Review of Oxfam in Belgium positive

Dear <<First Name>>,

An independent commission that investigated the organisational culture, policy and procedures within the Oxfam confederation presented its final report yesterday.

In February 2018, Oxfam made headlines when reports emerged about a case of sexual misconduct that took place during our emergency response to the earthquake in Haiti in 2011.

The behaviour of these former employees of Oxfam Great Britain was reprehensible and entirely contrary to everything Oxfam stands for.

Yesterday, the Charity Commission in Great Britain has issued its report reviewing the operation and approach of Oxfam in Great Britain.

Worldwide action plan

Oxfam drew up an extensive action plan at once to address and prevent misconduct within the entire international organisation.

One of the items in the action plan was the creation of an independent investigative commission separate from the Charity Commission in Great Britain. This commission has completed its discussions with people from the Oxfam confederation around the world and is publishing its final report at independentcommission.org on Wednesday 12 June 2019.

We do not in any way tolerate employees who abuse their position or harm the people with whom we work.

The report contains hard truths that should help us implement the changes that we have previously set out. We have already booked a great deal of progress. The report compels us to go even further.

Review of Oxfam in Belgium positive

Although neither Oxfam World Shops/Oxfam Fair Trade nor the other Belgian Oxfam organisations are directly involved themselves, we are part of the big Oxfam family. The events and conclusions in the report reflect on us too.

In addition to the international report of the independent commission, an independent review commissioned by the Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation De Croo took place in the Belgian Oxfam organisations last year. It came to the conclusion that managers, employees and volunteers of Oxfam in Belgium are very conscious of integrity.

Just as we did with last year’s review, we will also take the recommendations in the commission’s report to heart now, and we acknowledge that there is still work to be done. In this way we as an organisation become better, and we want to be an organisation that conveys the values for which we fight internally too.

Your support as a customer or supporter of Oxfam World Shops/Oxfam Fair Trade remains crucial for our partners in the South. Without you we cannot fulfil our mission to offer everyone an opportunity for a decent life through fair trade.

We will make very effort to be, and to continue to be, worthy of the confidence that you place in us.

With our sincere thanks,

Oxfam Fair Trade

PS: On Friday June 14th our Customer Service will exceptionally close at 12 o'clock.