US, EU Call For 'full Commitment' From WHO To Prevent Sexual Violence
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published October 01, 2021 | 11:33 PM
Washington and Brussels joined with other Western capitals on Friday to call for "full commitment" from the World Health Organization to reform, after a damning report detailed rape and sexual abuse by its workers sent to fight Ebola in DR Congo
Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Oct, 2021 ) :Washington and Brussels joined with other Western capitals on Friday to call for "full commitment" from the World Health Organization to reform, after a damning report detailed rape and sexual abuse by its workers sent to fight Ebola in DR Congo.
"The governments of Australia, Canada, the European Union and its member states, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States of America... expect full commitment from the WHO to prevent and address such acts, including through fundamental reforms to the WHO," the governments said in a joint statement.
Calling it a "dark day for WHO", the UN body's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had on Tuesday told victims he was "sorry" and that it was "top priority that the perpetrators are not excused but held to account".
On Friday, the member state governments said that "we will ensure that the WHO leadership's commitments lead to accountability, increased capability, action, and swift change", calling for an "immediate, thorough and detailed assessment" of what went wrong.
The report centred on accusations against local and international personnel deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo to fight an Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020.
It cited "individual negligence that may amount to professional misconduct".
The authors also said they found "clear structural failures and unpreparedness to manage the risks of incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse" in the poor central African country.
Among the 83 suspects identified, 21 were employed by the WHO.
Four have had their contracts terminated and are banned from future employment at the WHO, while two senior staff have been placed on administrative leave.
The agency will also refer rape allegations to the Congolese authorities and those of other concerned states, Tedros said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PCB dismisses FICA's claims of unpaid dues in PSL
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 28 March 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 28 March 2024
Niger says US to submit plan to 'disengage' troops
Venezuelan opposition registers unknown poll contender after obstacles
Van Aert breaks collarbone, ribs in Flanders fall
Russian attacks kill three as Ukraine calls for more air defence
Climate change is messing with how we measure time: study
Minister discusses bilateral issues with Turkiye Ambassador
Urdu poet Safiya Shamim remembered on birth anniversary
Turbat attack martyr laid to rest with full military honours
Police break up Togo opposition event: AFP journalists
More Stories From World
-
Russian bombs turn Ukraine border village into 'hell'
43 minutes ago -
At Bulgaria's border with Romania, Schengen remains miles off
2 hours ago -
Trump in court, Biden in the kitchen: 2024 is a campaign like no other
2 hours ago -
Suns eclipse Nuggets, Rockets silence Thunder
2 hours ago -
China's Xiaomi to enter cut-throat EV market for the first time
2 hours ago -
Japan drugmaker reports two more deaths in supplement scare
3 hours ago
-
Tennis: ATP-WTA Miami Open results: collated
3 hours ago -
Japan Moon probe survives second lunar night
3 hours ago -
Hit TV satire reveals how Japanese society has changed
3 hours ago -
Jill Biden writes children's book about 'First Feline' Willow
4 hours ago -
At UN, Pakistan renews commitment to beat plastic pollution, bolster waste management
4 hours ago -
Collins beats Garcia to move into Miami Open semis
4 hours ago