Oxfam accused of Haiti prostitutes cover-up

ONE of Britain’s biggest charities last night denied claims it had covered up the reasons behind senior aid workers’ departures, some of whom were claimed to have been using prostitutes in Haiti.

Oxfam is facing calls to review reports that it let three men resign while four men were sacked over allegations that have emerged about their time in the Caribbean country in the aftermath of a major earthquake, according to an investigation by The Times.

The charity was part of an international relief effort in the wake of the disaster, which killed 220,000 people and left more than a million homeless.

Oxfam said it compiled a report after an inquiry into allegations of sexual exploitation, the downloading of pornography, bullying and intimidation.

The newspaper said the confidential report implied children may have been among those sexually exploited. It reported that executives at the time avoided sacking a staff member over fears it could have “serious implications” for the charity’s work.

None of those accused has been arrested or face criminal charges. One man was allowed to resign without disciplinary action. The report allegedly said he admitted using prostitutes at a villa rented by the charity.

An Oxfam spokesman said: “As soon as we became aware of the allegations in Haiti in 2011 we launched an internal investigation. The investigation and its outcome were publicly announced and we kept Oxfam Trustees, the Charity Commission and the DFID informed.”

It said the allegations “that under-age girls may have been involved were not proven”, adding: “A number of staff were dismissed as a result of the investigation and others left the organisation before it was completed. The country director took full responsibility for events that took place under his management and was permitted to resign on the basis that he fully cooperated with and supported the investigation.”

The commission said it was asking Oxfam to “provide us with assurance that it has learnt lessons and is taking steps to ensure risks are minimised”.

Oxfam said after the investigation it had introduced measures to “prevent sexual abuse and misconduct happening in the first place and improve how we handle any allegations”.

Paying for sex is against Oxfam’s code of conduct and in breach of United Nations statements on the behaviour of aid workers, which the charity supported. Prostitution is illegal in Haiti.

♦the National Autistic Society has been accused of covering up a care home scandal in which residents were forced to eat chillies and thrown into a swimming pool. A review by the Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board found that the NAS conducted an investigation into Mendip House and had evidence of “degradation” but failed to report it.

‘As soon as we became aware of the allegations in Haiti in 2011 we launched an internal investigation’