sex abuse - The African Mirror

Sep

2021

WHO ‘heartbroken’ by Congo sex abuse probe findings

THE World Health Organization was "heartbroken" by the findings of an independent commission on sex abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the agency regional director for Africa. "We in the WHO are indeed humbled, horrified and heartbroken by the findings of this inquiry," Matshidiso Moeti said at a news briefing. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a news conference after a ceremony for the opening of the WHO Academy, in Lyon, France, September 27, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the commission's report made for "harrowing reading". The commission found that some 21…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Watchdog says ‘pervasive’ digital sex crime affecting life for S.Korean women, girls

WORLD

JOSH SMITH DIGITAL sex crime is now so pervasive in South Korea that the fear of it is affecting the quality of life for women and girls, with many victims saying they had considered suicide or leaving the country, according to human rights watchdog. South Korea has become the global epicentre of spycam - the use of tiny, hidden cameras to film victims naked, urinating or having sex. Other cases have involved intimate photos being leaked without permission, or sex abuse such as rapes captured on camera and the videos shared online. Victims are often traumatized further and become "immersed…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

UK lawmakers hear more reports of aid worker sex abuse in Congo

HUMAN RIGHTS

NELLIE PEYTON BRITAIN’S charity watchdog said it has received reports of at least eight cases of sexual assault and abuse by aid workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, vowing to ensure "robust action". It said the incidents were reported both before and after an investigation published last month by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and The New Humanitarian in which more than 50 women accused Ebola aid workers of demanding sex in exchange for jobs. "We can confirm that these include allegations of serious sexual assault, the exchange of jobs or money for sex and sexual harassment," the Charity Commission's…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

WHO names independent body to investigate Congo sex abuse claims

NEWS

NELLIE PEYTON THE World Health Organization (WHO) is setting up a seven-person independent commission to investigate claims of sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers during the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In an investigation published last month by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and The New Humanitarian, more than 50 women accused aid workers from the WHO and leading charities of demanding sex in exchange for jobs during the 2018-2020 crisis. Five out of seven of the organisations named in the expose have pledged to investigate, as has Congo's health ministry. Leading the WHO inquiry will…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

WHO ‘outraged’ by sex abuse reports in Congo Ebola operation

NEWS

EMMA FARGE THE World Health Organization (WHO) has promised an investigation into "horrific" allegations of sexual abuse by aid workers combating an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "To be very clear, we are outraged to read these reports," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news briefing in Geneva, promising punishment for perpetrators. "We will not tolerate behaviour like this from our staff, contractors or partners." The Thomson Reuters Foundation reported on Tuesday that more than 50 women had accused aid workers from the WHO and leading charities of sexual exploitation and abuse. Anyone found involved…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Power, poverty, and aid: The mix that fuelled sex abuse claims in Congo

NEWS

ROBERT FLUMMERFELT and NELLIE PEYTON STRATEGIES put in place to stop such abuses largely failed during the outbreak that swept through the country from 2018 to 2020, aid officials and workers, gender analysts, and researchers who examined the response told reporters in nearly a year of interviews. Reports commissioned by organisations and donors also cited abuse concerns. Fifty-one women told reporters they had been sexually abused or exploited by men identifying themselves as aid workers in Beni, one of the outbreak’s epicentres. Not one said she knew of a hotline, email address, or person to contact to report the incidents. Most…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Congo ‘jobs-for-sex’ expose prompts calls for greater scrutiny of aid workers

NEWS

NELLIE PEYTON VETTING aid workers more closely and giving women more power is critical to tackle sex abuse in humanitarian crises as exposed in a joint investigation by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and The New Humanitarian, aid experts said on Wednesday. In the expose, 51 women recounted multiple incidents of abuse by mainly foreign aid workers during the 2018-2020 Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, many saying men demanded sex to get a job or ended contracts if they refused. At least 30 women said workers from the World Health Organization (WHO) were involved and women also reported…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Over 50 women accuse aid workers of sex abuse in Congo Ebola crisis

NEWS

ROBERT FLUMMERFELT and NELLIE PEYTON MORE than 50 women have accused Ebola aid workers from the World Health Organization and leading NGOs of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an investigation by The New Humanitarian and the Thomson Reuters Foundation revealed. In interviews, 51 women - many of whose accounts were backed up by aid agency drivers and local NGO workers - recounted multiple incidents of abuse, mainly by men who said they were international workers, during the 2018 to 2020 Ebola crisis. The majority of the women said numerous men had either propositioned them, forced…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

Botswana rape survivor fights sexual violence with awareness campaign

NEWS

KELETSO THOBEGA A Botswana singer and activist who was raped three years ago launched a campaign on Friday to fight high rates of sexual violence in the country, saying the rape of her younger sister last month had spurred her to act. Refilwe Mooki, 23, who still suffers post-traumatic stress as a result of her attack, said the "Say No to Rape" campaign would push for harsher sentences for rapists as well as measures to support victims and encourage them to speak out. "Enough is enough. We need to challenge people feeling entitled to other's bodies and violating them because…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

Perils of the catwalk: African models warn of trafficking threat

NEWS

EMELINE WUILBERCQ and ELAS OHLEN ALL eyes will be on the catwalk, but the model behind Ethiopia's first reality TV modelling competition hopes the show will also shine a spotlight on exploitation in the industry across Africa. While the #MeToo scandal highlighted widespread sex abuse in fashion, models and non-profits say women and girls pursuing a catwalk career face even greater dangers in developing nations. Delina Cleo - a model in her late twenties who created the 'Hidden Beauty of Ethiopia' show - wants to educate aspiring African models about risks from online scams to sex trafficking. "This industry can…