FAO sex harassment policy 'going backwards'

FAO Rome HQ

ROME – The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)  claims it is tightening its policy on sexual harassment but critics at the UN agency say the policy is “going backwards” by removing clear deadlines for complaints to be processed and abolishing a panel of peers.

 FAO director general José Graziano da Silva has not addressed staff directly on the topical subject, in contrast with the strong stance taken personally last week by the WFP head David Beasley. Instead Graziano left it to an Assistant Director General of the FAO to reiterate “zero tolerance” at a meeting held last Tuesday.

 The ADG also re-circulated the last FAO policy published on the subject.

“Interestingly, he'd forgotten that the policy disbanded the harassment panel of peers, put in a 1 year limit for speaking up, and sent it to the OIG (Office of the Inspector General,” a well-placed FAO source said “all to the dismay of the AP in FAO” (the association of Professional Staff) .

“Strangely, the article seems to suggest that cases can drag on and on for more than 6 months,” the source added. “The previous fao policy had clear deadlines for the process so that people got some resolution.”

“See, FAO is doing something.... going backwards.”

 Graziano meanwhile was in Africa this week end where he was due to meet with his former mentor, ex Brazilian President Lula da Silva.

 The meeting did not happen however as magistrates in Brazil confiscated Lula’s passport for fear that he might not return to the country after he lost an appeal for a corruption conviction last week and had his prison sentence increased to 12 years.

 jp