Campaigning works!
We believe that poverty is not inevitable. Campaigning for change is essential to tackle the root causes of poverty.
From debt cancellation to HIV treatment and progress on how powerful companies behave overseas, ActionAid’s campaigns have brought real benefits to the lives of people in developing countries.
2011
- Campaigners put the brakes on the global biofuel land grab by convincing the UK government not to increase their targets for the amount of biofuel that’s in our petrol and diesel
- We were delighted when the government published a draft bill to make a supermarket watchdog a reality, forcing supermarkets to play fair overseas.
- ASDA and several other retailers have agreed to trial ActionAid’s model to ensure workers receive a higher wage as a result of our campaign.
2010
- After 6 years of international campaigning the Indian government refused permission for Vedanta mining company to build a mine on land sacred to the Kondh tribe in South India. Had this gone ahead it would have destroyed their way of life and endangered the water supply for hundreds of thousands of people.
2009
- The UK government backs our calls for greater transparency to stop corporate tax dodging
- As a result of our campaigning, DFID puts women's rights at the heart of their HIV and AIDS strategy
- Our HungerFREE campaigning worldwide helps win a pledge of $20 billion to tackle hunger from G8 leaders
2008
- The Competition Commission agrees that we need a watchdog to curb supermarket power
2007
- The UK changes its stance on who should head the IMF – agreeing with ActionAid that it should be the best candidate for the job, rather than a stitch up between European governments
- Over 1 million people take action to keep poverty on the agenda at the G8 Summit in Germany
- The Competition Commission receives a ‘flood’ of letters from ActionAid campaigners and decides to examine the impact supermarkets are having on overseas suppliers
- As a direct result of your lobbying, the government introduces stronger social and environmental reporting standards for UK companies in the Companies Act
2006
- The ‘Right Corporate Wrongs’ campaign results in ground-breaking legislation requiring listed companies to consider their impact on people and the environment overseas
- Campaigning pressure helps to prevent developing countries being forced to accept a bad deal at the World Trade Organisation
- Hundreds of letters from ActionAid campaigners help push Tony Blair to back a new round of grants for the Global Fund, ensuring more money to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria
- The UK reviews its policy on using aid money to provide 'technical assistance' (including expensive consultants) as a result of pressure from ActionAid
- Rich countries cancel 60% of Nigeria’s debt
2005
- 18 of the poorest countries have their multilateral debt cancelled, with another 20 in line for debt cancellation
- The G8 promises universal access to treatment for HIV and AIDS by 2010 following years of campaigning by ActionAid
- The EU member states agree to increase the amount of money they spend on development aid, with the goal of reaching 0.7% of national income by 2015
- The UK promises that government aid will not be dependent on developing countries having to implement harmful economic policies such as water privatisation
- The UK changes its position on proposed trade deals, conceding that developing countries should not be forced to open their markets to unfair competition
2004
- The government finally announces plans to reach the international target of spending 0.7% of national income on development aid by 2013 following public pressure
2003
2002
- Following an ActionAid campaign on intellectual property rights a report commissioned by the government agrees developing countries should have the right not to grant patents on plants and animals
photo : ©Michael Huges/ActionAid
Fact file
Government aid has doubled in the last 10 years, largely thanks to public pressure.
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