‘Victims need a voice, assistance and justice’: UN victims’ rights advocate calls for stronger action
Najla Nassif Palma told UN News in an interview this week that Member States need to better support survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel, warning that much more remains to be done to ensure victims receive justice, protection and long-term assistance.Speaking after the release of her 2024–2025 annual report, Ms. Nassif Palma said her mandate is centred on ensuring that victims are “not invisible” and that they are guaranteed “a voice, assistance and justice”.Established by Secretary-General António Guterres in 2017 as part of the UN’s strategy to strengthen protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, the Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate works across the UN system to advance a victim-centred approach and ensure survivors’ perspectives shape prevention, response and accountability efforts.Ms. Nassif Palma, only the second senior official to hold the post, said direct engagement with victims has been one of the most important aspects of her work. Over the past two years, she has visited more than 10 countries and met survivors directly to better understand their experiences, concerns and priorities.“The first step is to listen to the victims,” she highlighted, describing their courage and resilience as a driving force behind her advocacy.Her office works closely with Senior Victims’ Rights Officers and Victims’ Rights Focal Points deployed in the field, who support survivors in their own communities by helping connect them with medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, education and livelihood opportunities.
