Report: UN elections office mismanaged

The UN might turn out to be even more screwed up than thought:

The U.N.'s top elections official, Carina Perelli, presided over a department whose leadership tolerated sexual harassment, misused office funds and engaged in favoritism, a confidential management review of the electoral assistance division says.

The 22-page report, based on interviews with 29 current and former employees, said Perelli was "admired for her personal courage, for her knowledge of the issues and her willingness to share that knowledge."

But it charges that she contributed to creating an "offensive" work environment in which staffers are subject to unwanted sexual advances and a "constant sexual innuendo is part of the fabric" of the unit's daily life.

The review's authors concluded that the division's problems were "much more serious" than anticipated.

What an unusual atmosphere in an office run by a woman. What's that old saying about power corrupting?