Oxfam stand on prostitutes a matter of ‘civil liberties’
Oxfam refused to ban staff from using prostitutes because it would “infringe their civil liberties”, a training manual has revealed.
The guidance, still available on the charity’s website, says that it “strongly discourages” its workers from paying for sex but that a total ban would be “impractical”.
The document has emerged as the charity faces a growing scandal over its handling of the use of prostitutes — some alleged to be underage — by its staff in Haiti, where sex work is illegal. The Haitian Government is reviewing its future work with Oxfam.
The guidance, issued in 2006, said a ban would be “impractical” and that it is “not in any position to tell sex workers how to live their lives”.
The charity said that its code of conduct had since been updated and now bans paying for sex, though a spokesman was unable to provide details on when the change was made.
The then code of conduct did ban sexual contact with anyone under 18, offering aid for sex or having sex with those considered beneficiaries. It also forbade staff from engaging in criminal activities.
Oxfam has issued an “unreserved apology” to the Government, donors, supporters and the people of Haiti over its handling of incidents in the earthquake-hit country in 2011.