How do you build a digital movement? Smart strategy, good stories – and make sure it is rooted in the real world

Marieke Meeske Active citizenship, Influencing, Innovation

Oxfam Novib staff on four lessons for digital activism, drawn from their “E-motive” peer-to-peer learning project that connected campaigners across borders.

Human rights defenders in the crosshairs

Caroline Brodeur Influencing, Private sector, Rights

Activists are losing their lives in defence of human rights and the environment. Caroline Brodeur introduces a new Oxfam briefing that spells out how the private sector can and must become part of the solution.

Words matter: that’s why Oxfam is launching an inclusive language guide

Helen Wishart Influencing, Power Shifts, Rights

What do you think of the term “developing countries”? Ever felt uncomfortable saying “beneficiaries”? Helen Wishart introduces Oxfam’s new inclusive language guide and sets out why it’s time for all of us in NGOs to consider the power in the words that we use…

Transformative leadership is not just a buzzword

Ines Smyth Gender, Participation and Leadership, Rights

Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a terrifying reality worldwide, women have organised together across environmental, anti-racist, labour and political movements to provide immediate local care and support to those affected. They have reimagined the deep, fundamental changes we need for a shared future that is more just, safe and kind.   These include formal strategy propositions like the Hawaii State …

Podcast – Hindou’s Journey: Climate, COVID and Care

Power in the Pandemic Podcast Climate Change, Indigenous People

“You can’t speak about us, without us” –  Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim This is the first episode of a new mini-series, in collaboration with the Climate, COVID, and Care: Feminist Journeys zine which launched on the 24th of August, 2020. This publication is a collection of journeys, stories, and ideas from five feminist activists working at the intersection of gender and climate justice. …

Should companies act when civic freedoms are under attack?

Mauricio Lazala Active citizenship, General, Influencing, Private sector, Rights

Mauricio Lazala and Ana Zbona, from the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, discuss how companies can help support civic freedoms and human rights defenders in the countries where they operate. Civic freedoms are being eroded around the world. According to CIVICUS, nearly six in ten countries are seriously restricting people’s fundamental freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression. Civil …

Making change happen

Emily Gillingham Active citizenship, Influencing, Innovation, Participation and Leadership, Rights

Oxfam GB’s Head of Publishing, Emily Gillingham, explains why and how we developed a free, online course for changemakers, and what the early results show. “I’m hoping this course will help me focus my objectives a bit more and discover what small but important steps I can take towards promoting change, changing minds and minding our community.” This comment from …

Making international development campaigns work for girls

Rosie Walters Education, Gender & Development Journal, Participation and Leadership, Youth

Rosie Walters discovers how girls can take a much more creative approach to feminist activism than campaigns would give them credit for. In the past decade, countless campaigns have emerged with the aim of empowering girls in the Global South.  Many of them cite statistics about the returns of investing in girls’ education, including increased economic output, delayed maternity and …

“If young people want change, they can achieve it”: International Youth Day 2016

Imogen Davies Active citizenship, Youth

This International Youth Day, Oxfam is supporting youth activists from all over the world to campaign on inequality issues at the World Social Forum 2016 in Montreal. Below, six youth leaders from Oxfam’s My Rights, My Voice (MRMV) programme talk about their experiences of lobbying on rights to health and education services. ith their energy, skills and creativity, young people in …