#NoExcuse WHO - World Health Organization

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 importance of creating trusted and safe reporting systems and the need for partnerships among international agencies. Abigail also emphasises how vital victim survivor-centred support and trauma-informed investigations are for addressing the needs of those affected by sexual misconduct. 

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 a powerful message of resilience, self-worth, and the importance of collective action in addressing sexual misconduct and supporting survivors – both female and male. Making links between NASA and WHO, Bryan advocates for not just lip service, but for meaningful survivor-centric culture within all our organizations.  

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. Sigrid explains the challenges of enforcing accountability within international organizations like WHO, particularly when dealing with sexual misconduct by aid workers. While WHO cannot pursue legal action directly against perpetrators, Sigrid highlights the importance of administrative action and collaboration with national authorities. She also discusses empowering survivors and victims to pursue legal action, providing support, and managing expectations regarding resolution. The episode concludes with insights into WHO's efforts to revise policies, build trust, and incorporate member states and partners into joint accountability for preventing sexual misconduct

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 integrity. Additionally, Lisa reflects on her experiences as a female leader of color in historically male-dominated professions, offering invaluable perspectives on leadership and empathy.

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) to confront sexual misconduct in the aid sector and advance women's leadership in global health. She underscores the pivotal role of civil society organizations, particularly women's groups, in advocacy, awareness-building, and supporting survivors of sexual misconduct committed by Aid Workers.

Drawing on insights from HealthToo Policy report, Dr. Dhatt explores the underlying causes of sexual misconduct, including unequal power dynamics and entrenched patriarchal norms. She advocates for comprehensive data collection, robust legal frameworks, and gender parity in leadership as crucial measures for prevention and response to sexual misconduct .

Through personal anecdotes, Dr. Dhatt offers valuable advice for women, especially those of color, navigating leadership roles in healthcare and humanitarian aid, emphasizing the significance of collective action, resilience, and persistence.