UN Secretary-General Guterres' Biggest Challenge: A Culture Of Impunity

"This time it was to be a woman's turn. But no. Not yet. Still not yet. The United Nations (UN) rung in the New Year with another white man, António Guterres from Portugal, taking over the reigns as secretary-general. Guterres has promised he will focus his leadership on ending human suffering. 'You can't imagine what it is to see levels of suffering that are unimaginable,' he said speaking of his experience as high commissioner for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

If abating suffering is to be Guterres' focus, Syria, of course, demands urgent attention, but Guterres must also tackle an entrenched UN culture of impunity for, largely, male employees who cause harm. Too many for too long have been silent about the patriarchy, misogyny and abuse within the UN where employees who attempt to protect people abused by staff are silenced, and female employees themselves are, all too often, abused.

Examples that come to mind include: former UNHCR High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers, forced to resign after staff leaked reports of his sexual abuse the UN had been hiding; UNHCR and Save the Children in Mano River sexually abusing refugee children they were meant to protect; Jos Verbeek, director of UNICEF Belgium, and Michael Felu operating a child sex ring from UNICEF's office and producing child pornography on UN computers; more recently four UN staff fired for trading in child rape on their work computers; and last April reports emerged of French UN peacekeepers tying up children to be raped by dogs in the Central African Republic. Prosecutors just announced they will not charge, at least, six of these peacekeepers.

In 2016 a different white man, Anders Kompass, refused to be silent about human suffering caused by UN employees. Kompass resigned from the UN citing a culture of 'complete impunity' and 'lack of accountability.' While reports that Kompass pushed for accountability may shock many, I wish I could say I was surprised. Evidence of peacekeepers raping and trafficking children has made headlines for decades. Yet another resignation in protest. Yet another report, 'Taking Action on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Peacekeepers.' Very little, if any, action will be taken. Again...

Will Guterres end a culture of impunity for staff who cause suffering? Can he transform the United Nations into an organization that holds every employee accountable to the lofty UN Charter? Yes, Mr. Guterres, I can image what it is like to see levels of 'suffering that are unimaginable.' Too much of the suffering I have seen is perpetrated by UN employees, almost always men, who have enjoyed a lack of accountability for too long. A commitment to ending human suffering as our newest secretary-general is a fine one to make. Let that start within the United Nations system itself."