Leading Together to Prevent Sexual Misconduct in Our Sector: A Renewed Commitment

In 2018, a group of leaders in Canada’s international cooperation and humanitarian sector came together with a shared understanding: the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH) could not be left to policy alone. It required leadership. It required accountability. And above all, it required a shift in organizational culture. That commitment resulted in the creation of the Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct—a collective agreement to prioritize the safety, dignity and rights of all people we work with and serve.

Five years on, our world has changed—and so too has our sector. While important progress has been made, we know that sexual misconduct continues to occur, often enabled by power imbalances, intersecting forms of discrimination, and organizational cultures that remain too slow to act. Survivors and whistleblowers still face risks. And our systems still fall short of the transformation we promised.

That’s why, this year, we took an important step forward.

A Collective Review—Shaped by Voices Across the Sector

With support from Global Affairs Canada, Cooperation Canada led a comprehensive and inclusive process to renew the Leaders’ Pledge. From March to July 2025, we consulted with over 100 individuals and organizations—including board members, senior leaders, members of the DIGNA community of practice, subject-matter experts, the Humanitarian Response Network and the broader public. These consultations surfaced critical insights on what has changed, what remains challenging and where we must go next.

The result is a renewed Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct —one that better reflects the evolving body of knowledge, international standards and lived realities of our sector. One that strengthens our shared commitment to a more accountable, survivor-centred and prevention-focused approach.

Leading Beyond Compliance

This new version of the pledge goes beyond compliance. It is not just about having policies on paper. It is about who we are as leaders—and the organizational cultures we shape.

Signing the pledge means committing to bold, sometimes uncomfortable, conversations about power and accountability. It means actively fostering environments where safeguarding is not just a risk management measure, but a core leadership responsibility.

It also means asking ourselves—regularly and transparently—some hard questions:

Have we created the conditions for staff and partners to report misconduct without fear?
Are our investigations survivor-centred, trauma-informed and culturally appropriate?
Do our boards receive regular updates on PSEAH commitments and risks?
Are we supporting local partners to strengthen their safeguarding systems, not just imposing ours?
Have we embedded accountability at every stage of the employee lifecycle—from recruitment through to post-employment?

A Pledge for All of Us

The renewed pledge is ambitious. It includes commitments to:

Strengthen prevention by addressing power imbalances and discrimination, and resourcing safeguarding systems properly.
Foster safe cultures where reporting is encouraged and supported, and misconduct is not tolerated or ignored.
Ensure accountability through regular reviews, transparent investigations and appropriate consequences for perpetrators.
Support survivors with dignity, safety and a commitment to their well-being—not just legal compliance.
Learn and collaborate by sharing practices, building capacity and advancing sector-wide solutions to systemic problems.

We know this work is difficult. It takes time, leadership and humility. But it is non-negotiable. Because at its heart, preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment is about honouring the trust placed in us by communities, partners and our own teams.

Join Us in Leading with Integrity

To sign the pledge, leaders must affirm their commitment to specific accountability questions that demonstrate their organization’s readiness and resolve. This step is essential—not to gatekeep progress, but to ensure that signatories are not only willing but also equipped to uphold the values we collectively stand for.

Organizations that sign the pledge by October 23 will be recognized at the official launch of the Leaders’ Pledge during Cooperation Canada’s Leaders’ Forum on October 29.

We invite all leaders—of civil society organizations, coalitions, and institutions working in Canada and globally—to read the renewed pledge, ask the hard questions and commit to doing better, together.

The pledge is not an endpoint. It is a living commitment—a signal to the sector, and to the world, that we take our responsibilities seriously. That we are willing to be held accountable. That we are ready to lead.

Stand with us for a safer and more equitable sector.