The Oxfam 'Scandal'

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

As long as nothing illegal going on - is what has been uncovered just a reality for those living and working in very harsh environments, and the scandal is being blow up by those with a vested interest to be used as a stick to beat Overseas Aid?

Or is this a real scandal and a serious ethical problem?

Whichever way my feelings lie on this - and I am not sure where I am at the moment as I donate quite a lot to Oxfam (and support them through a lot of purchases in the local book shop) - I feel it is dangerous and counter-productive to cut support to Oxfam - thereby undermining the great and difficult work that Oxfam does in difficult and dangerous circumstances - cutting on the grounds of the behaviour of a few 'bad uns' and the perhaps misguided actions of senior management.

Were charities to have management of their staff and associated groups at the level required to spot and stop such behaviour - we and the Charities Commission would soon be jumping on the back of the charties for excessive admin and manegement costs.

 

[MegaSteve]

As I understand the issue is Oxfam told porkies when challenged with regard the alleged 'incidents'...


In my experience there is only one outcome when you start off with lying...

You eventually get caught out...

 

[hors limite]

From what I've read they are busily conflating the use of paid adult prostitutes and the sexual abuse of minors.The former is not something that aid workers should have been doing but the latter is at a totally different level of abhorrent behaviour. Why is this happening? The House of Commons scandal had the same thing with everything from a fleeting touch of a knee to rape being lumped in together.

 

[Hacker Khan]

If you are going to be an aid worker then don't be a dick. Not all aid workers are dicks's as a lot do valuable and needed work. Just get rid of the ones that are.

 

[MegaSteve]

If you are going to be an aid worker then don't be a dick. Not all aid workers are dicks's as a lot do valuable and needed work. Just get rid of the ones that are.

And, when found out for being a 'dick' tell the truth and admit to it...
It'll work out as being a whole lot better in the long run...

By all accounts some of these 'dicks' have just moved on to being 'dicks' elsewhere...
All because those in charge of 'dicks' thought it better/easier to cover up the 'dicks' rather than expose them..

 

[drdel]

It is uncomfortable reading but I'm not aware of the 'legality' or acceptance of prostitution in those countries so while I might be uneasy about the morality there may not be any illegal activity that justifies punishment.

Clearly the exploitation of the vulnerable (minors or others) must be condemed.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Oxfam Deputy CEO resigns accepting responsibility. What I am most uncomfortable about is the fact of lack of reporting to police is use of prostitutes in Haiti where prostitution is illegal.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

This will hammer Oxfam. Would you donate to them at the moment?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Oxfam Deputy CEO resigns accepting responsibility. What I am most uncomfortable about is the fact of lack of reporting to police is use of prostitutes in Haiti where prostitution is illegal.

I think you'll find it was reported to the police at the time, but unsurprisingly they had lots of other things occupying thier time. It has also been said that similar happening went on in Chad in 2006.
Disgusting behaviour.

 

[FairwayDodger]

I don't really understand the question. It seems that charity workers were exploiting the very people they were supposed to be helping. How is that not scandalous?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

So if this isn’t a “scandal”, what is it?
With what’s coming out concerning recent behaviour both home and abroad, perhaps the title should be changed?.
To me, I’m seeing similarities between Oxfam and the Catholic Church with their covering up of illegal activities.

 

[Deleted member 18645]

In my experience, most of the senior management at these charities are working there because it is a well-paid job, nothing to do with the charity or the good causes they aim to represent. I saw a ton of financial mismanagement and waste at one very well known UK charity and would never ever give anything to them again.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

We should remember that these charities do a lot of good, but, when you see they made a profit of £408 million a few years back and they received over £60 million combined from our Gov and the EU in the last financial year it sticks in my throat.
These fat cats abusing their position with the very people they are meant to help is disgusting.
Saw at first hand these NGO’s driving round Bosnia and Kosovo in their Landcruisers, staying in the best hotels and bragging how much they’d make while being there.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Before we cancel our Oxfam direct debits and stop supporting them through their shops, read this. Perhaps it's better to question their procedures rather than withdraw support.

https://onlinecham.com/2018/02/12/oxfam/

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Before we cancel our Oxfam direct debits and stop supporting them through their shops, read this. Perhaps it's better to question their procedures rather than withdraw support.

https://onlinecham.com/2018/02/12/oxfam/

if their procedures are that lax and terrible, how can you trust them with the roughly £400mill they have to play with each year?
They are donated money to help those needy and impoverished people around the World, not to run luxury lifestyles with villas and sexual favours.
Just as VW were ultimately responsible for the major anti diesel feelings, Oxfam may well be seen as the VW of the charity world.
Instead of trying to defend them, condemn it for the reprehensible behaviour that it is.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

if their procedures are that lax and terrible, how can you trust them with the roughly £400mill they have to play with each year?
They are donated money to help those needy and impoverished people around the World, not to run luxury lifestyles with villas and sexual favours.
Just as VW were ultimately responsible for the major anti diesel feelings, Oxfam may well be seen as the VW of the charity world.
Instead of trying to defend them, condemn it for the reprehensible behaviour that it is.

I'm not defending them - I'm just asking the question...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

if their procedures are that lax and terrible, how can you trust them with the roughly £400mill they have to play with each year?
They are donated money to help those needy and impoverished people around the World, not to run luxury lifestyles with villas and sexual favours.
Just as VW were ultimately responsible for the major anti diesel feelings, Oxfam may well be seen as the VW of the charity world.
Instead of trying to defend them, condemn it for the reprehensible behaviour that it is.

Pretty fair summary from my perspective

 

[NWJocko]

In my experience, most of the senior management at these charities are working there because it is a well-paid job, nothing to do with the charity or the good causes they aim to represent. I saw a ton of financial mismanagement and waste at one very well known UK charity and would never ever give anything to them again.

If you look into most of the biggest charities, in any sector, this is true. A very, very small percentage of money raised is actually used to the effect the charity promotes, almost like businesses. Note that is not to downgrade the role they play in terms of publicising issues etc it is just a fact.

It is why, in the main, I don't support "big" charities anymore as I'd rather 90p in my £1 donated goes to use through a smaller charity than 10p in my £1 through a "big" one.

I bet the majority of the UK public would be shocked at how little of their charitable giving actually ends up anywhere near supporting causes they thought they were when donating.


In terms of the Oxfam situation FairwayDodgers post sums it up perfectly for me :thup:

 

[NWJocko]

I'm not defending them - I'm just asking the question...

Well it would seem you're not looking very hard for the answer yourself then :thup:

Why are you asking the question out of interest? Quick to condemn many others in other arena's (political etc) but you seem to be "OK" with this? Does your church (local/parish/denominational) have links to them by any chance?

 

[pendodave]

In my experience, most of the senior management at these charities are working there because it is a well-paid job, nothing to do with the charity or the good causes they aim to represent. I saw a ton of financial mismanagement and waste at one very well known UK charity and would never ever give anything to them again.

My sister did some accounting work at one of the well known ones based in London. This is also her considered view of the situation.