MPs are seeking views from international aid and development workers to gauge whether any progress has been made in tackling sexual abuse in the charity sector. 

Today, the Commons international-development committee announced its first survey to gauge the success of efforts since 2018 to end the exploitation of aid recipients in developing countries.  

The survey’s launch follows a recent oral-evidence session at which MPs heard accounts of vulnerable people being exploited and abused by those who were supposed to help them. 

Last month, the committee launched its third inquiry into the scandal.

The previous one, in 2018, began in the aftermath of an abuse scandal in Haiti, where it was discovered that Oxfam had covered up an investigation into staff paying local young women for sex.

Committee chairwoman and Labour MP Sarah Champion said: “We launched this inquiry because, in spite of promises of good intentions from the sector, it is not obvious that tangible new steps have been taken to protect aid recipients.

“It is unclear whether there have been any improvements for those who try to pursue a complaint or who have been left unprotected in the past. 

“The government has continued to make all the right noises on safeguarding, trying to protect recipients and support victims and survivors.

“However, we have heard that there are still serious problems and, despite repeated promises of change following horrific scandals, it seems abuse and sexual exploitation by the very people there to support you remains a reality for too many vulnerable people around the world.”

The survey can be accessed until 5pm on September 14 at https://bit.ly/3ao15ve