Unit 5: Response

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5.1 Safeguarding concerns reported in the media

A black-and-white picture of a stack of newspapers covering an open laptop.
© Photo Kozyr / Shutterstock

In the following activities, you are encouraged to reflect on the causes and consequences of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment allegedly committed by the staff of some international organisations in the international aid and development sector.

Reflect on how and why organisations reacted in the way that they did, why these responses were inappropriate and how can the lessons learnt be applicable to your organisation by strengthening your own response mechanisms.

Activity 5.1 Safeguarding scandals in the media

Choose at least two real case studies from the list below. Follow the link, read the article, and then reflect and respond in your learning journal to the following questions:

  • Identify the safeguarding concerns – why did SEAH happen in the first place?
  • How did the organisation respond? Why do you think the organisations responded in this way?
  • As a result of these organisational responses, what were the consequences for victims, survivors and others?

(Note: these are journalist articles found in the media and have only been used here to raise issues for learning on this course. They are not necessarily endorsed by the course leaders.)

  1. Oxfam Haiti allegation: How the scandal unfolded
  2. Save the Children let down public and staff over harassment claims
  3. MercyCorps shaken by sexual allegations against co-founder Ellsworth Culver
  4. Child Sex abuse inquiry: Catholic church “shocked to the core by evil of clergy”

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