ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE
'We asked the government, "Do we have rights?" To this day, they haven’t responded.'
ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE
'We asked the government, "Do we have rights?" To this day, they haven’t responded.'
‘When the river flooded, civil protection moved our people to temporary shelters. Our land was handed over to the Maritime Force; the soldiers immediately occupied our place. They were training inside our homes. It has been over two years now.’
- Agusto
Agusto and his fellow community members sought and found help to protect what is theirs. But their fight to protect their rights, and that of millions of others across the world, is an uphill battle.
Leaders are consistently undermining or ignoring international precedents and multilateral frameworks. Accountable and inclusive governance affects the lives of many. But justice depends on safe, vibrant spaces that allow people to hold the powerful to account.
OUR WORK
Holding the powerful to account
OUR WORK
Holding the powerful to account
Amid pressing global challenges and crises, we need governance systems that work for everybody, not just the privileged few.
Amid pressing global challenges and crises, we need governance systems that work for everybody, not just the privileged few.
In 2023–24, people mobilized by the millions – at the ballot box, through social media and on the streets – to hold the powerful accountable for greater equality and social justice. However, most governments failed to meet demands for more inclusive and accountable governance and citizens were hindered from standing up and organizing.
In 2023, at least 300 human rights defenders from 28 countries were killed, and many more faced severe persecution and attacks. New digital technologies, which could have boosted governance transparency and efficiency, were instead used to increase surveillance and control.
Anti-rights groups and populist agendas sowed mistrust in public institutions and hate against minorities, undermining democracy and fundamental human rights.
In 2023, at least 300 human rights defenders from 28 countries were killed, and many more faced severe persecution and attacks
Despite these challenges, people around the world demonstrated remarkable courage and commitment against inequality, discrimination and exclusion.
Despite these challenges, people around the world demonstrated remarkable courage and commitment against inequality, discrimination and exclusion.
Oxfam creates spaces for women, non-binary people, young people and marginalized groups, to hold those in power accountable. We support, connect and collaborate with civil society organizations and activists worldwide to amplify demands for social justice.
Together, we ensure that human rights and calls for equality and social justice appear on the agenda of global high-level forums such as the EU-CELAC meeting.
We call upon governments and private companies to adopt policies and practices that foster more inclusive and accountable governance and protect human rights. In the Philippines, for example, we worked with local governments to account for unpaid care work in policy reforms to alleviate the workload of care givers.
In FY 2023–24 citizens could vote in several countries, such as Argentina, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Senegal. We took the opportunity to amplify the voices of women, young people, and marginalized groups in the political process. In South Africa we launched a TikTok campaign to convince young voters that their vote matters in national elections. We also supported young people to practice active citizenship beyond elections, empowering and connecting them across national borders.
We call upon governments and private companies to adopt policies and practices that foster more inclusive and accountable governance and protect human rights
Our staff, partners and the rightsholders we work with, faced persecution, attacks and harassment for speaking truth to power.
In some contexts, we were forced to stop working. In others we could only operate on a reduced scale to keep our staff and partners safe. As civic space continues to shrink, we believe that we are stronger together.
This conviction led us to deepen our work in partnerships and alliances, jointly defending the space for people to stand up against exploitation and inequality.
We worked with
481,780
people
This included:
255,000
women and girls
92,690
young people
26,000
people with disabilities
OUR WORK ACROSS THE WORLD
PHILIPPINES
UNPAID CARE
Women and girls around the world take on heavy and unequal unpaid care and domestic work (UCDW). Oxfam is committed to alleviating this and to increasing the discourse on the value of UCDW in society.
Oxfam worked with the University of Notre Dame Keough School of Global Affairs Integration Lab (i-Lab) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). Together we ran a pilot study and populated Oxfam’s Care Policy Scorecard in the Philippines. The scorecard is a tool to assess and track the extent to which the Filipino government is adopting policies relating to care, as well as implementing those policies and allocating budget. It gives a percentage and a score from 0 to 5 for the ‘degree to which policies are transformative.’
Assisted by a local Filipino research team, we conducted a desk review on the data from the scorecard, supplemented with findings from key informant interviews and focus group discussions.
Our findings were that unpaid care work and crosscutting policies in the Philippines do exist – but are not transformative. The scorecards showed that the Philippines has policies that cover most of the indicators measured. Average scores for policy, for example, were 70%, while access to care was lower, at 53%.
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AMY GALLATIN
Amy Gallatin is a musician and performs with an all-woman folk band called The Hot Flashes. She is also a member of the Oxfam Legacy Circle in the US, which recognizes and honors those who have included Oxfam in their financial arrangements through their wills.
She is positive about the contribution that people can make. She says, ‘Do what you can. Some people think that leaving a bequest for a charity like Oxfam is something only really wealthy people do, but that’s not the case. As an independent musician, I don’t have tons of income and live very modestly, but I am still able to bequeath to Oxfam through my will and make a difference in this world. This way I know my money will be there for me as long as I have need of it, and then what’s left goes to help some of the millions of people affected by poverty and social injustice. I’m happy to support Oxfam’s unique blend of advocacy and emergency services for the world’s less fortunate.’
Funds raised by supporters like Amy are spent globally where we stand the best chance of helping people to create change in their lives. This may include efforts to advance care policies in the Philippines, alongside other activities.
SARAH WALKER
Women and girls around the world take on heavy and unequal unpaid care and domestic work (UCDW). Oxfam is committed to alleviating this and to increasing the discourse on the value of UCDW in society.
Oxfam worked with the University of Notre Dame Keough School of Global Affairs Integration Lab (i-Lab) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). Together we ran a pilot study and populated Oxfam’s Care Policy Scorecard in the Philippines. The scorecard is a tool to assess and track the extent to which the Filipino government is adopting policies relating to care, as well as implementing those policies and allocating budget. It gives a percentage and a score from 0 to 5 for the ‘degree to which policies are transformative.’
Assisted by a local Filipino research team, we conducted a desk review on the data from the scorecard, supplemented with findings from key informant interviews and focus group discussions.
AMY GALLATIN
Amy Gallatin is a musician and performs with an all-woman folk band called The Hot Flashes. She is also a member of the Oxfam Legacy Circle in the US, which recognizes and honors those who have included Oxfam in their financial arrangements through their wills.
She is positive about the contribution that people can make. She says, ‘Do what you can. Some people think that leaving a bequest for a charity like Oxfam is something only really wealthy people do, but that’s not the case. As an independent musician, I don’t have tons of income and live very modestly, but I am still able to bequeath to Oxfam through my will and make a difference in this world. This way I know my money will be there for me as long as I have need of it, and then what’s left goes to help some of the millions of people affected by poverty and social injustice. I’m happy to support Oxfam’s unique blend of advocacy and emergency services for the world’s less fortunate.’
*Funds raised by supporters like Amy are spent globally where we stand the best chance of helping people to create change in their lives. This may include efforts to advance care policies in the Philippines, alongside other activities.
SARAH WALKER
Our findings were that unpaid care work and crosscutting policies in the Philippines do exist – but are not transformative. The scorecards showed that the Philippines has policies that cover most of the indicators measured. Average scores for policy, for example, were 70%, while access to care was lower, at 53%.
Policies that organize care-supporting infrastructure (piped water, electricity)
Policies that underpin care services (healthcare, childcare)
Policies that provide social protection benefits (pension, school meals)
Policies that develop a care-supportive workplace (sick/paid leave, flexible working)
Policies that intervene in social norms (advertising standards, training)
Policies that aim to collect data on unpaid care
We recommended that policy planners ensure greater participation by women, marginalized groups, caregivers and care workers, who could help design policies to better fit the needs of all sectors. And that more funding be allocated to local government for care services.
The scorecard report was used to ensure that programs addressing the needs of unpaid care workers, the majority of whom are women, are strengthened. The government will now increase the budget for care programs and services.
MALAWI
JUSTICE OUT IN THE OPEN
Many people in rural areas have no direct access to the legal system; courts tend to be far away and expensive to get to.
Many people in rural areas have no direct access to the legal system; courts tend to be far away and expensive to get to.
This was the issue addressed by Oxfam and partner, the Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children, who in 2024 facilitated a mobile court session in Phalombe district, Malawi. Five cases were heard, including alleged sexual harassment offences involving minors.
The mobile courts were part of a project implemented in 71 locations, some of which were areas affected by Cyclone Freddy in Malawi in March 2023. The project started by building understanding of existing laws and policies that protect women and children, such as the Child Protection Act and Domestic Violence Act. The project further strengthened capacity of school and community structures, to ensure that all gender-based violence cases are reported, referred and resolved.
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ROSEMARY MECKLENBURGH AND KATE PHILBRICK
In February 2024 Rosemary (right) and her cousin Kate (left) made an exciting discovery in their aunt Katherine’s house in the UK. They found a collection of 22 letters from some historic figures, including Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Charles De Gaulle and Chiang Kai-shek. The letters had been written to Oxford University Professor of Philosophy Sir William David Ross, and kept by his daughter, Katherine.
Katherine had attended the first meeting of the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief – the original name of Oxfam – in 1942. Her interest with Oxfam was inspired partly by her parents’ decision to open their home to people fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe during the Second World War.
Rosemary and Kate decided to auction the letters and give the proceeds to Oxfam, in memory of Katherine’s early support. ‘We always knew that she was in support of Oxfam, says Rosemary. ‘She was committed to equal rights and justice for people. She had already left a legacy, but we thought it was important that money raised from the letters went to a good cause.’
The auction of letters raised £28,000, which has been used to help Oxfam and partners fight poverty and injustice around the world.
Funds raised by supporters like Rosemary and Kate are spent globally where we stand the best chance of helping people to create change in their lives. This may include setting up mobile courts in Malawi, alongside other projects.TWAMBILILE KAYUNI
The cases adhered to good practices in safeguarding, such as protection of the identities of survivors. Survivors were not subjected to public appearance and their testimonies were handled privately. Oxfam in Malawi Country Director Lingalireni Mihowa commented, ‘We saw a lot of interest from the people in how they asked questions and listened through the sessions. We believe this model is key to ensuring that gender-based violence survivors access essential services.’
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Centre For Alternatives For Victimized Women and Children
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TREASSAR MSOKERA |
The Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children (CAVWOC) has partnered with Oxfam for 18 years.
‘The relationship with Oxfam is mutual, respectful, and collaborative. Both sides value each other’s contributions, fostering a strong partnership based on shared goals and open communication.
‘Our many notable achievements of this year include the joint campaigns against child marriages, which resulted in the termination of several forced early marriages, enabling many young individuals to return to school…We supported 722 children with school fees, educational materials, bicycles and school uniforms. We also established study circles, contributing to increased school attendance.’
Treassar Msokera
Programs Manager, CAVWOC
CAVWOC's main aim is to empower women and children in Malawi by addressing the many forms of gender inequality. The organization focuses on strengthening the capacity of communities to reduce abuse, ensure access to justice, provide psychosocial and technical support to survivors, and enhance knowledge of sexual and reproductive health. CAVWOC also seeks to promote equitable education for girls, improve sanitation and hygiene, and support household food security and income, ultimately fostering a society free from violence and discrimination.
Oxfam provides financial sub-grants to CAVWOC, technical assistance and capacity strengthening for both the institution and staff. This includes training, knowledge-sharing and skill development.
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Centre For Alternatives For Victimized Women and Children
|
|
|
The Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children (CAVWOC) has partnered with Oxfam for 18 years.
‘The relationship with Oxfam is mutual, respectful, and collaborative. Both sides value each other’s contributions, fostering a strong partnership based on shared goals and open communication.
‘Our many notable achievements of this year include the joint campaigns against child marriages, which resulted in the termination of several forced early marriages, enabling many young individuals to return to school…We supported 722 children with school fees, educational materials, bicycles and school uniforms. We also established study circles, contributing to increased school attendance.’
Treassar Msokera
Programs Manager, CAVWOC
CAVWOC's main aim is to empower women and children in Malawi by addressing the many forms of gender inequality. The organization focuses on strengthening the capacity of communities to reduce abuse, ensure access to justice, provide psychosocial and technical support to survivors, and enhance knowledge of sexual and reproductive health. CAVWOC also seeks to promote equitable education for girls, improve sanitation and hygiene, and support household food security and income, ultimately fostering a society free from violence and discrimination.
Oxfam provides financial sub-grants to CAVWOC, technical assistance and capacity strengthening for both the institution and staff. This includes training, knowledge-sharing and skill development.
SOUTH AFRICA
#YOUTHVOICESSTANDUP
In 2023, Oxfam’s Global Innovation Lab for Equality – aGILE – set out to ask: Does using TikTok encourage first time voters to take an interest in civic matters? And how might we encourage young voters (aged between 18 and 34) to believe that their vote counts?
In 2023, Oxfam’s Global Innovation Lab for Equality – aGILE – set out to ask: Does using TikTok encourage first time voters to take an interest in civic matters? And how might we encourage young voters (aged between 18 and 34) to believe that their vote counts?
Voter participation in South Africa has gone down since 1994. And only about 66% of registered voters turn out to vote.
We ran, tested and analyzed a TikTok campaign with hashtags #TheYouthKnow and #YouthVoicesStandUp, with eight posts from the South African influencer Darren Campher. Topics addressed included the mechanics of voting (including how to register, voting online), pay gaps, taxes and views that we wanted to challenge, such as the perception of poverty as individual failure.
The campaign showed that TikTok is a successful platform for engaging young people. The influencers received mainly positive feedback on their messaging, and responses indicated a keen interest from young people in discussing civic matters.
We talked to the national South African television show The Big Debate about expanding the campaign to other platforms, and we will be looking into this next.
LATIN AMERICA & EU
A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY
In July 2023 leaders from Europe and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) met in Brussels for the first time in almost a decade.
In July 2023 leaders from Europe and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) met in Brussels for the first time in almost a decade.
Leaders from both sides committed to renewing their long-standing partnership, founded on shared values and interests and strong economic, social and cultural ties, to address the multiple challenges of our time.
With Oxfam’s broad network in LAC and our deep understanding of the region, as well as our access in Brussels to leaders, we were able to facilitate the civil society working group, organize official and side events and publish a media brief on the fair transition in LAC. With input from the group, Oxfam pushed for discussions to focus on inequality, finance for development, fair transitions, care societies and civic space.
Our advocacy goal was to influence the process so that civil society organizations had a seat at the table and to help ensure that this EU–CELAC summit was inclusive, democratic and responsive to the needs and rights of all people in both regions.
Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said ahead of the summit that inequality was the main issue for the region – an advocacy win for Oxfam. The EU’s High Representative, Josep Borrell, also used a quote from a civil society statement written by Oxfam.
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