Saturday, 10 February 2018

Smileband general news


The Government is reviewing its relationship with Oxfam in the wake of sex allegations against some of the charity's staff. It comes after it emerged the charity failed to share information with other organisations about the misconduct of their former employees. 
Disgraced Roland van Hauwermeiren, 68, admitted to having sex with vulnerable prostitutes at his Oxfam villa in the poverty-stricken country of Haiti where he was based as country director. But the charity decided to allow Mr Van Hauwermeiren to step down from his position and crucially didn't share details of the termination of contract with his new employer. 
The married 68-year-old went on to become head of mission for Action Against Hunger who told MailOnline it had 'no idea' about his background.
The French charity made pre-employment checks but Oxfam did not provide any warning about his 'unethical conduct'.  
A spokesman said: 'We received positive references from former Oxfam staff who worked with him, among them a (former) HR person.'
Mr Van Hauwermeiren led campaigns for them in Bangladesh between 2012-14 but did not renew his contract after the two years.
His current whereabouts is unknown, the spokesman said. 
The Prime Minister Theresa May called for a 'full and urgent investigation' shortly before it was announced the Government would review its relationship with Oxfam. Oxfam said it had publicly announced an investigation into the allegations when they surfaced in 2011 and kept the Charity Commission informed. 
A DfID spokesman said: 'We often work with organisations in chaotic and difficult circumstances.
'If wrongdoing, abuse, fraud, or criminal activity occur we need to know about it immediately, in full.
'The way this appalling abuse of vulnerable people was <!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics -->
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dealt with raises serious questions that Oxfam must answer.
'We acknowledge that hundreds of Oxfam staff have done no wrong and work tirelessly for the people they serve, but the handling by the senior team about this investigation and their openness with us and the Charity Commission showed a lack of judgment.
'We have a zero tolerance policy for the type of activity that took place in this instance, and we expect our partners to as well.
'The Secretary of State is reviewing our current work with Oxfam and has requested a meeting with the senior team at the earliest opportunity. Oxfam said it had publicly announced an investigation into the allegations when they surfaced in 2011 and kept the Charity Commission informed. 
A DfID spokesman said: 'We often work with organisations in chaotic and difficult circumstances.
'If wrongdoing, abuse, fraud, or criminal activity occur we need to know about it immediately, in full.
'The way this appalling abuse of vulnerable people was dealt with raises serious questions that Oxfam must answer.
'We acknowledge that hundreds of Oxfam staff have done no wrong and work tirelessly for the people they serve, but the handling by the senior team about this investigation and their openness with us and the Charity Commission showed a lack of judgment.
'We have a zero tolerance policy for the type of activity that took place in this instance, and we expect our partners to as well.
'The Secretary of State is reviewing our current work with Oxfam and has requested a meeting with the senior team at the earliest opportunity.'Oxfam said it had publicly announced an investigation into the allegations when they surfaced in 2011 and kept the Charity Commission informed. 
A DfID spokesman said: 'We often work with organisations in chaotic and difficult circumstances.
'If wrongdoing, abuse, fraud, or criminal activity occur we need to know about it immediately, in full.
'The way this appalling abuse of vulnerable people was dealt with raises serious questions that Oxfam must answer.
'We acknowledge that hundreds of Oxfam staff have done no wrong and work tirelessly for the people they serve, but the handling by the senior team about this investigation and their openness with us and the Charity Commission showed a lack of judgment.
'We have a zero tolerance policy for the type of activity that took place in this instance, and we expect our partners to as well.
'The Secretary of State is reviewing our current work with Oxfam and has requested a meeting with the senior team at the earliest opportunity. 

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