The government of Haiti has announced a ban on Oxfam GB, following allegations of sexual misconduct by a number of the charity’s workers.
In a statement, it said Oxfam’s status as a non-government organisation would be withdrawn “for violation of Haitian law and serious violation of the principle of the dignity of the human beings”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While it was “disappointed”, it said, it also “understands the Haiti Government’s decision”.
The charity added: “The behaviour of some former Oxfam staff working in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake was completely unacceptable. We have apologised to the government and the Haitian people for what happened.”
An Oxfam report, written in 2011 and made public this year, revealed that “the group's then-country director, Roland van Hauwermeiren, had admitted paying for sex and that three staff members had physically threatened a witness”, The Telegraph reports.
Four employees of the charity were fired for “gross misconduct”, while three others – including van Hauwermeiren – were allowed to resign.
Oxfam GB chief executive Mark Goldring also later tendered his resignation. He is set to step down at the end of 2018, to allow someone else to “rebuild” the organisation.
Oxfam International said it would “continue to work in Haiti through affiliate members from Italy, Spain, and Quebec”, the BBC reports.
-
Political cartoons for November 27Cartoons Thursday's political cartoons include giving thanks, speaking American, and more
-
We Did OK, Kid: Anthony Hopkins’ candid memoir is a ‘page-turner’The Week Recommends The 87-year-old recounts his journey from ‘hopeless’ student to Oscar-winning actor
-
The Mushroom Tapes: a compelling deep dive into the trial that gripped AustraliaThe Week Recommends Acclaimed authors team up for a ‘sensitive and insightful’ examination of what led a seemingly ordinary woman to poison four people
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
