Reporting Misconduct

All humanitarian assistance is provided free of charge.
Paying for assistance will not make you eligible for assistance.

Be aware that any UNHCR services offered to you in exchange for money are fraudulent.

Reporting Fraud and Corruption

Be alert to fraud

  • Do not trust anyone or any organization asking you to pay for the services of UNHCR or its partners.
  • Ask to see official ID cards of people claiming to be service providers before sharing your personal information and identify documents
  • Avoid those offering you resettlement, financial or other kinds of assistance, fake documents, or fake claims in exchange for money or other favours. These offers may be made to you in person or via social media (including Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram or any other application).
  • Those seeking to take advantage of your situation may show you false documents to persuade you that they are connected to UNHCR or another partner agency.

For reliable information about UNHCR Iraq’s work and services: consult UNHCR’s official websites, UNHCR Facebook page, and/or call the toll-free helpline.

Report suspected fraud

You should report cases of suspected fraud to UNHCR and/or the nearest police station immediately if:

  • You are asked for money or any other form of favours, including of a sexual nature
  • Your documents are taken away by an alleged service provider

To report cases of fraud committed by UNHCR or partner staff:

Directly contact the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at UNHCR Headquarters:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Confidential fax: +41 22 739 7380
  • Mail: UNHCR, 94 Rue de Montbrillant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland

To report cases of fraud committed by members of your community, NGO staff, or others without a contractual relationship with UNHCR:

Your report will be treated with discretion and be kept strictly confidential.

Reporting sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers

Sexual exploitation and abuse are unacceptable behaviours and prohibited for all United Nations and NGO partners’ staff members.

What is sexual exploitation?  Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust for sexual purposes.

What is sexual abuse? Any actual or threatened sexual activity carried out by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Sexual exploitation and abuse can happen to anyone—men, women, boys, and girls—at any age, and in any circumstance.

Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse

In line with United Nations standards of conduct UNHCR staff members and NGO partners must not:

  • Have sexual activity with anyone in exchange for money, employment, preferential treatment, goods or services
  • Have sexual activity with any child under the age of 18 years old
  • Engage in any other form of sexually humiliating, degrading, or exploitative behaviour.

Report suspected sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers

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, report directly to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at UNHCR Headquarters:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Confidential fax: +41 22 739 7380
  • Mail: UNHCR, 94 Rue de Montbrillant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland

In your report, you should include:

  • What happened?
    •  Describe in detail what you know about the incident or incidents.
  • Who committed the alleged wrongdoing?
    • Do you know if anyone else was involved? Please provide full names, job titles and organization, if possible.
  • When and where did the incident or incidents occur?
    • Include dates and times, if possible.

Your report will be treated with discretion and be kept strictly confidential.