An
investigation by The Times newspaper in London alleges Oxfam covered up
misconduct by senior aid workers, including the then-country director
Roland van Hauwermeiren.
The
newspaper says a confidential report by the charity found that van
Hauwermeiren, who resigned in 2011, paid women for sex in the villa the
charity had rented for him during the relief efforts. CNN has not
independently reviewed the charity's internal report.
Van
Hauwermeiren has not commented publicly since The Times report on
Friday. CNN's attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful.
According
to the paper, the report also found that "children may have been among
those sexually exploited by aid workers," and that there had been a
"culture of impunity" among some staff in Haiti.
In
a statement, the UK's Department for International Development (DFID)
says it was informed by Oxfam in 2011 that an investigation had been
launched but that at no time did Oxfam disclose that the allegations
related to sex with underage girls or prostitutes. It says Oxfam's
report to the UK Charity Commission only referred to "sexual
misconduct".
"We often work with
organisations in chaotic and difficult circumstances. If wrong doing,
abuse, fraud, or criminal activity occur we need to know about it
immediately, in full. The way this appalling abuse of vulnerable people
was dealt with raises serious questions that Oxfam must answer," the
Department said in a statement on Saturday.
"We
acknowledge that hundreds of Oxfam staff have done no wrong and work
tirelessly for the people they serve, but the handling by the senior
team about this investigation and their openness with us and the charity
commission showed a lack of judgement. We have a zero tolerance policy
for the type of activity that took place in this instance, and we expect
our partners to as well.
"The
International Development Secretary is reviewing our current work with
Oxfam and has requested a meeting with the senior team at the earliest
opportunity."
Oxfam's own policy prohibits "sexually abusive or exploitative acts being perpetrated" by employees, including paying for sex.
On
Friday, Oxfam denied allegations of a cover-up, saying that as soon as
it became aware of the allegations it launched an internal investigation
resulting in the dismissal of four staff members and the resignation of
three, including the country director.
In
a statement, the aid group said accusations that underage girls may
have been involved were not proven, adding: "Our primary aim was always
to root out and take action against those involved and we publicly
announced, including to media, both the investigation and the action we
took as a result."
Oxfam said van
Hauwermeiren "took full responsibility for events that took place under
his management" and was permitted to resign if he fully cooperated with
their investigation.
The charity
published a statement in August 2011 saying that it launched an
investigation into allegations of misconduct against what it said was a
"small number" of its staff in Haiti.
On
Friday, Oxfam said it received legal advice in Haiti that given the
nature of the allegations and the turmoil the country was experiencing
after the earthquake, it was "extremely unlikely that reporting these
incidents to the police would lead to any action being taken."
The
aid group says it kept its trustees -- the UK Charity Commission, the
European Union, the World Health Organization (WHO), DFID and UN
agencies -- informed of the investigation and its outcome. CNN has
requested comment from the European Union and the WHO.
The
Charity Commission told CNN in a statement that Oxfam informed them in
August 2011 it was conducting an internal investigation related to
inappropriate sexual behavior, bullying, harassment and the intimidation
of staff.
"The report to us stated
there had been no allegations, or evidence, of any abuse of
beneficiaries. It also made no mention of any potential sexual crimes
involving minors. Our approach to this matter would have been different
had the full details that have been reported been disclosed to us at the
time," the Charity Commission statement said.
Comments
Post a Comment