#NoExcuse

Abigail Averbach is the manager of the Coordination Unit of the Protection From Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment at The Global Fund. In this episode, Abigal talks about what needs to happen to achieve zero tolerance for sexual misconduct.  Abigail shares her journey from being a US prosecutor to her current role and highlights the lessons she learned from her career.  She emphasises the i...

NASA engineer Bryan Robles, a male survivor of sexual violence, speaks as our first survivor to feature in the "#NoExcuse Podcast" series. Recounting how he connected with WHO's work on supporting victims and survivors of sexual misconduct, Bryan explains his long journey filled with internal struggle, shame and self-blame. He shares why he chose to speak publicly about his experience. He delivers...

In this episode, Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, speaks about how she led a culture change to address sexual harassment not just in her agency, UNHCR, but across the UN system.  Deputy High Commissioner Clements emphasizes how UNHCR took a survivor-centered approach, and the role of strong and shared leadership to enable organizational change.

In this episode of the #NoExcuse Podcast by the World Health Organization (WHO), Sigrid Kranawetter, Senior Advisor to the WHO Director-General, discusses the fundamental principle of "Do No Harm" and its connection to preventing and addressing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. She emphasizes the responsibility of public health professionals to uphold ethical standards and prevent harm....

In this episode, we discuss with Lisa McClennon, Director of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (IOS) at the WHO, the vital role of investigations in fostering accountability and preventing future misconduct. She discusses the challenges, principles, and evolving trends in investigating sexual misconduct, emphasizing a victim and survivor-centered approach while maintaining organizational i...

In this podcast episode, Dr. Roopa Dhatt, the Co- Founder and Executive Director of Women in Global Health, addresses the factors perpetuating sexual misconduct in a landscape where women constitute 70% of the health workforce but remain underrepresented in leadership positions. Dr. Dhatt illuminates the collaborative efforts between Women in Global Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) t...

" We just need more action." Memory Kachambwa is Executive Director of Femnet, a Civil Society Organization (CSO) that champions the voices of African women.   She highlights the unique position of CSO as first responders in crises.  Memory says CSOs are often relegated to the role of implementing partners with insufficient resources and support. Despite their crucial role in amplifying community...

UN agencies must provide holistic support to any victim or survivor of sexual misconduct by aid-workers, but this work requires expertise and inputs by a wide range of partners. WHO's partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), for victim and survivor support in the Democratic Republic of Congo provides a promising model for how this essential work can be carried out. In this epis...

Erin MacDonald is WHO's Prevention and Response to Sexual Misconduct Technical Officer in Syria. In this latest episode, she sheds light on the pervasive issue of sexual misconduct within the aid sector. Drawing on her experience in emergency settings in places like Ukraine, Ethiopia and South Sudan, she emphasizes the heightened risks in such environments and the urgent need for prevention measur...

In this eye-opening  episode , Ibrahim Abu Khalil, WHO's full-time Prevention and Response to Sexual Misconduct Technical Officer, shares his experiences working in high-risk countries like Libya, Liberia, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and now Yemen, shedding light on the intricacies of navigating cultural taboos. Discover how Ibrahim removes taboos to establish trust within communities. Despite being a m...

In this transformative episode, United Nations Victims' Rights Advocate, Assistant Secretary General Jane Connors brings her extensive experience in sexual and gender-based violence to raise awareness for the rights and voices of victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse. Jane reflects on her past, examines the remaining challenges to this issue, and also the drivers that contribute t...

While we are focusing on sexual misconduct by development and humanitarian work, in this episode we look at the importance of the broader context of Gender Based Violence in society. We interview Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization, overseeing the United Nations' Co-sponsored Special Program in Human Reprodu...

In this episode, Dr. Gaya Gamhewage, Director of Prevention of and Response to Sexual Misconduct at the World Health Organization, delves into the challenging topic of sexual misconduct within the humanitarian and development sectors. She discusses her evolving emotions when first confronted with allegations of sexual exploitation.   Dr. Gamhewage emphasizes the need for a cultural shift within th...

The #NoExcuse podcast is produced by the World Health Organization's Department for the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Misconduct. There is no excuse for sexual misconduct in the humanitarian or development sectors. Many people don't want to think about the often-ignored topic of sexual misconduct by our personnel. Shining a light on this dark and painful topic is an important step to addres...