Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Sexual Harassment (SEAH), and Safeguarding Children in Business Operations.
SEAH is the umbrella term for sexual exploitation, abuse, and sexual harassment. Although these forms of harm can occur anywhere in society, SEAH in the development context refers to forms of gender-based violence that takes place in a work environment or business-related setting, involving the abuse of power or position.
SEAH occurs across industries, supply chains, and communities, and affects people regardless of socioeconomic status, education, culture, age, or profession. Preventing SEAH requires, at minimum, robust corporate policies, survivor-centered approaches, and strong leadership commitment. Assessing such risks can be integrated into ESMS with risk proportionate measures implemented by investee companies.
Where relevant to the type of business exposure, child safeguarding is essential for businesses to protect children from abuse and exploitation linked to their operations.
Many companies and Financial Institutions are committed to tackling SEAH and safeguarding children, yet are often unsure where to begin. The following IFC publications provide practical guidance to help you take effective action.
Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH)
What is SEAH?
SEAH covers a range of harmful behaviors including unwanted sexual attention, sexual coercion, sexual exploitation, harassment, and abuse in any work-related setting or in community interactions linked to business operations.
Why it matters to Financial Institutions:
Financial Institutions can embed SEAH prevention and response through integrating it into E&S management systems, where there are higher risks of SEAH in their business operations.
Child Safeguarding
What is Child Safeguarding?
Child safeguarding in the private sector means protecting children from abuse or exploitation related to operations, and upholding their safety and wellbeing in any context connected to business activities.
Why it matters to Financial Institutions:
Financial Institutions can help prevent harm to children by requiring those investees in sectors where there are higher risks of harm to children to adopt as relevant - comprehensive child safeguarding policies, safe recruitment practices, regular risk assessments, targeted training, and accessible, confidential reporting mechanisms.
IFC Good Practice Notes – Your Starting Point
These Good Practice Notes offer practical, proven approaches for companies in preventing SEAH and safeguarding children, drawing on lessons from the private sector and non-profit organizations.
Preventing and Responding to SEAH in Business Operations
- Addressing Gender-based Violence and Harassment: Emerging Good Practice for the Private Sector (2020)
Provides frameworks for eliminating SEAH across workplaces, supply chains, and community interactions. Includes guidance on policies, survivor-centered reporting, leadership roles, safer recruitment, and staff training.
Sector-specific briefs offer targeted guidance for addressing GBVH risks in key industries, including transport, construction and manufacturing.
Addressing Child Safeguarding in the Private Sector
- Good Practice Note: Addressing Child Safeguarding in the Private Sector – Good Practice Solutions for the Private Sector
Offers comprehensive guidance for preventing harm to children in any business context. Covers risk assessment, policy development, safer recruitment, training, and reporting mechanisms.
Engaging Affected Communities to Report and Respond to SEAH
- Toolkit with practical approaches for companies to build community trust, raise awareness, establish safe and confidential reporting mechanisms, and provide timely feedback on reported issues to the affected community. Download PDF
Sector Guidance
- Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the Agribusiness Sector: English
- Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the Construction Sector: English | عربي | Русский
- Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the Education Sector: English
- Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the Hotels, Catering and Tourism (HCT) Sector: English
- Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the Manufacturing Sector: English | عربي | Русский
- Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the Public Transport Sector: English | عربي | Русский
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Case Studies: Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Sectors
- Agribusiness and Forestry: Bioparques de Occidente (Mexico)
- Energy: Gas Natural Açu (Brazil) | Alcazar Energy (Egypt) | TAQA Arabia (Egypt)
- Infrastructure: Asyaport (Turkey) | Energia del Pacifico (El Salvador)
GBV and Corporate Governance Tip Sheet: How To Guidance For Boards of Directors
This tip sheet offers guidance to Boards of Directors on the effective governance of gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) risks, including a table of examples of good practices boards of directors can adopt to effectively manage GBVH risks.
Tip Sheets: How To Guidance for Firms
- Develop a Community-Based Grievance Mechanism for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
- Establish and Manage a Worker Grievance Mechanism for Sexual Harassment
- Write and Implement an Employee Code of Conduct for Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Write and Implement a Workplace Policy for Prevention of Sexual Harassment
GRM + SEAH Toolkit: How to Guidance
Ready to Take Action?
Whether you are starting your journey or strengthening existing measures, IFC’s guidance can provide guidance to Financial Institutions to create safer workplaces, protect vulnerable communities, and safeguard children in their investments and on-lending.
Contact AskSustainability [at] ifc.org (AskSustainability[at]ifc[dot]org) for further information.