CHARITY IS HIT BY SEX SCANDAL Oxfam relief workers ‘had orgies with under-age Third World prostitutes’
Claims shocking report was covered up
and dignified exit”. It was feared sacking him would have “potentially serious implications” for Oxfam’s work.
At the time, it said his departure was over allegations of “misconduct by staff ”.
Oxfam claimed it did not tell Haitian authorities because “it was extremely unlikely that any action would be taken”.
Regulator The Charity Commission has now demanded to see detailed claims about staff using prostitutes.
It said: “The public expects charities to be safe and trusted environments that safeguard those who come into contact with them. Allegations such as those involving Oxfam staff risk undermining public trust. We will expect the charity to provide us with assurance that it has learnt lessons from past incidents.
“We also want assurances it is taking all necessary steps to safeguard all who come into contact with it.”
Oxfam insisted it did not find any evidence to back up claims under-age girls were involved and said its probe did not receive any video footage.
A spokesman said: “This was not a cover-up. Oxfam treats any allegations of misconduct extremely seriously.
“As soon as we became aware of the allegations in Haiti in 2011 we launched an internal investigation.
“Allegations that under-age girls may have been involved were not proven.
“A number of staff were dismissed as a result of the investigation and others left the organisation before it was completed.
“The behaviour of some members of Oxfam staff uncovered in Haiti in 2011 was totally unacceptable.
“It was contrary to our high values and the high standards we expect from our staff.
“The findings related to offences including bullying, harassment, intimidation and failure to protect staff, as well as sexual misconduct.”
Oxfam revealed it had since created a Safeguarding Team and a whistle-blowing hotline.
It added it would do all it can to “prevent sexual abuse and misconduct happening in the first place”.
The spokesman continued: “We know, like us, our supporters will be distressed by what happened.
“We hope that they will be reassured by the steps we have taken.”
Dame Stocking, now President of Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge, said the charity had taken the allegations very seriously.
Asked why the Haitian authorities were not notified, she said: “At that time they were not exactly worrying about these things. They were worrying about the state of the country.
“There was very little rule of law. I absolutely disagree that we were not transparent.”
The Department for International Development said it has an “absolute zero tolerance of sexual assault or harassment”.
Tory MP Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, described the allegations as “shocking, sickening and depressing”.
And Sophie Walker, of the Women’s Equality Party, said the claims were “utterly grotesque”. She tweeted: “Halting sexual violence including trafficking and prostitution of women in war and disaster zones is not an optional extra once bosses have had their fun. Shame on you Oxfam.” Oxfam was founded in Oxford in 1942. It is the UK’s fifth-biggest charity and receives £300million a year in government funds and public donations.
The British arm employs 5,300 people worldwide with 22,000 volunteers.
It raised £60million for the 2010 relief effort in Haiti.
OXFAM is facing the biggest crisis in its history after it emerged aid workers paid survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake for sex.
Charity staff allegedly organised “Caligula-style” orgies with girls dressed in Oxfam T-shirts.
Some of the youngsters were suspected to have been under-age, according to an internal report.
Ex-country director Roland van Hauwermeiren admitted using prostitutes at a villa rented by the charity, the report found.
He and two other workers quit and four were fired for gross misconduct but police were not involved. Prostitution is illegal in Haiti, where the age of consent is 18. Oxfam has now been accused of a cover up.
Watchdog The Charity Commission said it was not shown specific allegations of sexual abuse and never received a final report from the investigation.
It is feared the claims could be financially damaging to the charity.
A source told the Mirror: “Cover-up or not, it’s shocking what went on in Haiti and it will not go down well with donors.
“There are questions for the top brass to answer and from now everything has to be done out in the open.
“Nothing can be hidden away and there are genuine fears it could damage Oxfam and the good work it does.” The Haitian earthquake, which hit the capital Port-au-Prince in January 2010, killed 220,000 people, injured 300,000 and left 1.5 million homeless.
Oxfam was heavily involved with the relief effort, but its internal investigation found there was “a culture of impunity” among some of its staff.
A source reportedly said staff had recorded videos of an “orgy” inside a guest house rented by Oxfam near Port-au-Prince. The report, hidden by Oxfam until now, expressed concerns some of the sex workers were under-age.
It said: “It cannot be ruled out that any of the prostitutes were under-age”.
Ex-director Mr van Hauwermeiren was allowed to resign in August 2011 – days after the probe was announced.
Then-chief executive Dame Barbara Stocking offered the Belgian “a phased
It’s shocking what went on in Haiti and it won’t go down well with donors OXFAM SOURCE ON HAITI PROSTITUTES SCANDAL