The #MeToo movement has sparked global action against sexual violence across entertainment, media and politics. Now, the aid industry — where 86 percent of employees know a colleague who has experienced work-related sexual harassment or assault — is finding itself in the spotlight.

As part of our investigation into sexual violence in global development, Devex launched #AidToo, a digital conversation about the breadth of — and solutions to — sexual harassment and assault in our industry.

We hosted a conversation on Twitter that both explored how development organizations should respond to sexual violence — and highlighted the policies that can prevent it from happening in the first place:

Q1: What is the one piece of advice you would give to agency/org leadership about handling sexual violence in aid? 

Megan Nobert, Report the Abuse: One piece of advice: Put the right people in the right roles. Investigators and security personnel being implicated in #SEA and #sexualviolence against aid workers. Proper and thorough recruitment is key!

Q: How do you make an environment conducive to reporting? 

Patricia McIlreavy, InterAction: Too often sexual violence is the hidden embarrassment of security. Orgs must have better training, stronger analysis & openness re sexual violence risks. We must build trust by shining a light on its existence, stop it from happening & support those who come forward. #AidToo

Read the full article by Kate Wathen and Sumedha Deshmukh about sexual violence from Devex International Development