Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, recently dismissed allegations of sexual harassment against the High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR) Ruud Lubbers. Mr. Lubbers, former Dutch prime minister was charged with sexually harassing a 51-year old staffer who claimed the Commissioner groped her. Mr. Lubbers admitted only to making a misunderstood friendly gesture to the woman. Despite a revised report by UN Watchdogs and an investigation by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services supporting the allegation, Mr. Annan cleared the Commissioner of improper conduct. After obtaining legal advice on the matter, Annan called the allegations unsustainable.
Compiled from: "Kofi Annan 'vetoed UN sex claim,'" Europe, BBC News, 28 October 2004.