Survey exposes sexual harassment of UN staff

A third of UN staff and contractors have experienced sexual harassment in the past two years, according to an independent survey.

November’s online study from consultancy firm Deloitte was completed by 30,364 workers at the UN and its agencies, less than a fifth of those eligible to take part.

Almost 22 per cent of respondents said they were subjected to sexual stories or offensive jokes; 14.2 per cent were the target of offensive remarks about their appearance, body or sexual activities; and 13 per cent received unwelcome attempts to be engaged in sexual discussions.

Close to 11 per cent said they had experienced gestures or use of body language of a sexual nature, which caused them offence or embarrassment, and 10.1 per cent had been touched in a way that made them feel uncomfortable.

But just one in three victims said they took action after suffering harassment.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the response rate as “moderately low” and indicated that the organisation’s culture towards harassment remained unsatisfactory.

“This tells me two things: first – that we still have a long way to go before we are able to fully and openly discuss sexual harassment; and second – that there may also be an ongoing sense of mistrust, perceptions of inaction and lack of accountability,” he said.

The survey came after several high-profile accusations against the UN of sexual exploitation and abuse among peacekeepers in Africa in recent years.

The November survey was commissioned after the #MeToo movement about sexual assault and harassment last year that started in Hollywood but spread to other industries and workplaces, turning the spotlight on businesses and organisations around the world.

The report said men and women had been victims, although two out of three harassers were men.