Investigation of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse of Akha girls and women by Norwegian Church Aid in Laos

At the 5th Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2006, serious accusations were made that staff from NCA and Action Contre Faim (ACF) "make sexual abuse of Akha girls and women"". Such allegations are also found at the homepages of The Akha Heritage Foundation and The United World of the Indigenous People. Based on these accusations Norad commissioned an independent investigation in consultation with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NCA.

The purpose of the study was to get a factual grip of the allegations and to uncover any possible sexual misconduct and/or abuse or attempts of abuse of Akha girls and women.

The investigation was carried out by Ms. Kristin Ingebrigtsen from Save the Children Norway, Emergency Standby Force together with Dr Chris Lyttleton from Macquaire University in Australia.
Efforts were made to make the investigations as independent as possible - from NCA, donors and from those who raised the accusations.

The main findings in the report are that no evidence of sexual misconduct or abuse was found, but that it is possible that occasion sexual relations have taken place between staff employed or affiliated with NCA. The report relates the main findings to a complex social structure, cultural traditions and various relations concering power amongst the Akha in Muang Long.