{UAH} Fwd: Aid workers warn of 'cooling effect' after Oxfam sexual harassment scandal

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From: Devex Doing Good <info@devex.com>
Date: 7 November 2017 21:01:58 GMT
To: georgeokello_8@hotmail.com
Subject: Aid workers warn of 'cooling effect' after Oxfam sexual harassment scandal
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To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add info@devex.com to your address book. Nov. 7, 2017 WHAT TO KNOW NOW Aid workers warn of 'cooling effect' after Oxfam sexual harassment scandal By Sophie Edwards @Sophie_Ed1984 Aid workers tell Devex that stories of sexual harassment emerging from the sector in recent weeks are likely "the tip of the iceberg." But they also expressed concern that negative media attention could discourage organizations from making it easier for staff to report abuse.     Photo by: ihsanadity   Former and current aid staffers told Devex that rapidly rising numbers of claims at Oxfam, recently revealed by the Times newspaper, are largely due to the fact that the international nongovernmental organization has been working to improve its reporting procedures, and that other organizations should follow suit. At the same time, they said charities need to make sure that allegations are taken seriously once reported, that victims' anonymity is protected, and that there are consequences for perpetrators. This will be key to ensuring more women come forward, they said. Their comments come after the British newspaper reported that seven Oxfam country directors had been investigated in relation to "safeguarding allegations," including sexual harassment, and that the charity had handled 87 allegations of sexual exploitation by staff in 2016 and 2017, up from 26 cases in 2014. A former female country director also claimed the charity mishandled her case after she accused a senior Oxfam official of assaulting her in 2010. Sexual assault and harassment allegations in the development section have been gaining high-level attention in recent years, thanks to the efforts of advocacy groups, including Report the Abuse and the Humanitarian Women's Network. Both were set up to shed light on the pervasive but widely underreported issues of sexism, discrimination, and homophobia within the industry, as Devex has reported. A number of development insiders who spoke to Devex said that while the aid sector has known about problems with sexual harassment for years, increased reporting is positive news. Many hope the revelations regarding Oxfam will be used to drive positive change within the industry. But some fear it could result in a "cooling effect" with organizations opting to keep quiet about sexual assault within their ranks. Devex talks to insiders on what should happen next.   + Read more QUOTABLE "It's really hard, particularly knowing that there was so much hope at one time."   By Liz Harding, Médecins Sans Frontières outgoing head of mission in South Sudan Harding talks to Devex about working in South Sudan — and watching the young nation spiral into war. Read more   Be the first to see and share each week's Quotable by liking Devex on Facebook.   SPOTLIGHT ON 3 tips for NGOs considering a foray into drone use   By Kelli Rogers @kellierin       Photo by: Jessica Lea / DFID / CC BY Overuse or misuse of drones in the past few years has left many aid groups wondering how to move forward. Devex caught up with three experts in the space to find out what organizations need to know now. + Read more SPOTLIGHT ON Top employers in climate change: A primer   By Emma Smith @emmasmith_bcn       Photo by: Albert Gonzalez Farran / UNAMID / CC BY-NC-ND Devex looks at some of the top employers working on climate change issues through research, policy, advocacy, and on-the-ground projects. Here are 12 organizations, many of them currently hiring, to consider. + Read more SPONSORED ANNOUNCEMENT The New School launches innovative master's for experienced international professionals The New School's Studley Graduate Program in International Affairs has redesigned its 30-credit M.S. degree curriculum for professionals with 3+ years' experience. Our innovative, modular approach enables you to acquire unique combinations of substantive knowledge and advanced practical tools to advance your career in international affairs. Students can pursue the degree on a full-time or part-time basis at The New School's campus in New York City. You can choose modules of courses from across The New School in fields such as social research, design, and media. Select one of the Subject Modules and one of the Critical Tools and Analysis Modules to build a unique portfolio of expertise. 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Climate Change / CC BY-NC-SA   Below are some of the most noteworthy events for the week starting Nov. 7: + COP 23 Nov. 6-17. Bonn, Germany + 31st ASEAN Summit Nov. 10-14. Clark, Philippines + Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils Nov. 11-12. Dubai, United Arab Emirates + World Pneumonia Day Nov. 12 + World Diabetes Day Nov. 14 + AidEx 2017 Nov. 16-17. Brussels, Belgium Know of an upcoming event that might be of interest to the international development community? Email us at news@devex.com. Important: This email contains links that automatically log you into your Devex account. Copyright 2017 Unauthorized commercial reapplication, reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is prohibited. Doing Good - Development community buzz, innovation & lifestyle. Manage your newsletter subscriptions |  Read the latest Devex News |  RSS Feed Connect with us Devex is the media platform for the global development community. 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