Sexual violence by WHO staff: Report speaks of 75 victims in the Congo

Several WHO employees are said to have sexually exploited people during their Ebola mission in the Congo. A commission has now presented its report: At least 63 women and twelve men were therefore victims.

The report of an independent commission of inquiry on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO) has brought together shocking facts: At least 63 women and 12 men have been victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The perpetrators: 83 men – including 21 WHO employees, all of whom were officially deployed to fight an Ebola epidemic in the Congo from 2018 to 2020.

The actual number of perpetrators and victims is likely to be significantly higher, according to the report, which sharply criticizes WHO’s human resources management. “Some cases of sexual exploitation and abuse have been organized within a network of staff,” said Malick Coulibaly, human rights expert and former Mali Justice Minister, when the report was presented in Geneva.

“Victims were promised jobs in return for sex, which in most cases they didn’t get. Other women told us that they were sexually harassed as employees by their superiors. Some said they were fired for refusing to have sex. ”

Allegations against doctors and senior staff

The allegations of the mostly female victims are directed against doctors and senior WHO staff, including local employees and foreigners. The scandal came to light a year ago through research by the AP news agency in the Congo. The independent commission of inquiry has now made an urgent appeal to the World Health Organization.

The WHO must “systematically and without delay initiate investigations at the very first suspicion of sexual exploitation or abuse” during an operation of the organization, demanded Aïchatou Mindaoudou, Foreign Minister of Niger and co-chair of the commission of inquiry.

Tedros: “Black Day for WHO”

WHO chief Tedros spoke of a “black day for WHO” after the report was presented in Geneva. He begged the victims’ forgiveness: “I am sorry” for what has been done to you by WHO officials who are supposed to protect you. I am sorry for the continued suffering this must mean in your life. What has been done to you should never be done to anyone happen. It’s unforgivable. ”

According to the WHO chief, he wants to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. Four men have been released. The WHO will now work internally to ensure that such processes are never repeated.