Since we published Megan Nobert’s story of rape, and Secret aid worker’s
accounts of harassment, we’ve had more feedback. How big is this
problem? Over the past few weeks, women from across the aid industry have been
coming forward to tell the Guardian and others their stories of sexual
harassment and violence on the job.
They range from offensive comments in the office to groping, discrimination, harassment and full-blown rape. But they also illustrate another trend: the difficulties of reporting such incidents, and the failure of many aid organisations to do anything about them. When Megan Nobert went public with her story of rape in South Sudan, and accusations of rape in DRC Congo, also involving UN contractors, also surfaced, the UN was quick to say these were isolated incidents. “I wouldn’t call it a pattern,” said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, in answer to reporter’s questions.
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/aug/06/sexual-assaults-against-aid-workers-how-serious-is-the-situation
They range from offensive comments in the office to groping, discrimination, harassment and full-blown rape. But they also illustrate another trend: the difficulties of reporting such incidents, and the failure of many aid organisations to do anything about them. When Megan Nobert went public with her story of rape in South Sudan, and accusations of rape in DRC Congo, also involving UN contractors, also surfaced, the UN was quick to say these were isolated incidents. “I wouldn’t call it a pattern,” said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, in answer to reporter’s questions.
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/aug/06/sexual-assaults-against-aid-workers-how-serious-is-the-situation