Oxfam Ireland will lead on delivering global safeguarding reforms

Oxfam Ireland will play a leadership role across the global organisation in delivering a comprehensive action plan to strengthen the confederation’s safeguarding systems and enforce a zero-tolerance approach to sexual misconduct.

An urgent, independent review of Oxfam’s culture and practices led by leading women’s rights experts was announced today. It was confirmed yesterday by directors across the international confederation, including Oxfam Ireland Chief Executive Jim Clarken and Oxfam International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. 

The immediate measures include: 

• A new independent High-Level Commission on Sexual Misconduct, Accountability and Culture Change, comprised of leading women’s rights experts, which will be able to access Oxfam records and interview staff, partners and communities it supports around the world. 
• The immediate creation of a new global database of accredited referees – designed to end the use of forged, dishonest or unreliable references by past or current Oxfam staff. Oxfam will not be issuing any references until this is in place.
• An immediate injection of additional money and resources into Oxfam’s safeguarding processes.
• A commitment to build on the ongoing work to improve the culture within Oxfam to ensure that no one faces sexism, discrimination or abuse, that everyone, especially women, feel safe to speak out, and everyone is clear on what behaviour is acceptable or not.
• Oxfam is also committing to publish its 2011 internal investigation into staff involved in sexual and other misconduct in Haiti as soon as possible, after taking steps necessary to prevent witnesses being identified. The names of the men involved have already been shared with the authorities in Haiti.

Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland Chief Executive, said: “Today’s announcement of an external, independent and confederation-wide review underpins our shared commitment to enforce a zero-tolerance approach to sexual misconduct. 

“I am committed to playing a leadership role in facilitating this comprehensive action plan to root out any form of abuse. At home and overseas, we will not stand for any kind of harassment of staff, partners, volunteers or those we serve and we are doubling the number of people who work on safeguarding to make sure we are living up to our responsibility to protect them. 

“I feel great responsibility in the trust our supporters across the island of Ireland put in us and am dedicated to rebuilding any trust lost. This review marks the beginning of change for Oxfam as an international organisation – Oxfam Ireland is 100% committed to playing our part and to working with others in government and across the sector to implement urgent reforms that enable us to do more and do better for the world’s poorest.”

The independent High-Level Commission will shape its own approach and its membership will be announced within a few days. Oxfam will provide the resources it needs to do its job effectively, across the confederation, including full access to records, staff as well as partners and communities supported by the organisation. As part of the Commission's work, it will create an historical record about cases of sexual misconduct and abuse of power that is as complete as possible, which will be made publicly available. 

ENDS

Notes to Editor: 

• Oxfam Ireland’s all-island polices to protect and support staff and volunteers include: 

1. Safeguarding policy
2. Anti-bullying and Harassment
3. Disclosure of Malpractice in the Workplace/Whistle-blowing Policy
4. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy
5. We also have robust recruitment processes which involve vetting, reference checks, probationary periods and adherence to Oxfam’s codes of practice and conduct, as required by the role. 

• No staff employed by Oxfam Ireland were involved in the case in Haiti.
• The case in Haiti did not involve the misuse of public funds. All of the money raised by Oxfam Ireland supporters was spent as planned on the response to the earthquake of 2010.