Under pressure from donors, the World Health Organization stated that an independent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against WHO aid workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should release its findings by the end of August.

An Associated Press report earlier this month stated that internal e-mails showed that WHO management was aware of allegations of sexual abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019 and was asked how to deal with it.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at the organization’s annual ministerial meeting that some states are frustrated by the speed of the investigation. He said on Friday that these allegations “undermine people’s trust in the WHO and threaten the critical work we are doing.”

Tedros said that the Independent Commission established a base in Goma in March and hired an investigative company, which began field investigations in early May.

He said: “Although there are security challenges in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a volcanic eruption has occurred in the past week, he said: “The team is doing its best to complete its work in time so that the committee can be completed by August 2021. Submit the report before the end of the month. “

Earlier, 53 countries were shocked by reports that WHO leaders were aware of allegations of sexual abuse against staff of UN agencies, but did not report them.

In a joint statement, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and other countries asked the head of the WHO to show “strong exemplary leadership” in preventing sexual abuse.

Canadian Ambassador Leslie Norton said in a joint statement to the WHO’s main annual conference that “must start at the highest level” attributive, and 53 countries hope to achieve “credibility in solving this problem”. the result of”.

She said: “Since January 2018, we have been concerned about allegations related to sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and abuse of power.”

The statement said that at the meeting of the Planning, Budget and Administration Committee of the WHO Executive Committee last week, member states and the WHO Secretariat discussed this issue in a “stable and transparent manner.”

“We are shocked by the recommendations in the media. These recommendations are that WHO management is aware of reported cases of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment, and has not reported it in accordance with the requirements of the UN and WHO protocols, nor has it accused the WHO. The organization staff took action to suppress the case.”

‘Disciplinary action’

Countries including Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, and Uruguay said that to fully solve this problem, cultural changes between organizations and societies are needed.

They said: “This requires strong, exemplary leadership from the managers and leaders of the entire organization, and to set a high-level tone.” They emphasized that they hope to take “appropriate disciplinary action” if the allegations are established.

In September last year, WHO and two other UN agencies were forced to retreat after reports that during the 2018-2020 Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN agency staff were accused of exploitation and abuse of women.

The World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Children’s Fund were cited in the investigation report published by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and the New Humanitarian.

The one-year investigation found that more than 50 women accused Ebola aid workers (mainly from WHO, but also from other UN agencies and major NGOs) for sexual exploitation, including making claims and forcing them Engaging in sexual acts in exchange for sexual exploitation. A job, or terminate the contract if they refuse.

The report said that in the eastern city of Beni in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, similarities between accounts provided by women show that this practice is common.

The WHO External Auditor said in a report submitted on Friday that there were 14 cases of sexual misconduct involving WHO employees last year, including DRC cases, compared with 11 in 2019.

The report said: “The phenomenon of complaints or improper reporting reflects the ethical atmosphere of the organization and its “high-level”. Therefore, the growing trend of such complaints should arouse attention. Management.