13. Acts of GBV constitute gross misconduct and are therefore grounds for sanctions, which may include penalties and/or termination of employment and, if appropriate, referral to the police for further action.
14. All forms of GBV are unacceptable, regardless of whether they take place on the work site, the work site surroundings, at worker's camps or within the local community.
15. Sexual harassment of work personnel and staff (e.g. making unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature) are acts of GBV and are prohibited.
16. Sexual favors (e.g. making promises of favorable treatment such as promotions, threats of unfavorable treatment such as losing a job, payments in kind or in cash dependent on sexual acts) and any form of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior are prohibited.
17. The use of prostitution in any form at any time is strictly prohibited.
18. Sexual contact or activity with children under 18-including through digital media-is prohibited. Mistaken belief regarding the age of a child is not a defense. Consent from the child is also not a defense or excuse.
19. Unless there is full consent101 by all parties involved in the sexual act, sexual interactions between the company's employees (at any level) and members of the communities surrounding the work place are prohibited. This includes relationships involving the withholding/promise of actual provision of benefit (monetary or non-monetary) to community members in exchange for sex (including prostitution). Such sexual activity is considered "non-consensual" within the scope of this Code.
20. In addition to company sanctions, legal prosecution of those who commit acts of GBV will be pursued if appropriate.
21. All employees, including volunteers and sub-contractors, are highly encouraged to report suspected or actual acts of GBV by a fellow worker, whether in the same company or not. Reports must be made in accordance with project's GBV Allegation Procedures.
22. Managers are required to report and act to address suspected or actual acts of GBV as they have a responsibility to uphold company commitments and hold their direct reports responsible.
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101 Consent: refers to when an adult makes an informed choice to agree freely and voluntarily to do something. There is no consent when agreement is obtained through the use of threats, force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, manipulation, deception, or misrepresentation; the use of a threat to withhold a benefit to which the person is already entitled, or; a promise made to the person to provide a benefit. In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the World Bank considers that consent cannot be given by children under the age of 18, even if national legislation of the country into which the Code of Conduct is introduced has a lower age. Mistaken belief regarding the age of the child and consent from the child is not a defense.