Harassment report leads UNAIDS head to quit

GENEVA— The head of the UN agency focusing on AIDS said he would leave the job six months early, bowing to apparent pressure just a week after independent experts looking into sexual harassment blasted the “defective leadership” at UNAIDS. At least one major donor reportedly threatened to halt its funding.

Executive director Michel Sidibe revealed his plans to leave in June at a UNAIDS board meeting Thursday, agency spokesperson Mahesh Mahalingham said.

Sexual harassment allegations at UNAIDS have been an unwelcome distraction for the agency, which has helped get millions of people infected with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. It spearheads UN efforts to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 — a key United Nations goal.

Media reports suggested Sweden, the agency’s No. 2 donor last year, was preparing to stop funding the agency over the crisis. Sweden provided $30.8 million to UNAIDS in 2017, second only to $82.4 million from the United States.

“We do not trust him. He must leave now. We are freezing our support until he is gone,” Swedish International Development Cooperation Minister Isabella Lovin told the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper.

Outside experts released a report last week saying a culture of impunity and a toxic working environment at UNAIDS cannot be changed unless Sidibe resigned. It cited a “vacuum of accountability” and said agency leaders failed to prevent or adequately respond to allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power.