Oxfam unveils plan to tackle sexual misconduct, after prostitution scandal
The plan includes measures to prevent fired employees popping up at other charity organisations
London — Oxfam unveiled an action plan Friday to tackle sexual misconduct, following a prostitution scandal described as "a stain on Oxfam that will shame us for years" by the charity’s global chief. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu this week stepped down as an ambassador for Oxfam. The organisation said on Friday that it would create a commission that would "operate at arms-length from Oxfam", and be given access to the charity’s records and interview staff, in a bid to stamp out abuse. Oxfam will triple funding to more than $1m to address safeguarding processes, while also doubling the number of staff in this area and increasing investment in gender training. The new plan comes a week after revelations that Oxfam staff used prostitutes while working on the aid operation following Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake. "What happened in Haiti and afterwards is a stain on Oxfam that will shame us for years, and rightly so," said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam Internation...
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