.g. treating staff members in an unfair manner).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sexual harassment (e.g. unwelcome sexual behaviour).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Abuse of authority (e.g. showing favouritism or discrimination against staff).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assault upon or threats to others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Misuse of UNHCR assets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Breach of confidentiality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts or behaviour that would discredit UNHCR.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Non-compliance with local laws.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conflict of interest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Abuse of privileges and immunities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gross negligence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unauthorized outside activities or employment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is sexual exploitation and abuse?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sexual exploitation<\/strong> is any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust for sexual purposes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sexual abuse<\/strong> is any actual or threatened sexual activity carried out by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In line with the United Nations standards of conduct,&nbsp;<strong>the staff members of UNHCR and NGO partners must not<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Have sexual activity with anyone in exchange for money, employment, preferential treatment, goods or services. They must not use promises of these things to make other people accept any kind of behaviour that humiliates or exploits them. This includes paying or offering money for sex with a prostitute.<br>To avoid placing humanitarian workers in a position of power in relation to people who need assistance, humanitarian organizations strongly encourage staff not to have sexual relationships with anyone affected by a humanitarian emergency. Such relationships make humanitarian action seem less honest and credible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18 years old, even if it is legal in their country. Saying they did not know the person\u2019s true age is not a valid excuse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engage in any other form of sexually humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I report fraud, corruption and other misconduct?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Report fraudsters that offer you resettlement, financial or other kinds of assistance, fake documents or fake claims in exchange for money or other favours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These offers may be made to you in person or via social media, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Remember, UNHCR services are always free of charge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can submit a complaint by contacting UNHCR either via <a href=\"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/contact-us\/\">our contact form<\/a>\u00a0or send an email to <a href=\"mailto:aulca@unhcr.org\">aulca@unhcr.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You can also report fraud, corruption, sexual abuse or exploitation, or other misconduct, directly to UNHCR Inspector General Office:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 15px\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.1.0\/svg\/1f4e7.svg\" alt=\"?\"> By confidential email:\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:inspector@unhcr.org\">inspector@unhcr.org<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 15px\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.1.0\/svg\/1f4bb.svg\" alt=\"?\"> By using the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/igo-complaints.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online complaint form<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By post: Rue de Montbrillant 94, 1201 Gen\u00e8ve, Switzerland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Please note that filing a complaint will not in any way impact your case with UNHCR.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complaints may be anonymous.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In your complaint, please provide all facts and evidence known to you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your report and all communication with UNHCR will be kept strictly confidential.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I report sexual exploitation and abuse?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are aware of or have concerns or suspicions about a possible case of sexual exploitation and abuse by a UNHCR, UN or NGO staff member, you can confidentially report any violation of this to UNHCR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To report fraud, corruption, sexual abuse or exploitation, or other misconduct, contact UNHCR Inspector General Office:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 15px\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.1.0\/svg\/1f4e7.svg\" alt=\"?\"> By confidential email:\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:inspector@unhcr.org\">inspector@unhcr.org<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 15px\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.1.0\/svg\/1f4bb.svg\" alt=\"?\"> By using the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/igo-complaints.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online complaint form<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By post: Rue de Montbrillant 94, 1201 Gen\u00e8ve, Switzerland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In your report, you should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>What&nbsp;<\/strong>happened?\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Describe in detail what you know about the incident or incidents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Who&nbsp;<\/strong>committed the alleged wrongdoing?\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do you know if anyone else was involved? Please provide full names, job titles and organisation, if possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>When&nbsp;<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>where<\/strong>\u00a0did the incident or incidents occur?\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Please include dates and times, if possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Your report will be treated with discretion and kept strictly confidential.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Please beware of individuals claiming false affiliation to UNHCR and\/or its partners including outside the UNHCR Office or on various social media platforms. Do not trust anyone who claims to provide services on behalf of UNHCR including resettlement in exchange for money or favours. Remember, all UNHCR services are free of charge. Please immediately report [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1977","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/133"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1977"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1977\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2176,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1977\/revisions\/2176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}