Aid agencies and abuse

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

Here is an article about NGO's and sexual abuse of the people they are supposed to be helping.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/30/uk/sexual-abuse-aid-sector-uk-report-intl/index.html

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Sexual abuse of vulnerable women and girls by international aid workers is "endemic" and has been happening for years, with perpetrators easily moving around the sector undetected, according to a damning UK government report published Tuesday.

The inquiry heard "horrifying" stories of aid staff sexually exploiting the very people they were meant to be helping, including one homeless girl in Haiti who was given $1 by a worker for a nongovernmental organization (NGO) and raped.

"The power imbalance is predominantly, although not exclusively, men abusing women and girls," said the report, which warned that the cases that had come to light were likely just the "tip of the iceberg."

Perpetrators around the world hailed from a broad range of jobs, ranging from guards to drivers and senior managers. They were a mix of local, national and international personnel, the inquiry found.

A "boy's club" culture within organizations also meant sexual harassment and abuse of staff could thrive unchallenged, the report found. In recent months the #MeToo movement had helped shine a light on sexual misconduct, the report said, but the aid sector still had a long way to go to change.

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Deplorable!!

Sriram

[Roses]

It is absolutely terrible, especially as the charities concerned appear to have been involved in a cover up.

[Enki]

I will just repeat what I said on February 18th on the Oxfam thread:

And, it seems, plenty has now come to light, with, no doubt, plenty more to come. I think that it is a good thing that we are now starting to examine more seriously how charities vet their personnel and how they conduct their business.

I'm in complete agreement with you, Sriram. It is deplorable.

[Rhiannon]

And it isn't just an issue for UK based organisations either. It's right across the sector at all levels.

For example:

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jun/21/medecins-sans-frontieres-staff-working-in-africa-accused-of-using-prostitutes

[Robbie]

Wherever there is a charity, whether it be local or international, helping vulnerable people, there will be predatory staff. Sickening but nothing new.

[Enki]

Wherever there is a charity, whether it be local or international, helping vulnerable people, there will be predatory staff. Sickening but nothing new.

For me the most sickening thing is the attitude of the aid sector itself.

The aid sector is guilty of "complacency verging on complicity" over an "endemic" sex abuse scandal, a damning report from MPs has said.
Stephen Twigg, chairman of the international development committee, said charities were "more concerned to protect their own reputation".

BBC News

Not just a few bad eggs it seems, but ingrained unacceptable behaviour.

[Rhiannon]

 'charities were "more concerned to protect their own reputation".'

And you could swap 'charities' for 'political parties', 'sports clubs', 'film studios'... For once the churches are almost ahead of the game on this one.

[Enki]

Indeed, Rhi.  And not forgetting the NHS !