Aid Group Answers Questions About Sexual Wrongdoing

 

The head of Oxfam says the British aid group is investigating 26 new reports of sexual wrongdoing by its workers.

Mark Goldring spoke¹ before Britain’s parliament Tuesday. He answered questions about the behavior of Oxfam workers on the Caribbean island of Haiti.

He said, “I am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage Oxfam has done both to the people of Haiti but also to wider efforts for aid and development by possibly undermining public support.”

Goldring said 26 cases have come forward. He said 16 of them were linked to the group’s international programs. He also said Oxfam wants people to report abuse wherever and whenever it took place.

British lawmakers questioned Goldring about accusations² against the Oxfam workers. They have been accused of paying Haitians for sex in 2011. Oxfam was involved in aid operations there following a hugely destructive earthquake on the island. At least 100,000 people were killed and even more displaced by the event.

Oxfam released a report on the issue on Monday. It said seven people were accused of paying for sex at a home provided by Oxfam. The report did not release the names of the accused. However, it said three of them had threatened a witness in the investigation³.

Four staff members were dismissed for gross misconduct. The Oxfam director in Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, resigned along with two others.

Last week, Oxfam formally apologized to Haiti. The organization also announced a plan to fight sex abuse.

Oxfam said Friday it would set up an independent commission to study the group’s methods and culture.

British lawmakers also questioned officials from Save the Children UK. They voiced concerns that sex criminals were targeting such aid organizations.

Oxfam says it plans to develop a new system for vetting⁵ possible workers.

The reports of sexual wrongdoing have caused Britain and the European Union to reconsider support for Oxfam.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise has called for investigations⁶ of other charitable organizations on the island.

Oxfam is among the world’s biggest aid organizations.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

undermine –v. to make something weak or less effective in a hidden way

gross –adj. very great, very large

misconduct –n. bad behavior

vet⁴ –v. to investigate someone to see if they can be approved for a job

charitable –adj. related to charity, giving to the poor, sick or needy

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 vet   

n.兽医，退役军人；vt.检查

参考例句：

• I took my dog to the vet.我把狗带到兽医诊所看病。
• Someone should vet this report before it goes out.这篇报道发表之前应该有人对它进行详查。

5 vetting   

n.数据检查[核对，核实]v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的现在分词 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• Scripts had to be submitted to Ministry of Information officials for vetting. 必须把脚本提交给信息部官员审查。 来自互联网
• Their purpose in clicking deeper into a site is one of vetting. 他们深入点击网站的目的是一种诊疗。 来自互联网

6 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。