Aid charities are to be told to take action to restore trust and improve standards following the sex scandal which engulfed the sector.

The international development secretary, Penny Mordaunt, and the Charity Commission are to tell charities, regulatory bodies and experts that it is a "crucial moment" and "now is the time for action."

Mordaunt has asked delegates at a London summit on Monday to come up with measures to ensure whistleblowers and survivors of exploitation or abuse are given counselling and support. They have also been asked to establish an independent body to ensure standards and scrutiny and to devise new standards of vetting and referencing.

Attendees at the summit must also set out how they will change culture to tackle power imbalances, encourage the reporting of abuse, take allegations more seriously and hold people to account.

NGOs and charities in attendance will sign a joint statement setting out key principles they will adhere to and agree a set of practical actions to improve standards and restore trust in the sector.

Read the full article about aid organizations ordered to improve standards by at theguardian.com.