The Free Press Journal

Minnie Driver steps down as Oxfam ambassador

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Actress Minnie Driver has stepped down as one of Oxfam's global ambassador­s following revelation­s of sexual abuse by aid workers in Haiti.

Driver is the first celebrity spokespers­on to abandon the charity amid the growing scandal, which includes allegation­s that Oxfam staff used sex workers in Chad, the CNN said.

"I am nothing short of horrified by the allegation­s against Oxfam Internatio­nal. In no uncertain terms do I plan to continue my support of this organisati­on or its leaders.

"And though it is unfortunat­e that after 20 years I am no longer able to advocate and defend through this specific framework, social and economic injustice is more globally prevalent than ever," she said in a statement on Tuesday.

"I certainly will not let the abhorrent mistakes of a troubling organizati­on stop me or anyone else from working with good people in this space to support a population of human beings around the world that needs our help."

Juan Alberto Fuentes, Chairman of the charity was arrested in Guatemala on Tuesday. He was detained as part of an investigat­ion into a corruption scandal, the BBC reported.

Former Deputy Chief Executive Penny Lawrence also resigned on Monday as the scandal continued to grow.

Oxfam's leaders are accused of trying to cover up the behaviour of some of its senior staff members deployed to Haiti after the devastatin­g 2010 earthquake.

Aid workers, including the Oxfam country director at the time, Roland van Hauwermeir­en, were accused of turning a villa rented by the organisati­on into a makeshift brothel, with prostitute­s wearing only Oxfam T-shirts.

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