UN official faces formal sexual harassment accusations News
UN official faces formal sexual harassment accusations

[JURIST] The UN has formally accused Carina Perelli, head of the UN's Electoral Assistance Division [official website], with harassing her staff. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric did not offer specifics, but it is believed that the accusations stem from a four-month internal investigation initiated after several staff members accused Perelli of fostering an abusive work environment [JURIST report] full of sexual innuendo and intimidation. According to Dujarric, Perelli received notice of the allegations on August 4, and has until Thursday to submit a rebuttal, at which time her "status may be reviewed". As head of the Electoral Assistance Division, Perelli has played key roles in recent elections in Lebanon and Iraq [JURIST reports]. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

No lynchings reported in US for first time

On December 30, 1952, the Tuskegee Institute reported that 1952 was the first year of no lynchings of African Americans in the United States in the 71 years it had kept records. Learn more about lynching and listen to Billie Holiday's jazz recording of the 1938 protest song Strange Fruit.

USSR established

On December 30, 1922, representatives of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Transcaucus approved the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR and the Declaration of the Creation of the USSR, creating the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). During World War II, the USSR would also annex Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Moldova. Learn more about the history of the USSR from the BBC.