Beyond Policies: Reflections on the Future of Safeguarding 

Lessons from the UN consultation on its system-wide PSEA Strategy 

On October 6, Cooperation Canada participated in a consultation hosted by the United Nations Office of the Special Coordinator on Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OSCSEA), bringing together civil society organizations to help shape the UN’s next system-wide Strategy on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). 

The discussion highlighted an important question: How do we move beyond policies and commitments to create meaningful, lasting change in how organizations prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse? 

Several reflections from the consultation have important implications for Cooperation Canada’s work with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the Canadian international cooperation sector. 

Localization must mean shared responsibility, not transferred risk 

A recurring theme was the need to rethink how safeguarding responsibilities are shared across partnerships. Too often, localization can result in responsibilities being transferred to local organizations without the resources, influence or support needed to fulfill them. 

Effective safeguarding requires more equitable partnerships, where risks are jointly identified, resources are shared and accountability is mutual. As one participant, emphasized: 

“I think affected communities should move from being recipients of PSEA messaging to partners in identifying risks, designing reporting mechanisms and assessing whether those mechanisms are safe and trusted.” 

For Cooperation Canada, this reinforces the importance of working with Canadian organizations to advance partnership models that move beyond compliance and place communities at the centre of safeguarding decisions. 

Safeguarding must be grounded in local realities 

The consultation also highlighted the importance of contextualizing international principles and frameworks. Contributions drawing on experiences working with Indigenous communities in Canada emphasized that in addressing sexual violence, and making high level documents from the UN or other accountability bodies, there is a need to address the root causes of violence, engage men through cultural values, and recognize the roles of self-awareness and healing in prevention. Discussions also drew attention to emerging vulnerabilities in Canada, with lessons for work on PSEAH globally. Specifically, the heightened risk for SEAH to occur in situations of displacement caused by natural disasters, as well as gaps between national commitments, such as those related to Women, Peace and Security and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the actual implementation of those commitments as they are experienced by communities. 

These reflections challenge us to consider how international safeguarding standards can be made meaningful across different cultural, institutional and community contexts. For Cooperation Canada, this means supporting organizations to adapt principles into practical, locally relevant approaches rather than relying on uniform solutions. 

Sustained capacity strengthening is essential 

Another important takeaway was the challenge of sustaining safeguarding knowledge within organizations, particularly in the face of staff turnover and limited resources. While organization-specific training remains valuable, accessible sector-wide learning opportunities can help preserve knowledge and build collective capacity. 

Resources were shared in the meeting, including Cooperation Canada’s Resource Library and the work of Digna, and initiatives such as Bond’s safeguarding skills mapping exercises for small NGOs that offer useful examples of practical, collaborative approaches to capacity strengthening. 

This reinforces the role of networks in fostering peer learning, developing accessible tools and advocating for sustained investment in safeguarding capacity across the sector, including among smaller organizations and their partners. 

Safeguarding must evolve alongside emerging risks 

The consultation raised new questions about digital safeguarding, artificial intelligence and partnerships with private sector actors. As organizations adopt new technologies and expand their partnerships, safeguarding approaches must evolve accordingly. 

For Cooperation Canada, this presents an opportunity to work with GAC and the sector to better understand emerging risks, particularly where commitments to transparency, data sharing and innovation intersect with privacy, safety and survivor-centered approaches. 

Looking ahead: From commitments to collective accountability 

Perhaps the strongest message emerging from the consultation was that safeguarding cannot be treated as a static set of policies or a one-time compliance exercise. It requires ongoing reflection, investment and shared accountability. 

As the UN develops its next PSEA Strategy, these lessons are particularly timely for Cooperation Canada and the Canadian international cooperation sector. Cooperation Canada will be launching the annual renewal of the Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct in the coming month, using the updated document and accountability measures developed in 2025. This presents an opportunity to reflect on progress, identify persistent gaps and strengthen collective commitments to safeguarding. 

For Cooperation Canada, the renewal process offers an important opportunity to engage GAC and sector leaders in conversations about what meaningful accountability looks like in practice, particularly in relation to equitable partnerships, locally led approaches, sustained capacity strengthening and emerging risks. 

Ultimately, renewing commitment to the Leaders’ Pledge should be more than a reaffirmation of existing commitments. It should be an opportunity to translate lessons learned into concrete actions, ensuring that safeguarding efforts are not only guided by strong principles but also shaped by the experiences and priorities of the communities they aim to protect.  

The measure of effective safeguarding is not simply whether organizations have the right policies in place, but whether communities experience greater safety, trust and accountability as a result.