Following up on my earlier post, the UK Parliament’s International Development Committee held hearings this morning on sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector.
A video link of the 90 minute proceeding is here.
Testimony was provided by Asmita Naik, Independent Consultant with extensive experience within the aid sector and the UN, and Helen Evans, Former Global Head of Safeguarding at Oxfam GB.
More than 40 submissions were received as written evidence. The full list is here.
Our submission, a collaboration between the DLP, IJDH, and Doughty Street Chambers, is here. We are calling for an on-the-ground independent review beyond the capacity of the IDC, to investigate how safeguarding policies and procedures are being implemented in the field. We also emphasize the need for stronger and more transparent Codes of Conduct, safer and more accessible reporting mechanisms, and referrals of criminal/civil violations to authorities in the host country, and other countries with jurisdiction over such matters.
See my twitter feed for a real-time summary of testimony: @disaster_lawyer
-Kathleen Bergin
