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September 29, 2021

Anna Murray 

An independent panel commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) identified more than 80 alleged cases of abuse during the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)'s Ebola outbreak, which began in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri in October 2020, including allegations involving 20 WHO staff members.

An independent commission produced the 35-page report following an investigation into the tenth Ebola outbreak, which revealed that WHO staff was among 83 aid workers who sexually abused women and girls. More than 50 local women reported sexual abuse, prompting the investigation. Between 2018 and 2020, both national and international workers were accused of committing the abuses, which included nine rape allegations. The commission interviewed dozens of women who claimed they were offered work in exchange for sex and discovered that 21 of the 83 alleged perpetrators worked for the WHO. The commission discovered clear structural failures and an inability to manage the risks of sexual exploitation and abuse in the central African country.

At a press conference on September 28, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the report was heartbreaking to read and apologized directly to the victims and survivors. It was inexcusable that those working for WHO were unable to serve and protect people. His top priority is that the perpetrators are not excused, but rather held accountable.