Oxfam, Oxscam, Oxslam, Poxscam...[with thanks to a few comments at Guidos's]. "A confidential report by the charity said that there had been 'a culture of impunity' among some staff in Haiti and concluded that children may have been among those sexually exploited by aid workers. The 2011 report stated: 'It cannot be ruled out that any of the prostitutes were under-aged.'" [Link: Times £££] There's helping people in distress and there's "helping" people in distress. Over the last two decades Oxfam seems to have become little more than a failing political lobby group (paying it's high up staff small fortunes of course), this news will just convince many ditherers that - along with fraud, sex abuse allegations, deaths caused by workers etc. - they were right to eschew another faux 'charidee'.
Worse than expected: [LINK] "A Times investigation found that Oxfam, which receives £300 million a year in British government funds and public donations, allowed three men to resign and sacked four for gross misconduct after an inquiry into sexual exploitation, the downloading of pornography, bullying and intimidation."
Update: In the interests of fairness here is Oxfam's statement of reaction. One snippet: "That the event took place seven years ago and involved a small number of staff is no cause for complacency. This is not the first story of sexual misconduct Oxfam has faced in recent months. We have not done enough to change our own culture and to create the strongest possible policies to prevent harassment and protect people we work with around the world. We are doing that now with all our effort."
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