Over 60 CEOs of UK NGOs sign open letter re-committing to tackling and dismantling racism
Today, Monday 12 August, leaders of 68 UK NGOs have come together to stand in solidarity with people of colour and communities who have been targeted and threatened by racist, Islamophobic & antisemitic violence in the UK over the past two weeks.
In an open letter, leaders of organisations working in international development and humanitarian assistance have pledged to “support the wellbeing and safety of colleagues who are directly or indirectly affected by, and fearful of, this violence.”
These NGO leaders affirm, “There is no justification for racism on the streets of the UK. This violence is not an isolated incident—it’s a symptom of a deeper, pervasive issue that we must stand against and actively work to eradicate.”
Signatories have also re-committed to tackling and dismantling racism in the sector, marking it as a key priority for their organisations. They recognise that the colonial roots of the international development and humanitarian system must be addressed. As leaders, they recognise they need to take a deliberate approach to challenging structural racism within the sector and ensure organisations become actively anti-racist.
Signatories include the CEOs of Action for Humanity, ADD International, Age International, CAFOD, Concern Worldwide UK, Christian Aid, Fairtrade Foundation, International Rescue Committee UK, Oxfam GB, Results UK, Save the Children UK, Scotland’s International Development Alliance, Tearfund and many others.
ENDS.
Notes for editors
- This open letter has been put together by members of the Bond CEO Group on Anti-Racism.
- At Bond we’re working to transform the UK NGO sector, we are prioritising work on how both we as an organisation and sector need to make tackling and dismantling racism a priority since it is embedded and manifests across the international development sector. Our free online resource, Anti-racism and decolonising: a framework for organisations maps out how systemic racism manifests across all areas of the international development sector and supports organisations to build anti-racist practices and to take steps to decolonise the sector. In Autumn 2024, we will also launch resources on applying anti-racist & decolonial approaches to policy and advocacy in international development.
- Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
- For further information or interviews please contact Jess Salter at [email protected] or call 07493200979.
