Lubbers denies sexual harassment claim

18 May 2004

AMSTERDAM — UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers has rejected claims he sexually harassed a female worker. “There was no improper behaviour on my part,” the former Dutch prime minister insisted on Tuesday.

Lubbers confirmed there is an ongoing investigation into a claim made by a member of his staff.

He said the complaint was lodged on 27 April and refers to an alleged incident at his office on 18 December last year. He says five other people were in the office at the time.

The New York Times reported the complaint was made by an American woman in her 40s who had worked for the refugee agency for more than 20 years.

The incident allegedly happened as she and a group of male staff members were leaving the Commissioner’s office after the December meeting.

Lubbers, 65, was appointed to head the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in 2000 and his appointment runs to 2005.

As a member of the Christian Democrat CDA party in the Netherlands, he was the longest serving prime minister in Dutch history, holding the office from 1982 to 1994.

Subject: Dutch news + Ruud Lubbers