February 14, 2017
Actress Minnie Driver has stepped down as one of
Oxfam's global ambassadors following revelations of sexual abuse by aid workers
in Haiti.
Driver is the first celebrity spokesperson to abandon the
charity amid the growing scandal, which includes allegations that Oxfam staff
used sex workers in Chad, the CNN said.
"I am nothing short of horrified
by the allegations against Oxfam International. In no uncertain terms do I plan
to continue my support of this organisation or its leaders.
"And though
it is unfortunate that after 20 years I am no longer able to advocate and defend
through this specific framework, social and economic injustice is more globally
prevalent than ever," she said in a statement on Tuesday.
"I certainly
will not let the abhorrent mistakes of a troubling organization stop me or
anyone else from working with good people in this space to support a population
of human beings around the world that needs our help."
Juan Alberto
Fuentes, Chairman of the charity was arrested in Guatemala on Tuesday. He was
detained as part of an investigation into a corruption scandal, the BBC
reported.
Former Deputy Chief Executive Penny Lawrence also resigned on
Monday as the scandal continued to grow.
Oxfam's leaders are accused of
trying to cover up the behaviour of some of its senior staff members deployed to
Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake.
Aid workers, including the
Oxfam country director at the time, Roland van Hauwermeiren, were accused of
turning a villa rented by the organisation into a makeshift brothel, with
prostitutes wearing only Oxfam T-shirts.
Oxfam has apologised for the
behaviour of aid workers, but denies a coverup, the CNN said.
Oxfam
International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said the charity is not where
it needs to be. But she said it's "much better" than it was in 2011 and it will
continue to rebuild.