GENEVA, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) mentioned on Wednesday that it has dismissed a senior scientist, recognized for his function as the top of a world mission to China to probe the origins of COVID-19, for sexual misconduct.
The UN company mentioned Peter Ben Embarek, a Danish scientist who beforehand headed up its ‘One Health’ initiative on ailments leaping from animals to people, was faraway from his submit final 12 months. In a response to Reuters, Ben Embarek mentioned he contested the accusation of harassment and was difficult the sanction.
“Peter Ben Embarek was dismissed last year following findings of sexual misconduct against him that were substantiated by investigations, and corresponding disciplinary process,” mentioned WHO spokesperson Marcia Poole.
Poole mentioned the instances that led to the dismissal occurred in 2015 and 2017. The company was first made conscious of them in 2018. The WHO didn’t present additional particulars of the misconduct allegations.
Ben Embarek mentioned {that a} single incident in 2017 “was settled immediately in a friendly way.” He mentioned he couldn’t remark additional as each he and the WHO are certain by confidentiality agreements till a decision is reached.
“I am not aware of any other complaints and no other complaints have ever been brought to my attention,” Ben Embarek mentioned in a digital message. “I duly contest the qualification of harassment and I am quite hopeful in the defense of my rights.”
Ben Embarek is essentially the most senior WHO official recognized to have been dismissed for the reason that U.N. company launched a sequence of reforms to enhance its response to sexual misconduct. He has typically been quoted within the media in regards to the origins of the pandemic. His dismissal may be appealed by means of the U.N. inside justice system.
He was the lead WHO consultant on a visit to China in 2021 that aimed to analyze the place COVID-19 got here from. The workforce made international headlines with their conclusion that bats have been the almost definitely preliminary hosts, ultimately resulting in a pandemic in people. They had additionally decided {that a} leak of the virus from a laboratory in China was “highly unlikely,” regardless of calls from numerous scientists to probe that chance.
Ben Embarek later mentioned that there had been some political strain on the workforce, together with from exterior China, however that nothing within the report had been modified consequently. He didn’t determine the supply of such strain.
The WHO has overhauled its dealing with of sexual abuse and misconduct instances after a 2021 inquiry discovered that dozens of assist employees, together with some from WHO, had been concerned in sexual abuse and exploitation throughout an Ebola disaster within the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The company mentioned that persons are extra keen to come back ahead about sexual misconduct and that it’s taking motion the place allegations are substantiated. It has began a month-to-month report on disciplinary motion taken. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
