Editing Ruud Lubbers (section)

===UN High Commissioner for Refugees===
At the end of the year 2000, Lubbers was appointed by the [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]] [[Kofi Annan]] to succeed [[Sadako Ogata]] as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

[[File:NL-HaNA 2.24.01.05 0 934-0015.jpg|thumb|[[Leadership of East Germany|Leader of East-Germany]] [[Erich Honecker]], Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers and Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Hans van den Broek]] at [[Rotterdam The Hague Airport|Zestienhoven Airport]] on 3 June 1987.]]
From 1 January 2001, Lubbers headed the UNHCR, which comprised over 5,000 employees who work across the globe, and which was concerned with an estimated 21 million refugees and internally displaced in over 120 countries worldwide. During his tenure, the number of refugees worldwide decreased by almost 22%, from 21.8&nbsp;million in 2001 to close to 17.1&nbsp;million at the beginning of 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/latest/2004/2/403b2afa4/lubbers-welcomes-drop-asylum-numbers-industrialised-countries.html |title=Lubbers welcomes drop in asylum numbers in industrialised countries |last=Colville |first=Rupert |date=24 February 2004 |work=United Nations High Commission on Human Rights |access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>

Lubbers also favoured a generous refugee policy for the Netherlands, and he was critical of the Foreign Citizens Law (Vreemdelingenwet). He also stabilised the UNHCR's financial situation and greatly increased the financial means for the sheltering of refugees.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}}

He annually donated some $300,000 to the refugee agency since he assumed his post in 2001, thereby covering his own $167,000 annual salary and travel expenses.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/10/81422-general-assembly-extends-term-un-high-commissioner-refugees |title=General Assembly extends term of UN High Commissioner for Refugees |date=6 October 2003 |website=United Nations |access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>

====Sexual harassment complaint====
[[File:Bezoek bondskanselier Helmut Kohl Helmut Kohl en premier Lubbers in de tuin va, Bestanddeelnr 934-1402.jpg|thumb|[[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor of West Germany]] [[Helmut Kohl]] and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at the [[Catshuis]] on 30 November 1987.]]
In May 2004, Lubbers was accused by Cynthia Brzak, an American UNHCR employee, of [[sexual harassment]] following a meeting in his office that was attended by two other UNHCR staff members. The complaint was reported in the media,<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE0DB153FF93BA25756C0A9629C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/L/Lubbers,%20Ruud New York Times 18 May 2004]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> prompting Lubbers to inform UNHCR staff about the accusation. On this occasion, he denied any wrongdoing and rejected the allegation against him.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article200054229.html |title=Longest-serving Dutch premier, Ruud Lubbers, dies at 78 |last=Corder |first=Mike |date=14 February 2018 |work=News & Observer |access-date=14 February 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215143601/https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article200054229.html |archive-date=15 February 2018 }}</ref> On 2 June 2004, the [[United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services]] (OIOS), which was tasked with investigating the accusation, sent its report to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/Onderzoeksrapport.pdf|title=OIOS Investigation report|access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref><ref name="Supreme Court Annex 1 p.35">{{Cite web |url=http://www.iowatch.org/supremecourtcase.pdf |title=Supreme Court Annex 1 p.35 |access-date=29 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529131839/http://www.iowatch.org/supremecourtcase.pdf |archive-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In its public annual report to the UN Secretary-General (presented to the [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]]), the OIOS reported concerning the case that it had "submitted a report to the Secretary-General supporting the allegations and recommended that appropriate actions be taken accordingly."<ref>[http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N04/508/29/PDF/N0450829.pdf?OpenElement A/59/359*  Report of the Office Internal Oversight Services to the UN General Assembly, p. 31]{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[File:Premier Lubbers ontvangt president Duarte, Bestanddeelnr 934-1085.jpg|thumb| Prime Minister of the Netherlands Lubbers receives President [[Jose Napoleon Duarte]] of [[El Salvador]].]] [[File:Premier Lubbers en President Bush in de tuin van het Catshuis, Bestanddeelnr 934-4836.jpg|thumb|President of the United States [[George H. W. Bush]] and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at the [[Catshuis]] on 17 July 1989.]]
Lubbers responded to the OIOS report in a letter setting out to (a) deny acts of sexual harassment or abuse took place; (b) establish that such evidence of the alleged misconduct as is said to exist is insufficient and flawed; and (c) conclude that the report itself would appear to be based on an irregular statutory basis and also flawed by errors of law and reasoning."<ref>[http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%201.pdf Lubbers memo pp 2–4] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529131850/http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%201.pdf |date=29 May 2008}}  [http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%202.pdf Lubbers Memo pp 5–8] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529131925/http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%202.pdf |date=29 May 2008}}[http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%203.pdf Lubbers Memo p 9] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529131916/http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%203.pdf |date=29 May 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Ruud Lubbers at Jong Management, symposium 100 jarig jubileum - 2016.jpg|thumb|Ruud Lubbers at a symposium on 10 June 2016.]]
Lubbers asked [[Max van der Stoel]], former [[High Commissioner on National Minorities]], to comment on the confidential report.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2005/db050222.doc.htm|title=DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT – Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|website=www.un.org|access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref> He concluded that "the OIOS report is deficient in objectivity and impartiality." He added, "that the only two other persons in the room did not provide evidence confirming the version given by the complainant." Furthermore, he accused UN officials of leaking information to the press and recommended that an investigation of the leaks be undertaken.<ref>[http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%203.pdf van der Stoel memo p 1 (after Lubbers p. 9)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529131916/http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%203.pdf |date=29 May 2008}}[http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%204.pdf van der Stoel memo pp 2–4] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529131838/http://www.novatv.nl/uploaded/FILES/lubbers%204.pdf |date=29 May 2008}}</ref>

The Secretary-General reviewed the report and the responses of the High Commissioner and the senior manager to the report, and decided that the complaint could not be substantiated by the evidence and therefore closed the matter."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E0DE153AF935A25754C0A9629C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times+Topics/People/L/Lubbers,+Ruud|title=Annan Clears Refugee Chief Of Harassment Accusations|first=Fiona Fleck and Warren|last=Hoge|newspaper=The New York Times |date=16 July 2004 |access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref> He is also reported to have consulted with [[Stephen Schwebel]], an American judge and former President of the [[International Court of Justice]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2005/04/16/het-geheime-dossier-van-ruud-lubbers-10470736-a653659 |title=Het geheime dossier van Ruud Lubbers (The secret dossier of Ruud Lubbers) |last1=de Guyter |first1=Caroline |date=16 April 2005 |work=[[NRC Handelsblad]] |access-date=14 February 2018 |last2=van de Roer |first2=Robert}}</ref> The Secretary-General failed to order an investigation of the deliberate leaking by OIOS itself to the media as recommended by Max van der Stoel.

====Resignation====
In February 2005, the case was in the news again when the British daily newspaper ''[[The Independent]]'' obtained a copy of the OIOS report and, accompanied by an article by [[Kate Holt]], published its contents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/harassment-intimidation-and-secrecy--un-chief-engulfed-in-sex-scandal-483851.html|title=Harassment, intimidation and secrecy – UN chief engulfed in sex|website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=18 February 2005 |access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref>

Lubbers met with the Secretary-General on 18 February 2005, and resigned as High Commissioner on Sunday, 20 February 2005, stating to the press: "For more than four years I gave all my energy to UNHCR. To be frank, despite all my loyalty, insult has now been added to injury and therefore I resign as High Commissioner."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/un-refugee-chief-resigns-over-sexual-harassment-scandal/ |title=U.N. refugee chief resigns over sexual harassment scandal |last=Higgins |first=Alexander G. |date=20 February 2005 |work=[[Seattle Times]] |access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ruud-lubbers-long-serving-dutch-prime-minister-who-trimmed-welfare-state-dies-at-78/2018/02/14/fa148600-11b0-11e8-9065-e55346f6de81_story.html |title=Ruud Lubbers, long-serving Dutch prime minister who trimmed welfare state, dies at 78 |last=Corder |first=Mike |date=14 February 2018 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> The Secretary-General's office issued a statement the same day which stated that the High Commissioner's resignation was in the best interests of the UNHCR.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39901-2005Feb20.html|title=U.N. Official Quits in Harassment Case (washingtonpost.com)|website=www.washingtonpost.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref> In his letter of resignation, Lubbers stated that his resignation constituted no expression of guilt, but that he had become the victim of smearing, adding that he had resigned "in the interest of the organisation".<ref>[http://www.nos.nl/gfx/nieuws/overig/ResignationLetter.swf Resignation letter] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529131839/http://www.nos.nl/gfx/nieuws/overig/ResignationLetter.swf |date=29 May 2008}}</ref> In October 2005, Annan reiterated that he had come to the conclusion that "the evidence did not support the accusation" but that, because of ongoing media-pressure, Lubbers' resignation was in the best interests of the UNHCR.<ref>[http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/723BEBDF06FF1B43C12570F1004B62EE?OpenDocument Geneva Press Conference 2005-10-10]{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

During a farewell meeting for Lubbers as High Commissioner for Refugees, he received from Acting High Commissioner [[Wendy Chamberlin]] the first annual UNHCR Achievement Award for exceptional services to UNHCR and for the world's refugees.<ref>[http://unhcr.org.ua/unhcr_bel/news.php?in=1&news_id=68%20High%20Commissioner%20Lubbers%20departs%20UNHCR UNHCR News 25 February 2005 High Commissioner Lubbers departs UNHCR] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831220612/http://unhcr.org.ua/unhcr_bel/news.php?in=1&news_id=68%20High%20Commissioner%20Lubbers%20departs%20UNHCR |date=31 August 2011 }}</ref>

In a formal statement, Netherlands Prime Minister [[Jan Peter Balkenende]] called the departure of Lubbers "bitter", since the complaint against him had been dismissed as unsustainable.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/politiek/balkenende-wrang-dat-lubbers-opstapt~a662401/ |title=Balkenende: wrang dat Lubbers opstapt |date=20 February 2005 |work=[[De Volkskrant]] |access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>

===== Handling of the UNHCR/SC-UK 2002 report on sexual exploitation in the aid sector in West Africa =====

Three years prior to the controversy over the sexual harassment case, Lubbers was criticised for his handling of the UNHCR/SC-UK 2002 which uncovered the widespread sexual exploitation of refugee children by aid workers and peacekeepers in three West African countries (Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone). The study team which had encountered these findings unexpectedly whilst conducting a broader assessment documented 67 allegations implicating 40 aid agencies and several peacekeeping battalions, often involving humanitarian workers and peacekeepers exchanging meagre aid supplies for sex with children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/uk/partners/partners/3c7cf89a4/note-implementing-operational-partners-unhcr-save-children-uk-sexual-violence.html|title=Note for Implementing and Operational Partners by UNHCR and Save the Children-UK on Sexual Violence & Exploitation: The Experience of Refugee Children in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone|first=United Nations High Commissioner for|last=Refugees}}</ref><ref>https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/global/reports/health-and-nutrition/sexual_violence_and_exploitation_1.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>
Lubbers' response was to deny these findings, discredit the authors and excuse these behaviours; for example in a CNN interview on 8 May 2002, Lubbers was heard to deny the problem in the face of CNN's own research which confirmed the problem existed and was taken to task by the interviewer for dismissing these exploitative relationships ''inter alia'' as 'romances'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/|title=CNN.com – Transcripts|website=CNN}}</ref> The UN General Assembly passed resolution A/RES/57/306, 'Investigation into sexual exploitation of refugees by aid workers in West Africa' in May 2003, requiring the UN to take action at the highest level to tackle such abuses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N02/561/73/PDF/N0256173.pdf?OpenElement|title=ODS HOME PAGE|first=ODS|last=Team|website=documents-dds-ny.un.org}}</ref> This led to the UN Secretary-General's Bulletin, 'Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse' in October 2003,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/focal-points/documents-public/secretary-general-s-bulleting-special-measures-protection-sexual|title=Secretary-General's Bulletin: Special measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, 2003 – IASC|website=interagencystandingcommittee.org}}</ref> and an endorsement of the Inter-agency Standing Committee's working group on sexual abuse and exploitation which had already been set up a year earlier in June 2002 in response to the report.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/product-categories/protection-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation|title=Protection from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation – IASC|website=interagencystandingcommittee.org}}</ref>