The World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, has said allegations that aid workers sexually abused women while tackling an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo are “heartbreaking”.
She said she will ensure a “timely, fair and transparent investigation” and that those found to have been involved will face serious consequences.
Dr Moeti said she would ensure mechanisms of reporting such acts are corrected:
The allegations of sexual exploitation & abuse by aid workers in #DRC #Ebola response are heartbreaking. I will do all in my power to ensure a timely, fair & transparent investigation. Anyone identified as being involved will face serious consequences. https://t.co/O4b5pOXIfK
— Dr Matshidiso Moeti (@MoetiTshidi) September 30, 2020
A year-long investigation by two agencies revealed that aid workers who identified themselves as WHO staff sexually abused women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The New Humanitarian and the Thomson Reuters Foundation spoke to 50 local women who were allegedly plied with drinks, “ambushed” in hospitals, forced to have sex, and two became pregnant.
The allegations cover the period between 2018 and March this year.
The WHO has pledged to investigate allegations.
BELOW IS THE STATEMENT.
PRESS STATEMENT
Statement from Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, on Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Allegations in the North Kivu Ebola Response
Brazzaville, 30 September 2020 – The allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers, who identified themselves as working for the World Health Organization (WHO) Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are deeply horrific and heartbreaking. All my life as a woman, doctor, leader, mother and health worker, I have fought against gender inequality, as well as sexual harassment and abuse. When I became WHO Regional Director for Africa, I committed to advancing women’s careers and interests in the workplace and robustly addressing sexual harassment.
I stand with anyone who has fallen victim to sexual violation during the Ebola response in the eastern DRC.
I strongly support WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ decision to initiate a thorough review of the allegations. I will do everything I can to contribute and ensure that a full, fair and transparent investigation takes place within the shortest possible time and that any perpetrators of these revolting acts face serious consequences. I will work with my colleagues in the region to safeguard the vulnerable in all our future operations.
Furthermore, I commit to working with Dr Tedros to ensure that any flaws identified by investigators in our mechanism for reporting sexual abuse and exploitation are corrected and that we create an environment that prevents such violations from taking place in our operations.
END
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