UNHCR promotes a respectful and inclusive environment where people should feel safe. Anyone having concerns or suspicions about possible misconduct or fraud by a UNHCR staff member or a staff member of a partner of UNHCR or by a refugee should report such concerns.
What is Fraud?
Fraud is any act or omission with the objective of intentionally misleading another to obtain a benefit for oneself or for someone else. Fraud involves but is not limited to hiding, falsifying, misreporting, or omitting facts.
Some examples of fraud could include:
- A UNHCR staff member offering to obtain resettlement for a displaced individual/family in exchange for money.
- A partner staff member who has asked a displaced individual/family for money in exchange for services from their organization.
- A security guard who asks a displaced individual/family for money in order to gain access to a facility.
- A displaced individual/family who has lied to UNHCR about their personal circumstances, including family composition, to obtain additional assistance.
- A displaced individual who creates a fake identity document or uses someone else’s identity document to impersonate them for some type of benefit.
UNHCR will investigate any fraud committed by a UNHCR staff member or a partner staff member with the utmost seriousness.
Fraud committed by displaced individuals/families is also taken seriously, and UNHCR has procedures in place to investigate those fraud allegations.
Although UNHCR will always consider the circumstances of these incidents on a case-by-case basis, serious allegations may have consequences. Any fraud, no matter who the perpetrator is, should be reported. If you are not sure whether the complaint is a fraud allegation, you should still report it.
Remember, all UNHCR, partner, and humanitarian services are free of charge.
If you are a victim or witness of fraud, please report it immediately! Your report will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality.
Strict confidentiality is applied, and information shared will be kept confidential. It should be noted, however, that anyone may report without sharing their name/contact information, but if there is not enough information contained in the complaint, then the investigators may not be able to follow up.
What is Misconduct?
All UN staff members, as well as staff, contractors, and volunteers of UNHCR’s partners, are bound to a code of conduct, which means they have to behave according to professional standards. Possible misconduct can include, for instance:
- Fraud (see above);
- Sexual exploitation and abuse;
- Corruption (e.g. taking money in exchange for services that should be free);
- Theft and embezzlement (e.g. stealing equipment or money);
- Harassment, including sexual harassment;
- Assault, threats, or retaliation.
Reporting Fraud and Misconduct
Remember, all UNHCR, partner, and humanitarian services are free of charge.
If you are a victim or witness of misconduct committed by UNHCR or humanitarian staff, partners, or volunteers, please report it immediately. Your report will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality.
You can confidentially report any violation of this to UNHCR. To report misconduct, contact UNHCR Inspector General Office:
- By confidential email: [email protected]
- By using: the online complaint form
- By post: Rue de Montbrillant 94, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
