Feminism: chat
WHO finds its Ebola staff abused women and girls: ‘Humbled and heartbroken’:
EmbarrassingAdmissions · 28/09/2021 20:11
‘Humbled and heartbroken’: WHO finds its Ebola staff abused women and girls
Yet, we've been here before and safeguarding violations are allowed to continue.
The World Health Organization has described itself as “heartbroken” after an independent inquiry it commissioned said scores of women and girls were sexually abused by aid workers during the devastating 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The findings were described as “harrowing reading” by the WHO’s director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while its regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said she was “humbled, horrified and heartbroken”.
The commission, which examined about 80 cases of women and girls aged 13 to 43, identified 21 employees working for the UN global health body among perpetrators of serious abuses, including a number of rape allegations. According to the report, the abuse led to 29 pregnancies, with some of the perpetrators insisting the women have abortions. The report added that the WHO perpetrators included local and international staff.
www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/sep/28/humbled-and-heartbroken-who-finds-its-ebola-staff-abused-women-and-girls
ErrolTheDragon · 28/09/2021 20:31
Bloody hell.
So a few have been dismissed but I didn't see anything about prosecutions.
The investigators found that most victims were “highly vulnerable”, often younger women in precarious economic situations, with some of the abusers holding responsibilities for preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.
EmbarrassingAdmissions · 28/09/2021 20:40
I didn't see anything about prosecutions.
Nobody wants an airing of their lack of care for safeguarding nor scrutiny of just how they make some of their appointments.
It's sickening. Who exploits people like this or facilitates it? And just how far has your humanity fled from you to do this in the teeth of Ebola?
BewareTheBeardedDragon · 28/09/2021 21:09
This makes me so so angry. These things always seem to come out afterwards and words are used to express sadness and regret but what actually happens to make changes. To make sure it never happens again.
Been listening to Tracey Chapman 'why is a woman still not safe, in her home any fucking where?'
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 21:11
No.
No no no no no no.
I can't handle this any more.
Sexual exploitation, assault, rape by NGO orgs has been known about for YEARS.
Appalling case after appalling case. Well funded respected orgs and charities who prey on those they are there to help.
I am FUCKING SICK TO THE BACK TEETH OF IT.
And including DRC for fucks sake where the systematic mass rape of women and girls by different sides of the groups in conflict.
Described as genocidal rape. With grotesque cruelty and appalling torture and sadism. Girls from age 5.
Read if you had the stomach.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_during_the_Congo_civil_wars
Of course rape is appalling under any circumstances. But for an org meant to help. Having their people doing this in DRC is to me just past obscene.
It is hate what these men did.
And yes men penis men and I make ZERO fucking apology for saying that.
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 21:12
'Western diplomatic sources said four people had been dismissed and two placed on administrative leave, based on a closed-door briefing involving WHO that was provided to diplomatic officials in Geneva on Tuesday.'
WHY ARE THEY NOT BEING PROSECUTED? WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS?
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 21:14
'The panel released its findings on Tuesday, months after media reports that senior WHO management had been informed of multiple abuse claims in 2019 but failed to stop the harassment, and even promoted one of the managers involved.'
2019. Fucking 2019.
It is 2021.
FUCKERS. ABSOLUTE TOTAL SELF SERVING, ARSE COVERING, REPUTATION PROTECTING SCUM.
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 21:15
'Some of the women who say they were abused by WHO officials hoped those involved would be severely punished; others said disciplining the WHO employees would go a long way towards ending violence against women.'
AND THEY WILL BE ANGRY AND DEVASTATED BECAUSE THAT WON'T HAPPEN.
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 21:18
'“WHO must also think about reparation for the women who were traumatised by the rapes, and the dozens of children who were born with unwanted pregnancies as a result of the rapes,” she said. “There are a dozen girls in Butembo and Beni who had children with doctors during the Ebola epidemic, but today others are sent back by their families because they had children with foreigners. We will continue our fight to end these abuses.”'
ASSISTING THE VICTIMS IN ANY WAY AND EVERY WAY IS A BASIC. I ASSUMED FOOLISHLY THIS HAPPENED WHEN VICTIMS WERE IDENTIFIED. I WAS OBVIOUSLY WRONG.
REALLY FUCK THEM CRUEL CALLOUS BASTARDS.
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 23:27
Someone suggested ages ago that people who work on the ground should be women.
It seemed a bit OTT to me at the time.
Now though. Let's do it.
The abuse is appalling. Outrageous. Sexually exploiting and sexually abusing the women and girls who have suffered and are still suffering so badly.
And each time. Years to do anything. Hopeless results. Not supporting the victims I mean fucking hell. Never seem to be prosecutions just if they get anything it's sacked/ only work in non direct roles. Arse covering and focus on reputation.
Loads of charities. This is the WHO FFS. also un peacekeepers have carried out appalling sexual crimes in these sorts of circs.
It's unconscionable. The orgs essentially say sorry that was bad. Do I bit of a report. Hope it's forgotten quickly.
Immediate major change is needed.
Won't happen I'm sure.
timeisnotaline · 28/09/2021 23:32
Hi who, were these victims all women as in female? How did your staff know who was female when you don’t like that word in your publications anymore? Wet the perpetrators male? Do we have an enormous amount of sex based inequality and sexual violence that your staff (men) directly contribute to that would be easier to face head on if we can just say women and men? Or even now would you like to step in and say don’t forget trans people are marginalised too and we need to be inclusive in our language while you are trying to say assaulting women and girls we work with isn’t ok?
ThreeFeetTall · 28/09/2021 23:34
@chilling19
I was wondering that- all the victims are 'women are girls' but the perpetrators are just neutral 'workers' 'staff'. Why don't they say all these abusers are men??
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 23:43
For some reason they feel averse to disclosing the sex of the rapists and abusers.
My only guess is they feel that saying they were people with penises is 'problematic'.
Why, I have no idea.
Especially as with sex offences it's obvious which sex the offenders are just overwhelming likely to be.
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 23:44
In the OP in bold. I haven't seen a tweet thread will check thread for link.
'The commission, which examined about 80 cases of women and girls aged 13 to 43, identified 21 employees working for the UN global health body among perpetrators of serious abuses, including a number of rape allegations. According to the report, the abuse led to 29 pregnancies, with some of the perpetrators insisting the women have abortions. The report added that the WHO perpetrators included local and international staff.'
ThreeFeetTall · 28/09/2021 23:46
@timeisnotaline
I was just looking at the article/headline (in the guardian and another paper), I haven't read anything from WHO directly.
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