U.N. refugee official defends touching female staffer
By Betsy Pisik
February 19, 2005
The Washington Times
Original Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20050218-103516-6725r.htm

NEW YORK -- Ruud Lubbers, the top U.N. refugee official, defended himself against sexual harassment charges yesterday by saying he would wrap his arm around the wife of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and touch her the same way he touched a complaining female staffer. 

When the comment to reporters prompted Mr. Annan's chief speechwriter Edward Mortimer to cringe and the jaws of other U.N. officials to drop, Mr. Lubbers quickly added: But her [Mrs. Annan] I know and I will continue to be the gentleman I was. 

Mr. Lubbers, 65, has been accused in internal U.N. documents of groping at least one female staff member, and possibly intimidating others to keep silent. 

That is a ridiculous statement, said the former Dutch prime minister who is now the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. 

Mr. Lubbers demonstrated his technique to the media on a 6-foot-3-inch male reporter with television cameras rolling and camera flashes popping by wrapping his arm around the small of the reporter's back. 

Intimidation is not in my vocabulary. I might be friendly to women, but then it is good. ... Gentlemanship and not sexual harassment. 

Speaking after a private meeting with Mr. Annan, Mr. Lubbers insisted he is a gentleman and does not intend to resign before his term expires at year's end. 

Asked if the internal investigation into the complaint, which was rejected by Mr. Annan as unsubstantiated, had made him more careful around women, Mr. Lubbers responded: I have become more cautious, but I must admit when I meet Mrs. Annan tomorrow, who is a good friend, she will visit me, and probably I will lead her out of the room the same way I did the other woman. 

But I am very cautious now with women I don't know. 

Mr. Annan's office then distributed a terse statement that left little doubt that the secretary-general was troubled by the sexual harassment charges: 

While some other issues were discussed ... their main focus was Mr. Lubbers' future in the organization, particularly in light of recent developments. 

U.N. officials have acknowledged that Mr. Annan would like to replace Mr. Lubbers sooner than year's end. 

Mr. Lubbers said he had not been asked to resign, but U.N. officials indicated his future with the organization was not rosy. 

In mid-2004 the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) investigated a complaint by one female UNHCR employee who said Mr. Lubbers had grabbed her from behind after a meeting. 

Others complained of inappropriate touching, but declined to press charges, or withdrew the accusations. 

OIOS investigators suggested the women had been intimidated with the prospect of public humiliation or firing. 

The full report was never released, but large sections were published in the Independent newspaper of London yesterday. 

These facts reported in the newspaper today were facts that the secretary-general had at his disposal when he made his judgment, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said. 

None of those witnesses were willing to come forward, so there wasn't a legal basis for action. 

The accusations against Mr. Lubbers coincide with charges of U.N. peacekeepers sexually abusing refugees in Congo.