The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women NGO (hereinafter referred to as the Coalition) has always adhered to its zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of violence, including sexual harassment, exploitation, and inappropriate behavior. Staying true to its approaches and principles, the Coalition has reviewed the information received in October 2024 regarding several incidents of sexual harassment by a representative of one of its member organizations.
Unfortunately, we must inform you that the information received, after being reviewed by the Ethics Committee in accordance with the formation procedures outlined in Section 5 of the Coalition’s Code of Conduct and the decision-making procedures set out in Section 6, has been confirmed. The Ethics Committee has confirmed a potential violation under Subsection 3 of Clause 4.4 of Section 4 of the Code of Conduct, which states: “4.4. Coalition members, employees, and volunteers, in the course of their activities, must… 3. Exclude any manifestation of violence, as well as sexual exploitation and abuse (including against children),” with three confirmed cases of ethical violations.
We acknowledge that the Coalition is not a judicial body, and we respect the presumption of innocence. However, at the same time, given the fact that the victims have declined to approach law enforcement, we are obligated to act responsibly and transparently, in order to prevent further manifestations of violence and to reaffirm our firm stance against any form of violence.
Guided by the principle of “do no harm” and respecting the right to confidentiality of the victims, we are not disclosing any information regarding individuals involved in the conduct violations. At the same time, we have taken a series of actions, as we are committed to responding appropriately.
Having considered the conclusion presented by the Ethics Committee and the details of the ethics violation case, the General Assembly of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women NGO has decided:
- To terminate any form of cooperation between the Coalition and its member organizations with the person who violated the Code of Conduct
- To inform human rights organizations and partners about the ethics violation case, in order to prevent the likelihood of similar incidents;
- To inform the public about the ethics violation case and the importance of reporting such incidents;
- To review the policies and mechanisms for the prevention of sexual harassment, abuse and violence for the Coalition and its member organizations and to develop appropriate regulations.
We reaffirm that the Coalition has a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of violence. Our Code of Conduct obligates members, employees, and volunteers to uphold all ethical standards and to act in alignment with the Coalition’s values and principles.
We urge all individuals who have encountered similar incidents to speak out about them or report them to the relevant organization or authority. The Coalition and its member organizations are always ready to respond and provide the necessary support to individuals.
You can report any cases of misconduct related to the Coalition or its member organizations by emailing the following address: [email protected].