On Human Rights Day and on the last day of the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Women in Global Health in partnership with Actions pour la Réinsertion sociale de la Femme, FEMNET, and more than 140+ civil society organizations (CSOs) across the globe have sent a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO). Calling for them to act now to prevent and eliminate all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) in health. In the letter we detail recommendaitons for follow-up to the SEAH incidents that occured during the tenth Ebola response in Democratic Republic of Congo. 

We wish to express our deep concern at the sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls by WHO staff during the tenth Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)  detailed in the report by the Independent Commission. We stand with survivors of SEAH and whistleblowers in their pursuit of justice and the truth, and we call on WHO to act now to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.

Allegations of SEAH in the tenth Ebola Response in DRC were made against staff of several UN and international aid agencies, in addition to WHO, highlighting the need for a sector wide approach. Given its global mandate to advocate for health as a human right and health equity, WHO must play a leadership role in preventing and eliminating SEAH within the health sector.