In light of the publication on 28 September 2021 of the final report of the Independent Commission on allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) during the response to the 10th Ebola virus disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Twenty-ninth Standing Committee of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (SCRC), at its second session on 8 December 2021:
- wishes to express its significant concern in relation to the findings of the Independent Commission;
- extends its deep sympathy to the survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse and calls on WHO to ensure that all necessary measures are put in place to ensure that the survivors and their dependents have access to necessary services and support – including medical and psychosocial support, and in the sphere of education; and
- urges WHO to ensure that a comprehensive response and appropriate measures are put in place urgently at all levels of the Organization for the future.
In this regard, the SCRC takes note of the publication of the Management Response and associated Implementation Plan, and recommends the urgent and sustained implementation of the actions outlined therein, with regular reporting on implementation through the global governance structures of the Organization, commencing with the Executive Board, at its 150th session in January 2022.
The SCRC expresses its appreciation to the WHO Regional Director for Europe for his leadership and commitment to ensuring a culture of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) across the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe). The Regional Director is commended for putting in place measures in WHO/Europe to detect and prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, whether in the community or in the workplace, and to address it swiftly were it to arise.
In this regard, the SCRC welcomes the rapid allocation of specific funds from the Regional Director’s Development Fund for this purpose. It further welcomes the short-term initiatives that have already been established at WHO/Europe, noting in particular:
- the nomination of an interim WHO/Europe focal point for sexual exploitation and abuse reporting;
- the establishment of the Working Group on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PRSEAH) to support regional priority actions aligned with implementation with the overall organizational Management Response Plan, as appropriate;
- the development of specific measures for sites or services within the WHO European Region that may present a greater potential risk; and
- preparations for a regional “No Excuse – Zero Tolerance” campaign.
The SCRC recommends that WHO/Europe continues to contribute to and support alignment of activities across all levels of the Organization through the overall Management Response and Implementation Plans, and invites WHO/Europe to report on these efforts in addition to implementing short- and medium-term regional actions through regional governance structures on a regular basis.