WHO leader who led the charge to dismiss the COVID lab leak theory that the virus came from bats has been FIRED for sexual misconduct
- Peter Ben Embarek, a Danish scientist, was fired over allegations of harassment
- He disputed the charge and said he is challenging the sanction
- Ben Embarek played a heavy part in WHO’s claims that the lab leak theory was ‘unlikely’
The World Health Organization has fired a senior scientist who played a heavy role in claiming the COVID lab leak theory was “unlikely” due to allegations of sexual misconduct.
The agency said Peter Ben Embarek, a Danish scientist who previously led the “One Health” initiative on animal-to-human transmission of diseases, was relieved of his duties last year.
“Peter Ben Embarek was fired last year following findings of sexual misconduct against him that were substantiated by investigations and associated disciplinary proceedings,” said WHO spokesperson Marcia Poole.
In a statement, Ben Embarek said he disputed the harassment charge and is appealing the sanction.
Poole said the cases leading to the dismissal took place in 2015 and 2017. The agency was first made aware of them in 2018. The WHO has not provided further details on the misconduct allegations.
Peter Ben Embarek (pictured), a Danish scientist who previously led the ‘One Health’ initiative on animal-to-human diseases, was relieved of his duties last year
Ben Embarek said a single incident in 2017 was “kindly resolved immediately.”
He was the lead WHO representative on a 2021 trip to China to investigate where COVID-19 came from.
The team made global headlines with their conclusion that bats were the most likely first hosts, eventually leading to a pandemic in humans.
They had also determined that a leak of the virus from a lab in China was “highly unlikely,” despite calls from several scientists to investigate that possibility.
Ben Embarek later said there had been some political pressure on the team, including from outside China, but that had not changed the report. He has not identified the source of such pressure.
He said he could not comment further as both he and the WHO are bound by non-disclosure agreements until a resolution is reached.
“I am not aware of any other complaints and no other complaints have ever been brought to my attention,” Ben Embarek said in a digital message.
“I duly contest the qualification of harassment and I am hopeful in defending my rights.”
In a statement, Ben Embarek said he disputed the harassment charge and is appealing the sanction
The WHO said the cases leading to Ben Embarek’s dismissal took place in 2015 and 2017. The agency was first made aware of them in 2018. The WHO has not provided further details on the misconduct allegations.
Gaya Gamhewage, the WHO director charged with trying to stop sexual harassment at the organization, said it was a ‘damned problem’ within WHO
Ben Embarek is the highest-ranking WHO official known to have been fired since the UN agency introduced a series of reforms to improve its response to sexual misconduct.
He has often been quoted in the media about the genesis of the pandemic. His dismissal can be appealed through the internal justice system of the UN.
The WHO has revised its handling of cases of sexual abuse and misconduct after a 2021 investigation found that dozens of aid workers, including some from the WHO, were involved in sexual abuse and exploitation during an Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The agency said people are more willing to come forward about sexual misconduct and it takes action when allegations are well founded.
It started with a monthly report on the disciplinary action taken.
Gaya Gamhewage, the WHO director charged with efforts to stop sexual harassment at the organization, told the Financial Times that it was a ‘damned problem’ within the WHO.