UN staff allege sexual harassment and assault
NEW YORK: Dozens of employees have alleged they were sexually harassed or assaulted while working for the UN.
The employees, working in more than 10 countries, spoke anonymously due to fear of retaliation or rules which stop them from speaking publicly, the Guardian newspaper reported.
A woman who says she was raped by a more senior UN staff member while working in a remote location said she lost her job and her visa, and spent months in hospital due to stress and trauma.
She said a UN investigation failed to find sufficient evidence, despite medical evidence and witness testimonies being available.
Fifteen employees said they were sexually harassed or assaulted within the past five years, and seven women said they for mally reported what happened. Three of those women said they were forced out of their jobs afterwards or threatened with the termination of their contracts, while the alleged perpetrators remain in their posts – including a senior UN official.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is “adamant” about dealing with the issue, “which is also about gender parity and the balance of power”, said his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.
“No one believes the UN is different from any other organisation – public or private – that has seen sexual harassment.”
The UN is looking to distribute a staff survey, and a helpline will be set up for people to call for advice, Dujarric said.
If allegations lead to a criminal investigation, it is up to the host country to prosecute, and the UN will co-operate with the host country to make sure those people were held to account, he said.
These allegations are not unlinked to the issue of sexual abuse which Guterres has made a priority to tackle, Dujarric added.
Guterres pledged to stamp out sexual exploitation under the UN flag when he took over as UN chief last year.
An investigation had revealed widespread allegations of rape and abuse of minors by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR).
In one case last year, a battalion of Congolese UN peacekeepers was sent home from the CAR after a leaked report labelled them as “notorious” for allegations of sexual abuse.
Criticism of the UN’s handling of allegations prompted Guterres to appoint a victims’ rights advocate, Jane Connors. – dpa