The World Food Programme has reversed course and said its staff can attend tomorrow’s Global Women’s March, after previously saying it was “not appropriate” for them to take part.
Executive Director Ertharin Cousin wrote in an email to employees that she had “no objection” to them taking part in the Rome March in particular and also other sister marches, so long as they participate in their “personal capacity” and not as WFP representatives, and ensure the platform of a local march is “compatible” with their status as international civil servants.
This is in sharp contrast to a previous message from the ethics office at WFP saying that staff should not take part in the marches, as reported by Devex yesterday.