The Oxfam 'Scandal'

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Public goodwill is like trust in a relationship. It can take an age to build, but a second to destroy.
Its a shame those with power and the positions at Oxfam didn’t take head to that saying.

So very true...sadly. But individual reflection on what we are being told, without merely accepting damning conclusions others are choosing to draw and articulate, may add focus to, and contain, the loss of trust we all feel to a greater or lesser degree in respect of what we have heard about individuals working for Oxfam; how this very human problem was handled by Oxfam management - and why it may have been handled as it was.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

So very true...sadly. But individual reflection on what we are being told, without merely accepting damning conclusions others are choosing to draw and articulate, may add focus to, and contain, the loss of trust we all feel to a greater or lesser degree in respect of what we have heard about individuals working for Oxfam; how this very human problem was handled by Oxfam management - and why it may have been handled as it was.

But......we wouldn't accept abuse like that of vunerable people by organisations over here, so why then should we accept it just because it's happened on a different continent? Are the abused not human as we are? Are they not entitled to the same treatment and respect the way we are?
I don't doubt your intentions are laudable towards Oxfam and the like, but making excuses for what they have done isn't going to get them to change their ways. They can have any amount of "independant equiries" but I really don't see much openess and full honesty in their comments. They need to accept that it's not just a couple of rotten apples, its a whole branch and possibly the main trunk if people that have carried out these abuses have been allowed to carry on regardless and without sanction or punishment.
As I said before, this is similar corperately to VW and the diesel fiasco and also to the Catholic church and it's abuse of young boys.
People need to stop apologising for Oxfams actions and make them know they screwed up bigger than they think, becasue I still don't think they fully understand what a complete horlicks they have made and they way they have (or haven't) dealt with it.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Could be. Oxfam might never recover. But with the right cleansing of management and perpetrators; with the appropriate oversight put in place - and a bit of trust from the public - maybe they can. And maybe Oxfam might be all the stronger for it - with a very salutary lesson sent out to all other major charities.

You may be right. But why should the public continue as they were in the hope that Oxfam will change without anything from Oxfam first? Oxfam have abused the public's trust in my opinion; if they want to earn that trust back and continue then don't they have to make the first step and give the public something to believe in? If they don't make the first move and they go under then they only have themselves to blame.

 

[MegaSteve]

The charity 'sector' is one area that is crying out to be managed the 'John Lewis' way...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The charity 'sector' is one area that is crying out to be managed the 'John Lewis' way...

I think that most employees of a charity already have a personal stake in their charity.

Anyway - I popped into my local Oxfam Bookshop yesterday and spent £5.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

But......we wouldn't accept abuse like that of vunerable people by organisations over here, so why then should we accept it just because it's happened on a different continent? Are the abused not human as we are? Are they not entitled to the same treatment and respect the way we are?
I don't doubt your intentions are laudable towards Oxfam and the like, but making excuses for what they have done isn't going to get them to change their ways. They can have any amount of "independant equiries" but I really don't see much openess and full honesty in their comments. They need to accept that it's not just a couple of rotten apples, its a whole branch and possibly the main trunk if people that have carried out these abuses have been allowed to carry on regardless and without sanction or punishment.
As I said before, this is similar corperately to VW and the diesel fiasco and also to the Catholic church and it's abuse of young boys.
People need to stop apologising for Oxfams actions and make them know they screwed up bigger than they think, becasue I still don't think they fully understand what a complete horlicks they have made and they way they have (or haven't) dealt with it.

What organisation? I am not making judgements on the crimes, misdemeanours or acts of simple human weakness or cynicism. You are painting the abuse - or 'use' - of individuals by individuals as being characteristic and symptomatic of the culture of an organisation as a whole - and I do not think that that is either fair nor reasonable. That management tried to manage the situation in a misguided way highlights flaws in management; management structures and governance - though I do not doubt that in a perhaps misguided way Oxfam management were trying to protect the organisation. That this has backfired so terribly for Oxfam sends out a very loud and clear warning and guidance to others finding themselves in the same situation.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You may be right. But why should the public continue as they were in the hope that Oxfam will change without anything from Oxfam first? Oxfam have abused the public's trust in my opinion; if they want to earn that trust back and continue then don't they have to make the first step and give the public something to believe in? If they don't make the first move and they go under then they only have themselves to blame.

The public doesn't. But I would ask that the public does not simply react as recent sexual abuse events is almost conditioning us to act. But to stand back and ask what has actually gone on here? What is the issue? Where does blame lie if there is blame to be apportioned? What can be done to minimise risk of future misdemeanors or abuse? Who should be responsible for putting measures into place and who or what should be done to monitor compliance?

it remains - in my view - absurd to bring down an organisation such as Oxfam - an organisation of almost fearless lifesaving good and compassion over the last 75yrs - on the crimes or misdemeanors of a few individuals very poorly dealt with by Oxfam management.

But if that is the will of the British People then so be it. We will have to find some other organisation to do the work that Oxfam does - or for a government agency to do it - funding it's work out of an increased Overseas Aid budget.

 

[bobmac]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43091628

 

[Bunkermagnet]

What organisation? I am not making judgements on the crimes, misdemeanours or acts of simple human weakness or cynicism. You are painting the abuse - or 'use' - of individuals by individuals as being characteristic and symptomatic of the culture of an organisation as a whole - and I do not think that that is either fair nor reasonable. That management tried to manage the situation in a misguided way highlights flaws in management; management structures and governance - though I do not doubt that in a perhaps misguided way Oxfam management were trying to protect the organisation. That this has backfired so terribly for Oxfam sends out a very loud and clear warning and guidance to others finding themselves in the same situation.

I think sexual abuse is a little more than a “misdemeanour”.
There can be no excuses for what has happened, and those who perpetrated such acts alon with those who knew and ignored or covered up what happened should all be punished accordingly.
If Oxfam go down, the people responsible will be those who have done what’s being claimed along with those who knew.
It won’t be the fault of the general public, it will be the fault of those working for Oxfam who have abused their position and power.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I think sexual abuse is a little more than a “misdemeanour”.
There can be no excuses for what has happened, and those who perpetrated such acts alon with those who knew and ignored or covered up what happened should all be punished accordingly.
If Oxfam go down, the people responsible will be those who have done what’s being claimed along with those who knew.
It won’t be the fault of the general public, it will be the fault of those working for Oxfam who have abused their position and power.

I hesitated using misdemeanour but did so simply because not all of it might have been abuse - though some if not most would seem to fall into the latter category - but hopefully by my saying that at least some (maybe most - I do not know) will have been crimes indicates that I am absolutely NOT excusing all that has gone on.

Oxfam will only go down if Oxfam do not demonstrate any understanding of what has happened and what subsequently went wrong in handling it. Further may well fail if we as the public refuse; cannot, or are not enabled to, discriminate between regrettable and despicable acts by individuals, and Oxfam as an organisation with historic dysfunctional governance and perhaps also shortsighted management still in denial.

I hope not. The need for Oxfam does not go away and Oxfam has continued to provide lifesaving hope, relief and support to some of the poorest in this world, in some of the most dangerous and difficult conditions, since the scandal broke - and no matter what we might think of Oxfam we need it to continue to do so today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow...

There is an absolutist 'certainty' in the views of some who seem to wish to see the demise of Oxfam (for whatever reasons) that brings to mind a statement recently made in a different context - that where a very difficult decision is to be made the people to make that decision should not solely comprise those who are absolutely certain.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

we need it[/B] to continue to do so today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow...

No, we don’t need Oxfam. What we need are aid agencies and charities that have staff uninterested in self grandeurment or power and who take their responsibilities to the vulnerable seriously and who the general public can have faith in.
Until Oxfam can demonstrate that those who carried out the abuse and crimes, those who knew and did nothing and those who ignored what was being said are gone and punished no trust will be earnt by them.
IF Oxfam do go down, there will be charities and aid agencies able to take over the millions in budget and staff to do the good Oxfam currently do. However to avoid it a full washing out of everything bad within Oxfam is essential and that means looking at every aspect of their operation.
Sadly I don’t think they will, for fear of what they might find or lose.
But without them looking very hard within their organisation I don’t see the general public across the globe trusting them for an immensely long time...if at all.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

No, we don’t need Oxfam. What we need are aid agencies and charities that have staff uninterested in self grandeurment or power and who take their responsibilities to the vulnerable seriously and who the general public can have faith in.
Until Oxfam can demonstrate that those who carried out the abuse and crimes, those who knew and did nothing and those who ignored what was being said are gone and punished no trust will be earnt by them.
IF Oxfam do go down, there will be charities and aid agencies able to take over the millions in budget and staff to do the good Oxfam currently do. However to avoid it a full washing out of everything bad within Oxfam is essential and that means looking at every aspect of their operation.
Sadly I don’t think they will, for fear of what they might find or lose.
But without them looking very hard within their organisation I don’t see the general public across the globe trusting them for an immensely long time...if at all.

What I am saying is that we need Oxfam at the moment - despite your assertions of others being ready and able to stand in with little notice - you know this? I really do not think that Oxfam can be allowed to crash out of business. You make sweeping damning statements about Oxfam that I do not know of the basis upon which you draw them. Please don't misunderstand me - I am conflicted about much of the Oxfam situation - but there is a great deal of good in Oxfam and vast amount of experience and understanding of how to deal with the most awful of human tragedies. It is all very well saying we can do without them - but from the wider humanitarian perspective are you absolutely sure...?

And when the next similar scandal erupts in let's say Save the Children or Medecins san Frontieres - then where do we go...?

 

[ColchesterFC]

What organisation? I am not making judgements on the crimes, misdemeanours or acts of simple human weakness or cynicism. You are painting the abuse - or 'use' - of individuals by individuals as being characteristic and symptomatic of the culture of an organisation as a whole - and I do not think that that is either fair nor reasonable.

In your opinion at what point would it become characteristic or symptomatic of the culture of the organisation?

According to Oxfam themselves they investigated 53 allegations in 2016 and there have been a further 26 allegations of "sexual misconduct" since the story broke - "26 reports of recent and historic incidents have been reported by Oxfam workers - 16 of them outside of the UK". So there are also allegations against UK based Oxfam staff, which could include charity shop workers.

Three Oxfam workers accused of sexual misconduct in Haiti were later found to have intimidated witnesses - and yet one of the three, who were all fired, was later re-employed by Oxfam in another country.The same report also said that the director of operations in Haiti had admitted using prositutes despite last week denying it, and was allowed to resign rather than being fired.

I fear that the news so far released might just be the tip of the iceberg. Whether the iceberg turns out to be big enough to sink Oxfam remains to be seen. And it is also being reported that around 7000 people have stopped regular donations (by which I assume they mean direct debit contributions) since the scandal broke.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

In your opinion at what point would it become characteristic or symptomatic of the culture of the organisation?

According to Oxfam themselves they investigated 53 allegations in 2016 and there have been a further 26 allegations of "sexual misconduct" since the story broke - "26 reports of recent and historic incidents have been reported by Oxfam workers - 16 of them outside of the UK". So there are also allegations against UK based Oxfam staff, which could include charity shop workers.

Three Oxfam workers accused of sexual misconduct in Haiti were later found to have intimidated witnesses - and yet one of the three, who were all fired, was later re-employed by Oxfam in another country.The same report also said that the director of operations in Haiti had admitted using prositutes despite last week denying it, and was allowed to resign rather than being fired.

I fear that the news so far released might just be the tip of the iceberg. Whether the iceberg turns out to be big enough to sink Oxfam remains to be seen. And it is also being reported that around 7000 people have stopped regular donations (by which I assume they mean direct debit contributions) since the scandal broke.

In answer to your question - I honestly have no idea...I guess we'd only know when it was obvious

I too fear it is the tip of an iceberg - and the iceberg may not simply be Oxfam - and that for me is the actual big issue that we may have to face - maybe we must face that prospect now without any further evidence.

Rather it might be about aid charities in general - and so what do we do then?

Do we decide that they must all fail and we start again? Or do we simply have to accept that a certain very unsavoury type of individual has in the past used aid charities as a vehicle and screen for their baser predilections; that we and the authorities root these people out and deal with them appropriately; and we go on to ensure rigorous governance, and a much tougher Charities Commission with a remit that allows them access to HR records of all employees?

Damn Oxfam as you feel you must - but I simply caution against punitive measures against this one charity that could lead us into troubled waters with the precedence set.

Patrick Cockburn's piece (I have linked to previously) is worth reading and worth reflecting upon whilst we judge.

And on the 7000 DDs. What now? Oxfam have planned their aid efforts on an assumption of donations coming in. This loss of income will halt some current or future programs - and surely that cannot be good. Those who will suffer most from that are those who will have benefitted most - and these will be the very needy - and not any charity fat cats.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

And so where today is the outcry over Oxfam? Oxfam has been financially hurt - but has it's brand now been that for ever tarnished? Maybe we need to thank Oxfam for their openness in their investigation and reporting of the cases back when they were identified and on which the scandal has largely been based. And as a result of the scandal improved controls and governance are on their way.

Meanwhile today I hear that 'sexual abuse' complaints have been registered against 26 charities. Do the government and the anti-foreign aid crew go for them also? If not why not?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Such is the way of news. Items are hot and then go cold. The other 25 are probably very relieved that they were not the first as the first is always the one people remember.

I've always thought an interesting programme would be a news programme that followed up stories from a month ago, 6 months, 1 year. So many things get reported and then forgotten about, natural disasters being the classic example.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

And so where today is the outcry over Oxfam? Oxfam has been financially hurt - but has it's brand now been that for ever tarnished? Maybe we need to thank Oxfam for their openness in their investigation and reporting of the cases back when they were identified and on which the scandal has largely been based. And as a result of the scandal improved controls and governance are on their way.

Meanwhile today I hear that 'sexual abuse' complaints have been registered against 26 charities. Do the government and the anti-foreign aid crew go for them also? If not why not?

Tanrished? very much so. They havent been open, they have been forced to come clean. If nothing had been said, Oxfam would have kept quiet.
As I said before, Oxfam are to charirty aid abuse as VW are to diesel. The damage is done, accept it and move on.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Tanrished? very much so. They havent been open, they have been forced to come clean. If nothing had been said, Oxfam would have kept quiet.
As I said before, Oxfam are to charirty aid abuse as VW are to diesel. The damage is done, accept it and move on.

I don't know why you continue to insist that I am defending what individual Oxfam employees did and the stupidity or short-sightedness of their senior management in the decision making around it, By openness I was referring to the fact that the scandal was largely built on the basis of an investigation and subsequent report by Oxfam into what was going on in Haiti. Clearly then Oxfam took what had happened seriously, they were not blind to it and did not let it just go.

Yes - the damage is done - and so those they help will be impacted and I am sure some somewhere will get some perverse pleasure from that. Meanwhile I was in my local Oxfam book and music shop on Saturday and it was chocka - and I got a great deal of pleasure from that.

 

[bobmac]

I don't know why you continue to insist that I am defending what individual Oxfam employees did and the stupidity or short-sightedness of their senior management in the decision making around it,By openness I was referring to the fact that the scandal was largely built on the basis of an investigation and subsequent report by Oxfam into what was going on in Haiti. Clearly then Oxfam took what had happened seriously, they were not blind to it and did not let it just go.

Do you honestly believe that?

Yes - the damage is done - and so those they help will be impacted and I am sure some somewhere will get some perverse pleasure from that. Meanwhile I was in my local Oxfam book and music shop on Saturday and it was chocka - and I got a great deal of pleasure from that.

Unbelievable

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Do you honestly believe that?



Unbelievable

If Oxfam had not taken it seriously at the time I doubt they would have investigated as they did into what had been going on...

And not unbelievable I am afraid (I wish that it was) as some clearly want (or wanted) Oxfam to fail...seemingly immune from or oblivious to the difficulties that that would cause those that Oxfam support