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File photo. Nick Ansell

Deputy chief executive of Oxfam in the UK resigns over prostitution scandal in Haiti

Penny Lawrence said that she was “desperately sorry” for the harm and distress that had been caused.

THE DEPUTY CHIEF executive of UK charity Oxfam resigned today over the charity’s handling of a prostitution scandal in Haiti involving its staff members and allegations of similar behaviour in Chad.

“Over the last few days, we have become aware that concerns were raised about the behaviour of staff in Chad, as well as Haiti, that we failed to adequately act upon,” Penny Lawrence said in a statement.

“It is now clear that these allegations – involving the use of prostitutes and which related to behaviour of both the country director and members of his team in Chad – were raised before he moved to Haiti.

As programme director at the time, I am ashamed that this happened on my watch and I take full responsibility.

Lawrence said that she was “desperately sorry” for the harm and distress that this had caused.

“I am desperately sorry for the harm and distress that this has caused to Oxfam’s supporters, the wider development sector and most of all the vulnerable people who trusted us,” she said.

It has been such a privilege to work for such an amazing organisation that has done and needs to continue to do such good in the world.

The charity has come under strong pressure after an investigation by The Times found young sex workers were hired by senior staff in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake which devastated the island and left up to 300,000 people dead.

Groups of young prostitutes were invited to homes and guesthouses paid for by the charity for sex parties, according to one source who claimed to have seen footage of an orgy with sex workers wearing Oxfam t-shirts.

Over the weekend UK prime minister Theresa May called for an investigation into the allegations.

“The reports of what is unacceptable behaviour by senior aid workers in Haiti are truly shocking,” a spokeswoman for Theresa May said.

“We want to see Oxfam provide all the evidence they hold of the events to the Charity Commission for a full and urgent investigation of these very serious allegations.”

© – AFP 2018

With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald

Read: Theresa May calls for Oxfam probe over ‘shocking’ Haiti prostitutes allegations

Read: Oxfam aid workers used prostitutes during Haiti relief efforts, report claims

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    May 14th 2011, 3:29 PM

    Matthew,

    It’s quite clear from interviews with Ms Bahrami that she is in favour of the punishment. She even wanted to carry it out herself. See this interview – http://www.rferl.org/content/blinding_retributive_sentence_iran_victim/24107939.html

    And by all means link to ‘the enemy’ who we do not in anyway view as ‘the enemy’ but their story doesn’t sound like it is very clear from what you’re saying.

    Hugh

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    May 14th 2011, 4:13 PM

    Thanks for the link. As I said no problem with posting it and your comment was taken in jest but just wanted to point out that we don’t see any of our competitors as ‘the enemy’, they’re merely ‘our competitors’.

    Also just wanted to point out that its clear from interviews Bahrami has given that she is in favour of the punishment.

    As for the question, it stemmed from the quite strong views being expressed in the two stories we’ve run on this. It’s a fair and admittedly, upfront question which by the looks of it has quite evenly split opinion right down the middle.

    Thanks for your feedback and keep reading,

    Hugh

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