Thread by @TaniaCHumphrey

Today marks a major, bittersweet milestone in my decades-long quest for accountability for what happened to me as a child at the hands of my father, Ellsworth Culver, the founder of Mercy Corps. Unfortunately, he was not the only perpetrator, and I was not his only victim. 1/

Today, Mercy Corps publicly released a report on an independent investigation by the Freeh Group International Solutions that looked into what happened to me and others under the auspices of humanitarian missions. You can read the report here: mercycorps.org/sites/default/… 2/

While the investigative report is not a comprehensive account of the extent and depravity of abuse that I and other children suffered at the hands of my father and other "humanitarian" leaders, it reveals so much about how the abuse was able to fester for years under cover. 3/

For decades, I tried desperately to bring forth the truth of what happened to me and so many vulnerable children. All of my efforts to get help from the literally dozens of adults who could and should have protected us failed. 4/

The report exposes the cruel arrogance of the sham investigation in the 1990s that was meant to capture my full account and bury it. To bury me. The emails between the three men who "investigated" are revealing in the worst way. 5/

It seems they regarded my revelations of abuse as nothing more than a PR problem. They sent someone they knew was a sexual predator back into the field, where he almost certainly continued his abuse of children in the most vulnerable circumstances. 6/

Meanwhile, these so-called “pillars of the community” collected kudos and awards for their supposed good deeds. It is a testament to how power, privilege and means can insulate some from accountability for their crimes. 7/

I’m more determined than ever to shine a light on the abuse that is rampant in the international humanitarian aid world, where chaotic and desperate situations create the ideal circumstances for predators — acting as saviors — to harm vulnerable people. 8/

I won’t be speaking only for myself, but for all the other victims who suffered alongside me and who didn’t get to have a voice — and especially for the little girl who died next to me when I was 9 years old. 9/

My profound agony over what happened that night, and the feeling of her hand in mine as we comforted each other, will continue to drive me unceasingly to bring attention to the crisis of abuse in the aid world. /10

I'm so grateful to Mercy Corps’ *current* leadership for their willingness — finally — to take the path toward accountability and put measures in place to prevent this institutional failure from occurring in the future. /11

The board, the new executive leadership and the investigative team worked to ensure that I am finally being heard. Now I’m determined to make sure the world knows what’s at stake when the powerful avert their eyes — and how it’s always our responsibility to act. 12/

It’s time for the foreign aid world to have its reckoning about sexual abuse that is able to flourish in chaos and desperation. Only when they face this problem head on will they truly be what they say they are – humanitarians. #AidToo /13

Here’s my full statement: /end

I am so very grateful for thr suppprt you are all giving me. It’s been really scary doing all of this and so much of my life I’ve been alone with this so every comment and followers so grateful fir you being here with me 🙏🏼💞
#AidToo #MeToo #churchtoo