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<p><ins class="ministerial">All DFID staff are bound by both the Civil Service Code
and DFID’s Code of Conduct, which set clear standards of conduct to protect all staff
and anyone the organisation has contact with. These codes are well publicised to staff
and cover any form of sexual exploitation and abuse, bullying, or harassment of staff,
partners or beneficiaries and make clear that staff should not do anything in their
private conduct which might discredit the department. DFID has mechanisms to allow
staff raising concerns with management along with a distinct whistleblowing hotline
which staff can use anonymously to report cases. A breach of any of the standards
set out in our Code of Conduct can lead to formal disciplinary action and potential
dismissal for gross misconduct.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">As previously announced by the Secretary of State, DFID is currently
reviewing any locally reported allegations of sexual misconduct involving its own
staff. This will complete shortly and therefore we are not currently in a position
to share the detail of any cases.</ins></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">DFID’s
Dignity at Work policy confirms that DFID is committed to achieving equality of opportunity
for our staff and will not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, bullying
or victimisation of employees, this includes sexual harassment and other non-consensual
sexual activity. The policy applies to all staff and includes personal responsibilities
to create and sustain a working environment free of bullying and harassment where
individuals are treated with fairness, dignity and respect. The policy also makes
clear how staff should report any concerns.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">DFID’s
standards of conduct set out the ethical behaviours and controls required in our day
to day work to incorporate the key principles based on the UN’s code on sexual exploitation
and abuse in Humanitarian crises. DFID’s Public Interest Disclosure Policy (Whistleblowing)
also allows staff and others to raise concerns anonymously to a confidential Email
address.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The number of staff formally
reported for sexual harassment in the last three years is:</del></p><p> </p><p><del
class="ministerial">2015 - nil</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">2016 - nil</del></p><p><del
class="ministerial">2017 - under five.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The
key policy documents referred to above have been placed in the House of Commons Library.</del></p>
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