(image: wikimedia commons)
Feb. 22, 2018 – The deputy director of UNICEF has announced his resignation saying he does not want to do damage to the organization or to the charity Save the Children, his previous employer.
Reports emerged this week that accused Forsyth of inappropriate behavior, emails and text messages to female employees of Save the Children, the British charity where he was chief executive.
His resignation was welcomed by the British-based Women’s Equality Party.
Good riddance to Justin Forsyth and congratulations to the women who persisted when they were ignored and silenced. Let this be the last spin of the revolving door that rewards men for the harms caused to women.https://t.co/nwWrCx0xlX
— WomensEqualityUK (@WEP_UK) February 22, 2018
Forsyth’s full resignation statement is below.
With heavy heart, I am today tendering my resignation to UNICEF as Deputy Executive Director. It has been a huge honour to work for UNICEF over the last two years, fighting for the rights of children around the world. It is an extraordinary force for good and I know it will have even more impact in the coming years under the leadership of Executive Director Fore. I wish my friends and colleagues at UNICEF and the UN well.
I want to make clear I am not resigning from UNICEF because of the mistakes I made at Save the Children. They were dealt with through a proper process many years ago. I apologised unreservedly at the time and face to face. I apologise again.
There is no doubt in my mind that some of the coverage around me is not just to (rightly) hold me to account, but also to attempt to do serious damage to our cause and the case for aid. I am resigning because of the danger of damaging both UNICEF and Save the Children and our wider cause. Two organisations I truly love and cherish. I can’t let this happen.
I have given 30 years of my life to fight against injustice and poverty and for children. From South Africa to Rwanda to Syria I have tried my best to help tilt the course of events for children and the most disadvantaged. We have sometimes failed, but I feel privileged to have had the chance to help millions of children. I have worked with some extraordinarily talented and committed people at both UNICEF and Save the Children.
Finally, I want to thank my wife Lisa for her love. I am looking forward to spending more time with her and my son.”