The Attack on Oxfam/Charity/International Aid

[Lang Spoon]

The likes of Euan McColm and the other sensible dismissing this kind of thinking as conspiracy crank are really pissing me off today.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Do those figures not have the problem that people in rich countries with debts come out as poorer than people in poor countries living hand to mouth?

Somebody graduating from university in America would likely have negative wealth. How do they categorise that?

[Janik]

I dont think anyone is. they are asking about what has caused the reemergence of a case 7 years ago in which the perpetrators were fired in .a Newspaper once edited by the father of one of the most extreme right wing campaigners against overseas aid, and why it has dominated the news cycle for five days running. At least that's what I'm asking.

It might be the current climate that Men in positions of power are suddenly being held accountable for treatment of women that verges on sexual misconduct, in a way they weren't seven years or even one year ago. Just a thought...

[Ray de Galles]

I think it’s as much to do with retaliation against “the left” in the culture war over issues like the #metoo campaign as opposed to much concern about vulnerable women.

Some right wing headbanger on twitter over the weekend was frothing “Why isn’t the Oxfam story as big as the Presidents Club one?!”, barely pretending there was any concern for women as a veneer for his points-scoring or conceding that it has blown up to just that level.

[ursus arctos]

Per le Monde, the Sun is arguing that Oxfam is more important than the charges against Harvey Weinstein

[Ray de Galles]

Interesting tweet from a former head of safeguarding at Oxfam who was a whistleblower to the Charity Commission and, via her MP, the relevant government departments in previous years :

https://twitter.com/helentevans/status/963138090507399168

It’s clear that Oxfam has had major issues and failings (the allegations about child abuse in their shops and sexual exploitation of beneficiaries being particularly troubling) but that the relevant bodies seemed to sit on the information as much as Oxfam did.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Ah, so that sounds Haiti's exploitation was as reported. That's extremely bad.

[Bored Of Education]

Interesting tweet from a former head of safeguarding at Oxfam who was a whistleblower to the Charity Commission and, via her MP, the relevant government departments in previous years :

https://twitter.com/helentevans/status/963138090507399168

It’s clear that Oxfam has had major issues and failings (the allegations about child abuse in their shops and sexual exploitation of beneficiaries being particularly troubling) but that the relevant bodies seemed to sit on the information as much as Oxfam did.

Thanks for that, Ray. As you point out, Dfid and Justine Greening as well as other government departments were informed of this in 2015.

[DCI Harry Batt]

I dont think anyone is. they are asking about what has caused the reemergence of a case 7 years ago in which the perpetrators were fired in .a Newspaper once edited by the father of one of the most extreme right wing campaigners against overseas aid, and why it has dominated the news cycle for five days running. At least that's what I'm asking.

Perhaps Helen Evans has answered some of your questions, and explained why seeing anything and everything as principally about "the Tories" is...damaging.

Or perhaps not.

[ad hoc]

I think Helen Evans has made it clear why we need to hold Oxfam to account but also the government(s). But I think the point about timing is still valid.

[Nefertiti2]

thanks ad hoc.
This is the relevant section of Oxfam's annual report for 2016-17

Safeguarding
We remain committed to transparency on allegations of sexual
exploitation and abuse perpetrated by Oxfam staff and partners.
In 2016/17, we saw a small increase in the number of reported
incidents from 76 to 87. We investigated 33 allegations, one
allegation is pending, and the remaining 53 incidents required
referral to statutory services (including the Police, Social
Services and the Disclosure and Barring Service), related
to vetting or reference requests or required other forms of
signposting to other specialist support services.
Thirty-four of the incidents raised to the Safeguarding Team
were complaints which required internal investigation: 74% of
these complaints were fully upheld and resulted in disciplinary
action being taken at the time of reporting. One of these cases is
currently pending investigation. In 7% of reported allegations we
found insufficient evidence to uphold any part of the allegation,
and in these instances other actions were taken to reflect the
learning of the organisation. All other incidents raised either
required investigation by external agencies; had already been
upheld by the evidence provided at the point of reporting; ofrequired some other form of response (including providing
support to staff and volunteers who disclosed being the victim
of violence in the home). Of the 87 reported incidents in 2016/17,
52 were received from our Trading Division, 10 were received
from other UK divisions and 25 from the International Division.
Under-reporting is recognised within the sector as the major
barrier to tackling sexual exploitation and abuse in delivering
humanitarian and development programmes. By establishing
a dedicated Safeguarding team we have raised the visibility of
our Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy and
reporting procedures. We believe that the overall increases in
the number of allegations that we have seen in recent years
show that we are improving awareness of this important issue
and giving victims more confidence to report incidents.

[Nefertiti2]

Helen Thomas confirms there is an issue with timing. The Times, (once edited by William Rees Mogg, father of Jacob Rees Mogg) first had the story in October.

[Mr Beast]

A Labour MP was on BBC Breakfast making the point these allegations were passed to all relevant authorities including the government years ago. I didn't catch his name, but the interviewer seemed keen to move it back to Oxfam.

[Ginger Yellow]

Admittedly I haven't been following this situation forensically, as I have limited internet access at the moment, but every time I read something about it, my takeaway is that apart from allowing the behaviour to happen in the first place, in which they're hardly alone, Oxfam have handled this better and more transparently than pretty much any other organisation that has come under the spotlight recently for sexual misconduct by employees/executives. It's a bad situation alright, but if anything it makes me feel better about Oxfam, not worse.

[Tactical Genius]

I'm no fan of the International aid and charity industry and the quicker they get out of the third world the better.

[Bored Of Education]

A good piece from Zoe Williams in the Guardian

[Crystal Staples]

A Labour MP was on BBC Breakfast making the point these allegations were passed to all relevant authorities including the government years ago. I didn't catch his name, but the interviewer seemed keen to move it back to Oxfam.

That was Peter Kyle, himself a former aid worker.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

I'm no fan of the International aid and charity industry and the quicker they get out of the third world the better.

You're perfectly entitled to your position, but would you like to expand on your statement so I can understand it? There are many things wrong with the application of international aid, but issues such as infant mortality would still be in the many millions without it.

[Sean of the Shed]

That was Peter Kyle, himself a former aid worker.

That's an unfortunate sound-like, given some of the allegations.

[Patrick Thistle]

Radio 5 still on this today. Nick Campbell got a bit upset when their expert this morning started talking generally about men abusing privilege and how they won't call out other men. Campbell got all huffy and #NotAllMen about it which is yet another sign that he's a twunt.

[Lang Spoon]

Scottish tories man. Him, Souness, worst people in the world. Campbell is such an 80s pastel pin stripe shirt prick. Bet he still has Deacon Blue on in the motor driving to work.

[Tactical Genius]

You're perfectly entitled to your position, but would you like to expand on your statement so I can understand it? There are many things wrong with the application of international aid, but issues such as infant mortality would still be in the many millions without it.

Of course.

Now if you look at it in isolation, you may assume that these aid organisations are doing some good.
I am sure that you are aware that most Aid organisations are western-based, from the same countries that:

Own all our Oil
Own all our gold and precious metals
Prop up and support our corrupt leaders (through intelligence and supply of weapons)
facilitate their money laundering through your financial institutions (the city is the money laundering capital of the world)
Economic polices from the IMF and World Bank to keep Africans impoverished.
Having NGO's turn up with a few sacks of rice is just a con trick. I heard of questionable practices in Haiti years ago with regards to Aid money disappearing (clinton foundation), paedophiles and perverts taking advantage of the chaos to get their fix.


A bunch of NGO's turning up with a few sacks of rice is just a con trick.

As for infant mortality, don't get me started on these immunisation projects that seem to cause more illness than they cure as their use Africans as test subject for you know what or the likes of Monsanto get up to.

[Tactical Genius]

Additionally, there are starving people in the uk and a large number of homeless too, why aren't these charities helping them?

[Janik]

Additionally, there are starving people in the uk and a large number of homeless too, why aren't these charities helping them?

They are. Or Oxfam are, at least.

[ursus arctos]

MSF have fired 19 members of staff after corroborating 24 reports of "molestation or sexual abuse"