Introduction

Future Horizons Institute (FHI) does not tolerate sexual misconduct in any form. All individuals have the right to live free from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. FHI is committed to safeguarding the people we work for and with, and to combat and counteract sexual misconduct by FHI staff and representatives in all areas of our work.

Purpose

This policy aims to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all staff, consultants, advisors, Board members, and partners of Future Horizons Institute (henceforth: FHI representatives), and those with whom they interact on behalf of FHI, including partners (henceforth: FHI stakeholders). It outlines the procedures for detecting, preventing, and responding to sexual harassment, abuse, or exploitation.

Scope

This policy applies to all FHI representatives, including interactions in person or in virtual spaces.

Definitions

Sexual Abuse: Physical intrusion of a sexual nature by force or coercion.

Sexual Exploitation: Abuse of a position of vulnerability for sexual purposes.

Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances or conduct that creates an offensive work environment.

Sexual Misconduct: All types of sexual abuse, exploitation, or harassment.

Survivor: Individual who has experienced sexual abuse, exploitation, or harassment.

Subject of Complaint: Individual accused of sexual misconduct.

Organizational Culture

FHI will take all reasonable measures to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, upholding everyone’s right to live free from sexual misconduct and abuse of power. FHI commits to uphold an ethical organizational culture and a safe work environment. This includes respecting and protecting the dignity, personal integrity, and well-being of all FHI representatives, and individuals we work with.

Risk Management

Risks of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment within organizations, in the contexts we work, and in programs and projects will be assessed and mitigated through FHI’s risk management system. This includes analysing potential unintended, negative effects of programs and projects, such as risks of sexual misconduct occurring, and implementing safeguarding measures to mitigate identified risks.

Obligation to Report

All FHI representatives are obliged to report any suspicion, concern, incident, or complaint raised to them, of sexual misconduct as soon as possible through FHI reporting mechanisms (see paragraph xx). Reports about sexual misconduct should be made in good faith. Due to the sensitive nature of sexual misconduct, representatives are not authorized to undertake any action on their own without guidance from FHI’s whistleblowing focal point.

Confidentiality and Privacy

FHI has a duty to ensure confidential complaints and feedback mechanisms and protect the confidentiality and privacy of those involved in the response, including complainant, victim, witnesses, and subject of complaint. This is important to ensure that victims and witnesses feel safer to share their experiences and to protect the rights of subjects of complaint.

Response

Case Management and Investigations: FHI will take complaints and reports of suspected or occurred sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment seriously and take all reasonable steps to respond quickly and appropriately. The whistleblowing focal point will lead the response to complaints and reports received by or referred to the organization, seeking expert and independent advice as needed.

Survivor-Centered and Supportive Response: FHI’s response will be victim-centered, respecting their dignity and right to self-determination and considering their perspective and needs. Victims should be allowed to decide if and how they want to proceed with complaints. FHI will seek to ensure they have needed information and support to make these decisions and receive feedback about the outcome of their (potential) complaints.

Respect for Fair and Due Process: Due process and the right to be heard will be respected for all those involved in a case. The subject of complaint has the right to a due process. FHI will provide them with the opportunity to be heard, present their version, and respond to allegations against them, and protect their confidentiality.

Protection of Whistle-Blowers and Victims

Any retaliation or threat of such, whether by the subject of complaint or others, against a whistle-blower/complainant, victim, witnesses, or others involved in, responding to, or affected by a complaint or incident is strictly prohibited and may lead to disciplinary action, to be decided by the FHI Board.

Sanctions and Disciplinary Actions

FHI will hold representatives to account for sexual misconduct and breaches of this policy. In substantiated cases against FHI staff or representatives, FHI will take disciplinary actions proportional to the scope and gravity of sexual misconduct, up to and including dismissal.

Roles and Responsibilities

All FHI representatives are responsible for adhering to the principles and standards of this policy, as follows:

FHI Staff: All FHI staff have a responsibility to contribute to a safe work environment and prevent sexual misconduct where possible. They have a duty to report suspected or alleged sexual misconduct and failure to do so may lead to disciplinary action.

Management: FHI senior management is accountable for ensuring operationalization and implementation of this policy. Necessary capacity and resources will be allocated to prevention, reporting, and response measures according to policy standards and related procedures.

FHI Board: The FHI Board oversees adherence to and implementation of this policy, receiving annual reports from the FHI senior management.

FHI Partnerships: FHI recognizes that protection from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment requires concerted, sensitive, and ongoing efforts in close dialogue and collaboration with our partners, and the communities and stakeholders we work with.

How to Raise a Complaint or Report an Incident Reporting Channels

All FHI representatives, stakeholders, and any other individual, can report breaches of this policy and suspected or alleged sexual misconduct to the FHI focal point by email to whistleblowing@futurehorizonsinstitute.org.