The panel will advise the UN secretary-general on ways to address gender-based harassment and abuse by UN staff and UN-related forces, according to a statement issued by the Office of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Last month, a report released by the UN said one-third of its staff and contractors had experienced sexual harassment in the past two years. The effort comes amid the wider #MeToo movement around the world against sexual harassment and assault. Attention to issues of sexual harassment at the UN helps shine a light on similar problems around the world, said Charlotte Bunch, a professor of women and gender studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey and former consultant at the UN. Last year, the UN set up a 24-hour helpline for staff to report sexual harassment in the workplace and procedures to help process complaints.

Source: Daily Nation February 20, 2019 00:00 UTC