Distinguished representatives, dear colleagues and friends,
Welcome to this year’s third briefing on our collective efforts to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct.
This briefing coincides with the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, a global campaign that this year draws attention to the growing risks of harassment and abuse, including sexual misconduct, in online and digital spaces.
Thank you for your continuing commitment to this challenge, and your support for WHO’s work to address it.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to transparency and accountability.
We are continuing to share monthly updates on allegations of all forms of abuse, including sexual misconduct, and the disciplinary actions taken.
While numbers alone cannot capture the full reality, they remind us that sexual misconduct continues to occur, and we still have much more work to do.
As you will recall, the three-year strategy, now drawing to a close, was developed in direct response to the findings of the Independent Commission Report.
This strategy was underpinned by substantial, dedicated resources at all three levels of WHO, with regular monitoring.
It has yielded significant results.
We now have a policy framework that serves as a reference point across the UN system, with a victim- and survivor-centred approach, accountability for all members of the WHO workforce, and key performance indicators.
We have strengthened risk assessment and mitigation, including engagement with implementing partners and vendors, and we have established a robust incident management system.
This year, we strengthened that system by standardizing survivor support procedures, and co-designing a UN-wide feedback mechanism with UNHCR to ensure survivors’ voices are reflected.
The establishment of the WHO Survivor Reference Group has institutionalized survivor participation, driving organizational learning and accountability.
The Survivor Assistance Fund has also enabled holistic support in complex cases and strengthened protection measures, complemented by new guidance and training for investigators.
The Secretariat has completed service mapping in countries with large and complex WHO operations, particularly in outbreak and humanitarian settings.
We have provided regular training for WHO personnel and partners, and rolled out capacity assessments for UN implementing partners.
In 2025, 93% of WHO country offices completed the annual sexual misconduct risk assessment and mitigation planning exercise.
We have also achieved a compliance rate of 91% in mandatory training.
As of today, 95% of WHO implementing partners in 15 high-risk priority countries have been assessed, with 76% at full capacity.
Assessments are ongoing in an additional 18 countries, and we have begun capacitating NGO Health Cluster partners in high-risk settings.
In line with recommendations from the UN Joint Inspection Unit, we’re also piloting new contractual clauses to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct in HR procurement contracts.
These clauses reflect WHO’s zero-tolerance policy and clarify investigation responsibilities, victim support obligations, and reporting requirements.
A major joint achievement this year was the endorsement at the World Health Assembly of a voluntary framework to define and address accountabilities for sexual misconduct prevention and response in joint operations between WHO and Member States.
I commend the Africa Region for its leadership in operationalizing this framework, and we look forward to hearing more from Her Excellency Ever Mlilo, the Ambassador of Zimbabwe.
Distinguished representatives, dear colleagues and friends,
I am pleased with the progress we have made over the past three years, but I remain mindful of the challenges ahead and the need to consolidate our efforts across all levels of the Organization.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank and commend Dr Gaya Gamhewage for her outstanding leadership in advancing our work on sexual misconduct.
As many of you know, Gaya has taken up a new role as acting Director of Communications, which she is doing with the same energy and commitment that she brought to her previous role.
In the context of our organizational restructuring, it is essential that we do not lose sight of our responsibility to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct.
While budget constraints have inevitably impacted this area of work, we are working to offset these challenges through enhanced synergies and collaboration.
Looking forward, we see great opportunity in merging our work on sexual misconduct with our work on gender, rights, and equity.
Ms Alia El-Yassir, as Director of the newly-merged department, will now take up this critical work.
The new consolidation strategy will build on the achievements and lessons of the past three years, to ensure that zero tolerance for sexual misconduct is not just a slogan, but a reality.
As ever, I am grateful for your guidance and support. You can be assured of my continued leadership, oversight, and personal commitment.
I thank you.