Press releases

Oxfam International Regional Director for Latin America, Simon Ticehurst, and Oxfam Intermon Executive Affiliate Unit head, Margalida Massot, met this afternoon on the request of Haiti’s Minister of Planning and External Cooperation Aviol Fleurant to begin clarifying the exact allegations and investigations into the abusive behaviors of some Oxfam staff during the organization’s humanitarian response to the 2010 earthquake. 

A full copy of Oxfam's final internal report into allegations of sexual misconduct and other unacceptable behaviour during Oxfam’s humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake has been made public today.

An independent commission will be set up with immediate power to carry out a wide-ranging review of Oxfam’s practices and culture, including its handling of past cases of sexual misconduct. It comes as Oxfam announces a comprehensive plan of action to strengthen safeguarding systems across the organization, and stamp out abuse. 

Dr. Juan Alberto Fuentes Knight today stepped down as the Chair of the Board of Supervisors of Oxfam International after being presented with charges dating back to his time as Guatemala's finance minister.

Oxfam does not yet know the nature of formal charges, if any, against Dr. Fuentes Knight. He has assured us that he has cooperated fully with the investigation in the confidence he did not knowingly transgress rules or procedures.

Penny Lawrence today resigned as Deputy Chief Executive of Oxfam Great Britain. Lawrence was Program Director at the time of the sexual misconduct in Chad.

Let us be clear: their behavior was and still is totally unacceptable – an appalling mark against the high values we set for ourselves at Oxfam.

We are appalled that individuals found guilty of sexual misconduct in Haiti were unwittingly employed by other aid agencies. We strongly believe that anyone engaged in such reprehensible behavior should be barred from working with vulnerable communities.

Oxfam's priority is to stand fully by the survivors of such reprehensible behavior - and to ensure that such behavior is absolutely rooted out of our organization. We stand firmly against the exploitation and abuse of women and girls.

The publication of a new set of corporate tax principles by The B Team, a coalition of progressive business leaders, was welcomed by Oxfam today. The principles have been endorsed by companies such as Allianz, Unilever and Vodafone Group Plc.