Londres -
The allegations that members of Oxfam International sexually exploited people in crisis areas are "a stain" that embarrasses the NGO, said the organization's director on Friday.
Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam, said she will appoint an independent commission to investigate the allegations and urged abuse victims to come forward.
The commission "will review our culture and practices" and establish a system to investigate the staff's past, she added.
The UK-based NGO has been rocked by accusations that employees who worked in Haiti after the devastating earthquake that struck the Caribbean country in 2010 faced allegations of misconduct, including hiring prostitutes and downloading pornography.
Oxfam said it investigated the case but was accused of covering up the facts.
Byanyima told the British broadcaster BBC that "what happened in Haiti and afterwards is a stain on Oxfam that will shame us for years". (I)