NATIONAL NEWS - Regional HIV/Aids activists are demanding an in-depth independent investigation into the alleged culture of silence – and victimisation – within the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (Unaids) organisation.

Regional policy and advocacy manager at the Aids Healthcare Foundation, Larissa Klazinga, highlighted the need for Unaids to conduct an independent investigation with binding recommendations on how to end the culture of silence among victims of sexual harassment, Aids, and gender-based violence.

This follows accusations that Unaids executive director Michel Sidibé failed to take proper steps to deal with sexual harassment inquiries at the Unaids organisation.

Activists demanded an inquiry into Sidibé’s leadership, after his alleged poor handling of an investigation into allegations against his deputy executive director, Luiz Loures, for sexually harassing women within the organisation.

Activists picketed at the Pan African Parliament in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, last week and handed Sidibé a memorandum. Sidibe promised to engage with them to address steps to deal with his accusations and end the culture of silence.

During engagements with Sidibé, Klazinga said “he avoided most of the questions he was asked and apologised for not being supportive of the victims, for not being sensitive enough, and said he recognised the culture of silence”.

Klazinga also said the toxic culture of silence couldn’t be addressed until Sidibé stepped down.

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.