EU Temporarily Suspends Support to WHO Over Sexual Exploitation of Congolese Women

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO)
[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The European Union (EU) has temporarily suspended funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) health projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after it was revealed that local women were sexually exploited. This action follows WHO's failure to properly address sexual violence by its staff.

According to major foreign media on the 28th (local time), the EU Commission sent a letter to WHO on the 7th, notifying the temporary suspension of funding for five health programs operated by WHO in the DRC, including responses to Ebola and COVID-19. The suspended funding amounts to 20.7 million euros (approximately 28 billion KRW).

Previously, an independent WHO panel announced that during the 2018?2020 Ebola response in the DRC, 83 local women were sexually abused, and about 20 WHO staff members were involved in the abuse.

In a letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the EU Commission expressed "extreme concern about the seriousness of the events that occurred in the DRC," and demanded "assurances for the protection and compensation of the victims, as well as detailed information on WHO's recruitment processes in the DRC."

It added, "We urge appropriate measures to ensure that staff involved in sexual exploitation incidents are not re-employed by the United Nations or aid organizations, and call for an independent investigation into WHO staff responsible for mishandling allegations related to the incidents."

Foreign media analyzed that "the EU's suspension of funding to the DRC is likely to serve as diplomatic pressure on WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus, who is seeking reappointment, to take additional measures regarding the sexual violence and management negligence that occurred in the DRC."