Source: UK Government
The Charity Commission has lifted its statutory supervision of Oxfam GB, after concluding that the charity has significantly strengthened its approach to keeping people safe.
A report published today confirms that Oxfam GB has responded positively to the Commission’s scrutiny. The charity has implemented wide-ranging changes to its organisational culture, and strengthened its approach, resources and processes, such that people served or employed by the charity are now better protected against abuse, exploitation, and other forms of harm.
But the Commission stresses that effective safeguarding is “never complete” and that systems and processes, however good, must be underpinned by leaders and senior managers remaining vigilant and continuing to place the highest priority on keeping people safe.
Oxfam will no longer be subject to strict supervision by the charity watchdog following significant reforms after the Haiti aid workers sex abuse scandal.
The Charity Commission for England and Wales found allegations that staff working in disaster zones sexually abused children were not fully disclosed, with the watchdog also citing a culture of poor behaviour among Oxfam GB staff sent to help victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Caroline Thomson, then Oxfam GB s chair of trustees, said in 2019: What happened in Haiti was shameful and we are deeply sorry.
Thursday s follow-up report into the scandal said the statutory supervision of the charity had now been lifted after it implemented the large majority of the 100 recommendations prompted by the inquiry, with people served or employed by the charity now better protected against abuse, exploitation and other forms of harm .