UNAIDS boss offers to resign next June after critical report
The under-fire UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe has offered to quit next June after an expert report into sexual harassment at the Geneva-based agency criticised his “defective leadership”.
The executive director announced his plans to leave next summer at a UNAIDS board meeting in Geneva on Thursday, agency spokesman Mahesh Mahalingham told AP. He took up the job in 2009.
This follows a scathing report by independent expertsExternal link released last week, which blames UNAIDS leaders for a “vacuum of accountability” and a culture of impunity. They said management had failed to prevent or properly respond to allegations of harassment including sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power in the agency.
UNAIDS, which spearheads the global fight against Aids and HIV, has its headquarters in Geneva.
News reports said Sweden, UNAIDS second biggest donor after the US, had said it would withhold funding until Sidibe resigned. Sweden provided $30.8 million to UNAIDS in 2017, second only to $82.4 million from the United States.
The independent panel behind the critical report was created earlier this year following allegations of sexual harassment by staffers and calls from critics for Sidibe to step down.
Following Thursday’s board meeting, the UNAIDS oversight body, the Programme Coordinating Board, called for the immediate implementation of the “UNAIDS agenda for changeExternal link” to address harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power.
In a statementExternal link, Sidibe said he would work to ensure “a smooth transition and pledge to keep my focus on our staff and delivering results for the people we serve.”
More
More
Sexual harassment still shrouded in secrecy in big companies
This content was published on
Sexual harassment is still discussed behind closed doors in most companies. So what has changed since #metoo?
First large-scale alpine solar plant approved in Switzerland
This content was published on
The approval was met with satisfaction by the project's organisers, but it also brings with it a certain amount of pressure.
Medieval squirrels may have ‘helped spread leprosy’
This content was published on
An examination of squirrel remains in the United Kingdom has opened up interesting questions and possibilities in terms of the history of the disease.
Swiss money laundering office registers record number of reports
This content was published on
The Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) registered a record number of reports of suspicious activity last year.
Two teens accused of planning terror attack released from custody
This content was published on
The Schaffhausen judiciary has released the two teenagers from custody who allegedly planned bomb attacks in Switzerland.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Google staff in Zurich join global walkout
This content was published on
More than 1,000 Google employees and contractors in Asia, the United States and Europe – including in Zurich – have staged brief walk-outs.
This content was published on
#metoo and harcèlement (harassment) are the words of the year in German-speaking and (for the first time) French-speaking Switzerland.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.