London: Oxfam refused to ban staff from using prostitutes because it would “infringe their civil liberties”, a training manual has revealed.
The guidance, still available on the charity’s website, says that it “strongly discourages” its workers from paying for sex but that a total ban would be “impractical”.
The same manual reveals that Oxfam has “dismissed staff for exploiting or abusing beneficiaries or members of the local community in virtually every recent humanitarian response”.
The document has emerged as the charity faces a growing scandal over its handling of the use of prostitutes — some alleged to be underage — by its staff in Haiti, where sex work is illegal. The Haitian government was last night reviewing its future work with Oxfam.
In guidance, issued in 2006, Oxfam trainers addressed the issue of why, if they took a strong stance on gender equality, they did not ban sex workers.
Yoma Winder, Oxfam’s current global adviser for partnerships and accountability, wrote: “We haven’t banned the use of prostitutes, but we strongly discourage it. We don’t ban it, because we cannot infringe on people’s civil liberties, and we know it would be impractical to think we could enforce a total ban. We also, in a number of countries, support partner organisations that work with sex workers to ensure their basic rights; so we are definitely not in any position to tell sex workers how to live their lives.”
The charity said that its code of conduct had since been updated and now bans paying for sex, though a spokesman was unable to provide details on when the change was made.
No choice
The revelation prompted criticism from MPs and charities. Priti Patel, the former international development secretary, said it proved it was time for “a complete clear-out of the leadership at Oxfam and for the chief executive to go”.
She said: “These latest revelations are appalling and show that there is a culture at Oxfam that has allowed people to take advantage and exploit the vulnerable. By permitting staff to use prostitutes and pay for sex demonstrates that there is a distinct lack of professional standards and respect for women at Oxfam.”
Sara Callaway, the co-founder of Women of Colour in the Global Women’s Strike, added: “When women are starving and living in rubble, it is not prostitution, it is rape — what choice do women have?”
The then code of conduct did ban sexual contact with anyone under 18, offering sex for aid or having sex with those considered beneficiaries. It also forbade staff from engaging in criminal activities.
Oxfam has issued an “unreserved apology” to the Government, donors, supporters and the people of Haiti over its handling of incidents in the earthquake-hit country in 2011.
Penny Mordaunt, the International Development Secretary, said yesterday the charity failed to show moral leadership and had not properly informed donors, regulators and prosecutors about the actions of its workers in Haiti. She is keeping its £32 million (Dh164 million) in taxpayer funding under review and is due to meet the National Crime Agency today.
