Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
2021 marked one of the most challenging chapters in WHO’s history—one that struck at the heart of its values and its obligation to do no harm.
The response demanded more than correction; it required transformation. What followed was a sustained and intentional effort to fundamentally change how the Organization understands,prevents and responds to sexual misconduct.
With the conclusion of the three-year strategy, WHO now moves into a consolidation phase, supported by a restructured department and new leadership for this area of work.
The question is no longer how to respond to a crisis. It is how to protect, sustain and deepen what was built, and what that requires of everyone, at a moment when the world has grown in complexity and instability.
In this episode, two leaders sit down together: Dr. Gaya Gamhewage, who founded WHO's approach to the prevention and response to sexual misconduct and led the teams that built its foundations, now serving as Acting Director of Communications; and Dr. Alia El-Yassir, who now
directs the Department for Gender, Rights, Equity and Sexual Misconduct Prevention, and is leading the work into its next phase. They speak honestly about what this period demands from WHO, from Member States, and from everyone who has a stake in this not going quiet.
Learn more:
WHO Consolidation Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct 2026–2027 : https://www.who.int/initiatives/preventing-and-responding-to-sexual-exploitation-abuse-and-harassment
Final Report of the Independent Commission on sexual exploitation and abuse during the Ebola response in the DRC (September 2021) : https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/final-report-of-the-independent-commission-on-the-review-of-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation-ebola-drc
WHO Management Response Plan to the Independent Commission report : https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-management-response-plan
JIU Review: Policies and practices to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse across UN system organisations (2025) : unjiu.org/news/review-policies-and-practices-prevent-and-respond-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse-united-nations
WHO PRS Accountability Framework : https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/WHO-DGO-PRS-2023.2
PRS Stocktaking Exercise : https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/prs-stocktaking-exercise-final-report
2021 marked one of the most challenging chapters in WHO’s history—one that struck at the heart of its values and its obligation to do no harm.
The response demanded more than correction; it required transformation. What followed was a sustained and intentional effort to fundamentally change how the Organization understands,prevents and responds to sexual misconduct.
With the conclusion of the three-year strategy, WHO now moves into a consolidation phase, supported by a restructured department and new leadership for this area of work.
The question is no longer how to respond to a crisis. It is how to protect, sustain and deepen what was built, and what that requires of everyone, at a moment when the world has grown in complexity and instability.
In this episode, two leaders sit down together: Dr. Gaya Gamhewage, who founded WHO's approach to the prevention and response to sexual misconduct and led the teams that built its foundations, now serving as Acting Director of Communications; and Dr. Alia El-Yassir, who now
directs the Department for Gender, Rights, Equity and Sexual Misconduct Prevention, and is leading the work into its next phase. They speak honestly about what this period demands from WHO, from Member States, and from everyone who has a stake in this not going quiet.
Learn more:
WHO Consolidation Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct 2026–2027 : https://www.who.int/initiatives/preventing-and-responding-to-sexual-exploitation-abuse-and-harassment
Final Report of the Independent Commission on sexual exploitation and abuse during the Ebola response in the DRC (September 2021) : https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/final-report-of-the-independent-commission-on-the-review-of-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation-ebola-drc
WHO Management Response Plan to the Independent Commission report : https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-management-response-plan
JIU Review: Policies and practices to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse across UN system organisations (2025) : unjiu.org/news/review-policies-and-practices-prevent-and-respond-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse-united-nations
WHO PRS Accountability Framework : https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/WHO-DGO-PRS-2023.2
PRS Stocktaking Exercise : https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/prs-stocktaking-exercise-final-report
