A report recently found that staff from the World Health Organization (WHO) was among the 83 workers who sexually abused women and girls while tackling the Ebola-virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The report follows after more than 50 local women reported the sexual abuse.
The abuse, which included nine allegations of rape, were committed by both national and international workers between 2018 and 2020 (when the virus outbreak was declared over in the Congo was declared over by the WHO).
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that it was “inexcusable”.
The 35-page report was produced by an independent commission following an investigation. The commission, which interviewed dozens of women who alleged they were offered work in exchange for sex, found that 21 of the 83 alleged perpetrators were employed by the WHO.
Local women were also allegedly plied with drinks, “ambushed” in hospitals, forced to engage in sex and two became pregnant.
The WHO said that it was terminating the contract of four people who were still employed by the organization and promised that more measures would be taken.
Dr. Tedros spoke at a news conference on Tuesday and said that the report made for harrowing reading and apologized directly to the victims and survivors, saying “I’m sorry for what was done to you by people who are employed by WHO to serve and protect you. It is my top priority that the perpetrators are not excused, but held to account.”
He added that the responsibility ultimately rested on him and he promised to help support and protect victims while vowing to overhaul the WHO’s structure and culture.
WHO Africa regional director, Matshidiso Moeti also issued an apology to those who suffered “because of the actions of our staff”.
She said that she was “humbled, horrified and heartbroken” by the inquiry’s findings. The commission said it found “clear structural failures and unpreparedness to manage the risks of incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse” in the central African country. It added that this was partly because of the focus on eradicating Ebola.
Sources: BBC, Yahoo
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