2003 (Executive Committee—54th Session) (d) Urges States to respect and ensure the right of all individuals within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction, to security of person, inter alia by enforcing relevant national laws, consistent with international law, and by adopting concrete measures, where they do not exist, to prevent and combat sexual abuse and exploitation including through: (i) The development and implementation of training programmes, guidelines and other practical measures aimed at promoting respect by all government officials, as well as persons acting on behalf of the State, who have contact with refugee populations, for the right of every individual to security of person and at promoting protection from sexual abuse and exploitation; (ii) Appropriate follow-up action in response to allegations of sexual violence and exploitation including, where necessary, by implementation of remedies, such as facilitating the filing and investigation of complaints of sexual violence and exploitation, the prosecution of offenders, and timely and proportional disciplinary sanctions in cases of abuse of power or gross negligence resulting in sexual exploitation; (iii) Complaint and redress mechanisms, where appropriate, which are easily accessible, do not compromise the security of the survivors or other informants, and give due regard to confidentiality. Such complaint mechanisms should, where feasible, provide victims and witnesses with referrals to support services with appropriately trained personnel, including in particular female counsellors; (e) Calls on States to ensure that all humanitarian agencies funded by them and working with refugees integrate and promote policies consistent with the core principles of the plan of action of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises; (f) Calls on UNHCR to support its internal investigation capacity within the Inspector General's Office to ensure that the Office is able to react swiftly and effectively to ascertain the veracity of any allegations of sexual abuse or exploitation by UNHCR or implementing partner staff; (g) Calls upon the international community in cooperation with UNHCR and other international organisations to mobilize the resources necessary to ensure the provision of protection and material assistance in support of host countries, based on international solidarity, cooperation, burden and responsibility-sharing, since inadequate protection, or inadequate, inappropriate or poorly distributed assistance can increase the vulnerability of refugees and asylum-seekers to sexual abuse and exploitation; (h) Calls upon UNHCR to continue its cooperation with other actors to ensure protection from exploitation and abuse of refugees and asylum-seekers, including through participation in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises, and other coordination mechanisms; (i) Calls upon UNHCR to continue to report on a regular basis on progress made in the implementation of measures to combat sexual abuse and exploitation. 159

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