WHO / DRC EBOLA

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the news from the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, regarding reports of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse by people identifying themselves as working for WHO. WHO

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:39
• Production Date: 2 October 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO
• Subject Topical: PUBLIC HEALTH; SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: 2565759
• Parent Id: 2565759
• Alternate Title: unifeed201002i

Description

STORY: WHO / DRC EBOLA
TRT: 2:39
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 02 OCTOBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1.Wide shot, press conference room
2.SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General:
"I want to address some of the disturbing news from the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, regarding reports of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse by people identifying themselves as working for WHO. To be very clear, we are outraged to read these reports. WHO works around the world in the toughest emergency environments and situations in the world. We come to save lives and spread hope. The betrayal of people in the communities we serve is reprehensible."
3.Wide shot, press conference room
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General:
"We will not tolerate behaviour like this from our staff, contractors or partners. Anyone identified as being involved will be held to account and face serious consequences, including immediate dismissal. I have initiated an investigation of the specific allegations, as well as broader protection issues in health emergency response settings. WHO has a zero-tolerance policy with regard to sexual exploitation and abuse. I take these reports very seriously and I will have more to say on this very soon."
5.Wide shot, press conference room
6.SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Mike Ryan EXD, WHO Health Emergencies Programme:
"We start from a position of believing those individuals who have suffered abuse or exploitation. That is the first thing. Second thing, we are absolutely concerned that the individuals who have been abused and exploited receive the proper care, the proper support and absolute access to justice and a bright future. And, we will do everything possible to make that happen. But frankly right now we have absolutely no details of any of the individuals, any of the specific allegations.
7.Wide shot, press conference room
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Mike Ryan EXD, WHO Health Emergencies Programme:
"So, the organization is taking this deadly seriously. These allegations are horrific and it is awful to hear. And both the Director-General and myself spent significant time in the field. I feel terrible to just hear these stories. I feel awful for the people, I feel awful for the families."
9.Close up, WHO emblem

Storyline

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the news from the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, regarding reports of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse by people identifying themselves as working for WHO.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva today (02 Oct), Tedros said, “to be very clear, we are outraged to read these reports. WHO works around the world in the toughest emergency environments and situations in the world. We come to save lives and spread hope. The betrayal of people in the communities we serve is reprehensible."

He said, "we will not tolerate behaviour like this from our staff, contractors or partners. Anyone identified as being involved will be held to account and face serious consequences, including immediate dismissal.”
The Director-General said that he has initiated an investigation of the specific allegations, “as well as broader protection issues in health emergency response settings.”
He reiterated, “WHO has a zero-tolerance policy with regard to sexual exploitation and abuse. I take these reports very seriously and I will have more to say on this very soon."

WHO’s Dr Mike Ryan also briefed the reporters. He said, "we start from a position of believing those individuals who have suffered abuse or exploitation. That is the first thing.”
Ryan continued, “second thing, we are absolutely concerned that the individuals who have been abused and exploited receive the proper care, the proper support and absolute access to justice and a bright future.”

He added, “we will do everything possible to make that happen. But frankly right now we have absolutely no details of any of the individuals, any of the specific allegations.”
Ryan also said that the organization is taking it “deadly seriously,” adding that “these allegations are horrific and it is awful to hear. And both the Director-General and myself spent significant time in the field. I feel terrible to just hear these stories. I feel awful for the people, I feel awful for the families."