#NoExcuse

2021 marked one of the most challenging chapters in WHO's history—one that struck at the heart of its values and its obligation to do no harm. The response demanded more than correction; it required transformation. What followed was a sustained and intentional effort to fundamentally change how the Organization understands, prevents and responds to sexual misconduct. With the conclusion of the thr...

In this episode, sociologists and practitioners Dr. Nof Nasser-Eddin and Dr. Nour Abu Assab unpack what it really means to take a  decolonial approach  in the aid sector and why this shift is essential for meaningful prevention of sexual misconduct. They challenge one of the sector's most entrenched assumptions: the belief that complete prevention is possible, calling it  "the myth of prevention"...

In this episode, a powerful conversation with two women in parts of the world vulnerable to a heightened risk of sexual misconduct within the aid system    Sandrine Lusamba is Executive Co-Ordinator from SOFEPADI - an organisation supporting the survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Khawla Al-Azraq is the Director of the Psychosocial Counseling Center for Women in P...

Emily May is a founder, activist, and author dedicated to ending all forms of harassment. In this episode, she discusses the impacts of harassment on an individual. Emily talks about the significance of bystander intervention in creating safer environments, particularly in the workplace. She also emphasises the necessity of laws to enforce humane treatment, but also the importance of culture in sh...

Adelle Onyango is a renowned media personality and campaigner against sexual violence in Kenya. Adelle says that when she originally started campaigning, it was fueled by anger shaped by her own experience. Now, she says her work is fueled by love for the women she supports.    The conversation covers Adelle's early campaigns and her work in providing psychosocial support for survivors. She talks...

In this episode of the #NoExcuse podcast, Guni Dias speaks with Elizabeth Wright from Interpol about her work within Project Soteria. The discussion explores the lack of empathy among offenders, the patterns and methods of sexual exploitation, and the challenges faced by investigators. Wright elaborates on Project Soteria, aimed at preventing sexual misconduct in the aid sector through innovative...

Professor Michael Flood is a renowned researcher, author, and advocate focusing on masculinity, violence prevention, and gender equality. In this episode, he talks about how the norms of masculinity and male entitlement are interlinked with sexual misconduct towards women. He talks about how sexual misconduct is mainly an issue for men, how the behaviour of some men make all men seem like a threat...

Seyi Akiwowo, author and leading voice on digital safety, talks about the growth of online sexual harassment in the workplace.    Akiwowo, who is also a founder of a non-profit committed to ending online abuse, explains how the shift to remote and hybrid working has exacerbated the risks. She also describes how online abuse is significantly harder to detect, confront, and report compared to tradit...

Seyi Akiwowo, author and leading voice on digital safety, talks about the growth of online sexual harassment in the workplace.    Akiwowo, who is also a founder of a non-profit committed to ending online abuse, explains how the shift to remote and hybrid working has exacerbated the risks. She also describes how online abuse is significantly harder to detect, confront, and report compared to tradit...

Professor Michael Salter is a leading researcher on child sexual abuse and the director of ChildLight East Asia and Pacific Hub at the University of New South Wales. In this episode, he talks about the prevalence of child sexual abuse and the particular vulnerabilities within the aid sector due to power imbalances and lack of accountability. Professor Salter explains how men who abuse children are...

In this episode of the WHO #NoExcuse Podcast, host Guni Dias speaks with Suzie Miller, an award-winning Australian playwright and former criminal defense lawyer specializing in human rights. They discuss the complexities of preventing and responding to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, especially in the aid sector. Miller shares insights from her career transition, the gendered nuances o...

In this compelling episode of the WHO #NoExcuse Podcast, we sit down with Tarana Burke, the visionary founder of the #MeToo movement, whose work has ignited a global reckoning around sexual violence and misconduct. Tarana takes us back to the origins of the movement, sharing the powerful vision and the challenges she faced in bringing it to life. She reflects on the movement's impact and explores...

Recorded live at the 2024 WHO PRS Stakeholder Review Conference, this special episode brings together leading voices in the prevention and response to sexual misconduct. Hosted by Dr. Gaya Gamhewage (Director, PRS at WHO), join Professor Frank Dobbin (Harvard University), Dr. Marianne Cooper (Stanford University), and Joelle Payom (activist, survivor, and founder of Rezalliance) as they share thei...

Mirko Fernandez is a victim advocate at the Global Fund. In this episode, he talks about the complexities of preventing and responding to sexual misconduct in the aid sector.  Mirko shares how his career was shaped by his parents, who were Chilean exiles, and their activism against human rights violations in their home country. We also hear about his work in forensic anthropology and his advocacy...

In this episode of the #NoExcuse podcast, host Guni Dias speaks with Harvard sociologist Frank Dobbin about the complexities of sexual harassment in the workplace, especially within international aid organizations. Dobbin examines contributing factors like power differentials and social isolation and critiques conventional harassment training for its sometimes counterproductive effects. Dobbin hig...

Professor Zoe Peterson is a researcher at the Kinsey Institute, which has been a global leader in the study of human sexuality for over 75 years. In this episode, she talks about the intricate relationship between human sexuality and sexual misconduct.   Peterson talks about the blurred lines between seduction and coercion and how unwanted sex and non-consensual sex are not the same thing. We hear...

Lusungu Kalanga and Amanda Bangura are the co-leads supporting victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse in Malawi through their partnership with Women's Rights Organizations.    In this podcast, Lusungu and Amanda discuss how important the principles of feminism are to their co-leadership and how it helps them derive joy from the most demanding of roles. We hear about the critical ro...

Victoria McDonough has over 30 years of experience in preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector and is currently a senior victim care officer. In this episode, she shares her story and the recurring challenges organisations face in tackling sexual misconduct, including issues of leadership, accountability, and a focus on compliance rather than meaningful change....

Dr. Marianne Cooper is a sociologist and expert on gender at Stanford University. In this episode she discusses her research on gender dynamics in the workplace and their connection to sexual harassment. Dr Cooper talks about three main cultural and structural factors contributing to sexual misconduct in the workplace and the constant need for men to prove masculinity. She explores the notion of c...

Nashater Deu Solheim is a psychologist, author and executive coach who has extensive experience working with psychopaths, military personnel and. In this episode, we explore the similarities of psychopathic behaviour and those of sexual misconduct. Nashater helps us identify the behaviours of perpetrators of sexual misconduct, both those who are opportunistic and those who are premeditated offende...

The late, Aidan O'Leary, WHO's director for polio eradication, says that polio eradication, like all aid work, needs not only professional excellence, but for all workers to meet the highest standards of personal conduct. Since the late 1980s, the number of cases of polio has reduced from hundreds of thousands down to a handful every year. In this episode he talks about the importance of leadershi...

Elizabeth Broderick was Australia's longest-serving Sex Discrimination Commissioner, a UN Special Rapporteur on discrimination against women and girls and led major reviews into the treatment of women in the country's military, police, parliament and the private sector.    In this episode, Elizabeth discusses her journey to becoming a prominent advocate for gender equality. She reflects on her per...

Dr Fiona Braka, WHO's program area manager for emergency response in the African region, talks about the 2021 Independent Commission report on allegations of sexual misconduct during the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the previous year.    Fiona talks about her shock and horror at learning about the allegations, the sadness she felt for victims and the sense of shame t...

Dr Jasmine Westendorf, Associate Professor at La Trobe University in Australia, shares some of her findings about sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by peacekeepers and aid workers in humanitarian operations.     In this episode, Dr Westendorf discusses the economic interests that lead to exploitation - and how this can have a lasting impact on a community even when the peace operation move...

Ellie Kemp is the strategic partnership director of the humanitarian linguistic organization, Clear Global. In this episode, Ellie talks about how language is tied up with power dynamics, and how this is amplified within the aid system. In an Anglo-centric sector, professional standards and official documentation are developed in English, reflecting a certain worldview. Ellie says this hinders com...