Aid Charities Hit by 80 Abuse Claims That Staff Targeted Volunteers, Children and Victims

By Nicholas Cecil
Evening Standard
March 5, 2018

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/eighty-cases-of-people-being-harmed-or-at-risk-of-harm-at-aid-organisations-says-charity-commission-a3781496.html

Penny Mordaunt said the Charity Commission had received 80 new cases where people have been harmed, or have been at risk of harm AFP/Getty Images

The scale of the sex abuse scandal engulfing Britain’s aid charities emerged today after they admitted to 80 cases where victims were harmed or put at risk.

Twenty-six out of 179 organisations told the Government that since mid-February they had identified “safeguarding” cases.

Seven said these had been reported in the current financial year, with the rest more “historic”. The cases include the sexual abuse of people receiving aid as well as volunteers and staff, with children among the alleged victims.

The incidents were across a “wide spectrum”, including where measures to ensure individuals were not put at risk were lacking. Charity chiefs had been kept in the dark by junior staff about some claims.

The International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt announced that her department would enforce new standards by refusing to fund charities which failed to meet them.

At a safeguarding summit in Westminster, she said: “Unless we do all we can to prevent wrongdoing, and unless we can hold all those who do wrong to account, we will have failed in our duty to protect the most vulnerable.”

She warned predators exploiting the aid sector that there was “no hiding place”, adding: “We will find you, we will bring you to justice. Your time is up.”

However, Ms Mordaunt also admitted that a review, going back more than two decades, at the Department for International Development had found 14 cases of substantiated allegations of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment among its staff.

Dfid wrote to the 179 aid organisations to which it gives funding. It asked about their practices to prevent sexual harassment, bullying and other abuse, and if they had any cases of misconduct.

Ms Mordaunt said: “Across the returns, we saw important examples of good practice, but overall, there was too little evidence in the areas of robust risk management, comprehensive reporting, responsibility being taken at the highest level for safeguarding, and of beneficiaries always being put first. So if we are to meet our duty, then the sector must raise standards.”

Her officials have demanded more information from 37 organisations on their anti-abuse procedures.

Ms Mordaunt said the Government would bring in “world-leading” standards — including on vetting, identifying and responding to abuse — and better management to stop such cases.

She added: “Organisations should not bid for new funding unless they are prepared to meet these tough new standards. We will not approve funds to them unless they pass our new standards.”

The scandal of sexual harassment in the aid sector erupted last month with revelations about the use of prostitutes during Oxfam’s operation in Haiti following the earthquake there in 2010. Misconduct at other charities has also emerged and the number of serious incident reports to the Charity Commission has doubled.

Last week the Standard revealed that a review at Dfid had found up to four cases where the department’s own staff were formally reported for alleged sexual harassment.

Dfid’s permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft was due to give an update on the investigation, which has concluded, today.

Ms Mordaunt added: “Dfid is holding itself to these high standards we expect of others. It was vital that we went back through every record we have, since they began, to check action has been taken.

And if any new information comes to light through our continued efforts we will ensure appropriate action is taken on this.”