The humanitarian aid sector has been rocked recently by a wave of reports of sexual abuse and harassment not only among their own staff, but also of the people they serve. Last week, 118 organizations pledged to rid their workplaces of exploitation. Now the hard work begins.
Do nonprofits hesitate to self-report sexual harassment and abuse for fear of donor abandonment? In the UK, some have suggested a cross-sector review to counteract the fallout for aid agencies acting, albeit late in the game, on sexual abuse and harassment.
Watch NPQ’s senior investigative correspondent Amy Costello, in conversation with a former aid worker and a leading researcher, discussing the components and dynamics in humanitarian aid organizations that can lead to an enabling environment ripe for sexual harassment and assault.
This story is part of a series that exposes the failure of the humanitarian aid sector to protect and support its staff in the wake of widespread sexual assault.
ORIGINAL REPORTING FOR PRI’s THE WORLD: This story was reported by Amy Costello, Senior Correspondent and Investigations Editor at NPQ, and was originally broadcast on March 8, 2018.
Kevin Spacey’s foundation closes following complaints about alleged inappropriate behavior.
In a pattern reminiscent of the Catholic Church, USA Swimming left its swimmers acutely vulnerable by internally flagging those accused of sexual misconduct but not banning them from work in the sport.
Yesterday, a Washington Post guest column suggested that the lesson of the Oxfam and related sexual misconduct scandals at nonprofits is that the sector should be better regulated—like for-profits. Apparently, the authors believe for-profits face greater regulation and accountability than nonprofits, a dubious conclusion at best.
The closing of Portland, Maine’s Venture Hall after receiving a large and prestigious grant follows accusations of sexual misconduct by one of its cofounders.
The stories are horrifying, and Dr. Larry Nassar is headed for prison. But will the culture of not asking questions at Team USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic Committee, and Michigan State University—which allowed abuse to persist for decades—change or stay the same?
