High Number of Sexual Harassment Cases Among UN Staff
According to research published over the past two years, one out of every three United Nations employees has experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. The harassment includes sexual jokes, stories, insults, innuendos, and inappropriate touching.
More than 30,000 UN staff members responded to questions prepared by professional services consulting firm “Deloitte” regarding experiences of sexual harassment. The United Nations had requested that this firm conduct the research. Approximately 44,000 people work for the United Nations worldwide.
According to the aforementioned research, one out of every five respondents to Deloitte’s questions stated that over the past two years they heard sexual jokes and stories that made them feel hurt and distressed upon hearing them.
Approximately 14 percent of individuals were insulted and disrespected because of their appearance, body, or sexual orientation. 13 percent faced situations where someone tried to force them into discussions about sexual topics.
About 11 percent said they encountered movements or gestures with sexual connotations. 10 percent said someone touched their body inappropriately.
In two-thirds of cases, it was men who perpetrated the sexual harassment. In one-quarter of cases, male supervisors were responsible for the sexual harassment.
More than half of respondents experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, while many others had this experience during work-related events and gatherings. Only one out of every three people took action against harassment after experiencing it.
António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, said that this research “presents statistics and indicators that tell us what things need to change to achieve a harassment-free work environment.”
Guterres also writes: “We still have a long way to go before we can speak freely and fearlessly about sexual harassment.”
The UN Secretary-General announced that he would pursue this matter rigorously after reports were published in the media in 2018 about harassment and sexual abuse of female staff members of the organization.
Source: DW
