Rebuke for ‘murdered babies’ defence

Oxfam’s chief executive says criticism of the charity following a sex abuse scandal had been disproportionate.

Mark Goldring again apologised over allegations of sexual abuse by Oxfam staff in Haiti, which have shaken the aid sector.

He told the Guardian: “[But] the intensity and ferocity of the attacks makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots?

He added: “Certainly the scale and intensity of the attacks feels out of

proportion to the level of culpability.”

UK-based Oxfam, one of the world’s biggest disaster relief charities, has neither confirmed nor denied the Haiti allegations but has said an internal investigation in 2011 confirmed unspecified sexual misconduct occurred. It has also agreed not to bid for any new state funding until Britain’s Government is satisfied the charity meets appropriate ethical standards.

“Anything we say is being manipulated . . . We’ve been savaged,” Goldring said. The Guardian ran an ad from the charity saying sorry for the “appalling behaviour that happened in our name”. The CEO’s comments drew rebukes on Twitter, including from former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who posted: “Dear Mark Goldring. You’re not the victim here.”

Medecins Sans Frontieres said last week it had dealt with 24 cases of sexual harassment or abuse among its 40,000 staff last year, and dismissed 19 people as a result. — Reuters, AAP