The World Health Organization owes much more assistance to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to an independent review.
The case was one of the largest sexual misconduct scandals in United Nations history and initially involved more than 50 women who accused Ebola aid workers, including WHO personnel, of sex-for-work schemes. After the media exposed the misconduct and an independent investigation revealed the extent of the abuses, WHO set up a $2 million Survivor Assistance Fund to support 115 victims and survivors with psychological aid, work opportunities, and legal assistance for those who decided to file a lawsuit in the local courts.
That constitutes the U.N.’s usual package of support in such cases, according to Hervé Gogo, coordinator of the Independent Commission that WHO tasked to investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the country. But this support was “not sufficient” for the victims in the DRC, Gogo said.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
