What does “protection from sexual exploitation and abuse” mean in humanitarian aid?
Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, often shortened to PSEA, comprises measures to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation or abuse by aid personnel.
What the figure or term means
Programs in Afghanistan need confidential reporting, survivor-centered response, training, partner controls, and clear standards.
Assistance must never be exchanged for sexual activity, favors, or silence.
Publicly demanding a survivor’s identity is not accountability.
When the term affects eligibility, safety, funding, or program design, check the complete cited standard rather than relying on a short definition.
How to use this information responsibly
Humanitarian terms are useful only when their technical meaning is preserved. These explainers translate common language without replacing the source standards used by professional responders.
Organizations may apply a term under a specific policy, assessment framework, or program design. Read the cited standard before using a glossary page for an operational decision.
Check the underlying information.
Editorial standard: This page is reviewed by a person, sourced to Famidi records or authoritative references, and revised when the program or underlying guidance changes. It does not replace legal, tax, medical, or financial advice.