UN Staff Honour Colleagues Fallen in Gaza. Credit: UN Photo
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 16 2025 (IPS) – As the United Nations plans to commemorate its 80th anniversary later this year, it is “reflecting on the steps taken to advance implementation of the Secretary-General’s Strategic Action Plan for addressing racism in the UN Secretariat.
The UN’s Anti-Racism Office, which was created in 2023, has hosted several online events that reached over 13,500 participants and generated 2,000 comments, and welcomed 2,700 visitors to its iSeek page (accessible only by staffers)—possibly a reflection of the rising complaints and concerns of UN staffers.
In a circular to staffers, the Office claims it has “collaborated closely with other UN entities and a growing global network of Anti-Racism Advocates, to foster a workplace that is safe, inclusive and equitable for all UN personnel, regardless of their race”
Together with the Office of Human Resources (OHR) and the Department of Operational Support (DOS), the Anti-Racism Office has been working on increasing fairness in recruitment processes through projects such as strengthening “blind hiring” practices and requiring diversity on hiring panels, which will be fully implemented in 2025.
Ian Richards, former President of the Coordination Committee of International Staff Unions and Associations (CCISUA), representing over 60,000 UN staffers, told IPS some of the practices being proposed, such as “blind hiring” and “mixed panels”, make sense. The unions have been requesting this for years. Although defining racial diversity in a legal manner may prove challenging.
At the same time, he pointed out, there are many competing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, (DEI) initiatives right now: Anti-racism, gender parity, disability inclusion, LGBTQIA, regional diversity, age diversity.
Each has their own office, coordinator, focal point network, action plan, policy, task force, ICSC agenda item, quota system or communication strategy. And each response to a legitimate grievance, said Richards, an economist specializing in digital business environments at the Geneva-based UNCTAD.
However, some of these conflict with each other, and HR officers and staff in general are finding it a bit hard to keep up.
“For any of this to be really effective, there needs to be some consolidation and prioritisation. Hopefully the SG can have a strategic think about this so we have the best outcome for all”, he declared.
A survey by the UN Staff Union in New York in 2021 was equally revealing.
According to the findings, 59% of the respondents said “they don’t feel the UN effectively addresses racial justice in the workplace, while every second respondent noted they don’t feel comfortable talking about racial discrimination at work”.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretariat in New York, faltered ingloriously, as it abruptly withdrew its own online survey on racism, in which it asked staffers to identify themselves either as “black, brown, white., mixed/multi-racial, and any other”.
But the most offensive of the categories listed in the survey was “yellow” – a longstanding Western racist description of Asians, including Japanese, Chinese and Koreans.
Meanwhile the UN Special Adviser for Addressing Racism in the Workplace, Mojankunyane Gumbi of South Africa, has been “actively visiting different UN duty stations worldwide, holding town hall meetings with staff and leadership from various departments to discuss and address issues related to racism within the organization”.
The Special Adviser, who as appointed January 2023, has been providing “strategic advice to the Secretary-General on addressing racism and racial discrimination, as well as oversee the implementation of the long-term Strategic Action Plan adopted by the Organization in 2022 to address racism in the workplace.
Following the adoption of the Strategic Action Plan, every Secretariat entity was asked to develop and implement its own action plan, while an Implementation Steering Group under the leadership and stewardship of the Special Adviser will monitor and guide corporate-level actions to implement the Strategic Action Plan.
An Anti-Racism Team has been established to support the Special Adviser.
Dr Palitha Kohona, a former Chief of the UN Treaty Section, told IPS the Secretary-General’s Strategic Action Plan is a welcome initiative.
The UN has always prided itself of its inclusive approach to hiring but, in reality, many staff harbour, often publicly unexpressed but privately discussed, reservations that race and gender influence hiring and promotions, he said.
“Unfortunately, it is widely felt that political considerations influence recruitment and promotions. Some countries have made lobbying a fine art, said Dr Kohona a former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, and until recently Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China
Some of those who were responsible for staff management, he pointed out, tended to be influenced by considerations that were not necessarily consistent with the clearly stated principles of the United Nations, especially in sensitive areas, often conceding to external pressures.
“While equitable geographical distribution must be a guiding principle, staff recruitment, promotions and placements must be done transparently and with due emphasis on merit. Today, this is not too difficult a goal to achieve given the ready availability of talent from most countries of the world. In fact, the steady flow of talent from developing countries to the developed world is an acknowledged reality.”
The goals of the Organisation will be best served if recruitment, placements and promotions occur transparently and relevant information is disseminated as widely as possible through the media, in particular, the social media, he pointed out.
Vacancies, he said, should be advertised in the languages widely used/accessed by applicants around the world. The offices processing applications should also be constituted by geagraphically representative officers.
“The UN must also proactively address the concern that the recruitment of General Staff tends to be biased in favour of certain nationalities,” he declared.
Speaking strictly off-the-record, a senior UN staffer told IPS the official statement outlines the Anti-Racism Office’s efforts within the UN Secretariat, but it lacks a critical examination of the concrete impact of these initiatives.
While the creation of the office and its collaboration with other UN entities is a positive step, there is limited transparency regarding the actual outcomes of these actions. The implementation of “blind hiring” and diversity on hiring panels are mentioned as key initiatives, however, the statement does not provide any data, including status quo, or specific examples showing how these changes have improved or will improve fairness or representation within the Secretariat, he said.
“To effectively evaluate progress, it is essential to highlight measurable results and ongoing challenges in these areas together with the baseline data.
Additionally, while the Special Adviser’s visits and town halls with staff are commendable, the statement fails to address whether the concerns raised during these engagements by staff have led to substantive changes or policy adjustments”.
The numbers of participants and visitors to online events and iSeek are notable, but without demonstrating how these interactions have directly influenced policy changes, decision-making or led to tangible outcomes, the impact remains unclear, he noted.
“It would be more effective to provide specific examples of changes that have resulted from the efforts by the Anti-Racism Office such as improve hiring diversity, more inclusive workplace policies, or shifts in organizational culture, in particular, how the mandate of the Anti-Racism Office has impacted in addressing racism and racial discrimination within the UN”.
To truly advance its mission of fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace, he said, the Anti-Racism Office must go beyond activity metrics such as the number of participants to its virtual events, but focus on outcomes in order to achieve the goals and objectives set in the Secretary-General’s Strategic Action Plan, that was launched four years ago in 2021.
In a circular to UN staffers, Catherine Pollard Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Chair of the Task Force on Addressing Racism and Promoting Dignity for All in the United Nations Secretariat, said “the Secretary-General has called upon us to condemn racism wherever we see it, without reservation, hesitation or qualification”.
“This includes looking into our own hearts and minds. The global outcry in 2020 caused us all to look inward and recognize that, in order to fight racism, we have to be proactively anti-racist.”
“As an organization, we were founded on the principles of the dignity and worth of the human person, proclaiming the right of everyone to enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms, without distinctions of race, colour or national origin. We have always recognized the prevalence of racism and racial discrimination in society and played a key role in supporting Member States in the development of legal instruments to address this scourge”.
“I want to urge all personnel, of every race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin, to come together in the spirit of human decency and collegiality to educate ourselves on how racism may operate in society and in the workplaces of the Organization. I encourage all of you to participate in the ongoing dialogue and awareness campaigns to gain insight into how racism manifests at the workplace and how we can prevent it and support those who experience such behaviour.”
Ultimately, progress in addressing racism and racial discrimination will require unwavering commitment from senior leaders and the full participation of United Nations personnel to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the work of the Organization and is treated with respect and dignity. Let us stand in solidarity against racism, she declared.
We’ll have the Last Quarter Moon in 6 days on Tuesday the 21st of January of 2025 at 12:31 pm
Today is…
On Broadway and national tours, the performers who substitute for various chorus members at the drop of a hat are known as “swings.” Wednesday, today, is designated “National Swing Day” in their honor.
1922 – Thelma Carpenter, American radio and jazz band singer (Coleman Hawkins; Count Basie), and stage and screen actress (Hello Dolly! ; Barefoot In The Park (TV); The Wiz (film)), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1997)
1951 – Charo (74th Birthday) Spanish-American actress, comedienne (Chico and the Man; The Love Boat), and flamenco guitarist, born in Murcia, Spain [year disputed]
American religious non-profit leaders meet at Oxford University.
America’s Coming Oligarchic Criminal Kleptocracy Necessitates a Turn Away From Government-Only Solutions
The Wake-Up Call
The American political landscape is undergoing a transformation that will soon result in a federal government that is far less supportive and potentially more antagonistic toward its citizens. Based on what incoming administration officials have said, specific segments of the executive branch might do more harm to certain population sectors and whole people groups, even beyond US borders.
This shifting dynamic emphasizes why voters who don’t align with the emerging political ideology must seek alternative, non-governmental channels for organizing, safeguarding, and advancing the common good. Most consequentially, those abandoned and marginalized by an increasingly profit-focused Republican majority will need to depend on private benevolent institutions for their well-being.
It’s time for people of conscience to turn their focus from government entities to non-governmental organizations. Doing so will not only benefit the most vulnerable among us immediately but could also subvert the malicious intentions of the oligarchic autocracy.
The Importance of Nonprofits
I deeply value nonprofit organizations, charitable foundations, associations, guilds, societies, and religious institutions. In essence, wherever people unite freely and voluntarily to pursue a cause greater than themselves, I see democracy at its finest.
The recent passing of our 39th president, Jimmy Carter, highlighted the importance of nonprofit organizations through his exemplary post-presidential humanitarian work—constructing homes for those in need, safeguarding the integrity of elections worldwide, and nearly eradicating Guinea worm disease. His achievements through The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, demonstrate how vital non-governmental agencies are in ameliorating human suffering.
My Life in the Nonprofit Sphere
The civil rights movement of the 1960s profoundly shaped my early years. When governmental bodies were either indifferent or openly opposed to African American rights, it was the collective effort of churches, educational institutions, and organizations like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee that created and sustained meaningful change. The importance of non-government actors became evident through my parents’ admiration for Martin Luther King, Jr. I can also remember my father’s stories of his teenage fundraising efforts for the NAACP in the 1940s. These stories were a constant presence in my childhood. By twelve, I was well-versed in organizations like MLK’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the ACLU, and, through the Jewish side of my family, B’nai B’rith and the Anti-Defamation League. I understood these as citizen-led initiatives working independently of government to create a fairer society.
My father was also devoted to his Lions Club, an international service organization supporting visually impaired individuals and children with disabilities. As their local chapter president for multiple terms, Dad exemplified how individuals can band together to help those political actors might ignore, vilify, or even injure. Every July, my siblings and I participated in the club’s “Annual Picnic for the Blind and Handicapped,” where the importance of volunteers in nonprofit organizations became evident through our hands-on service – piloting wheelchairs, coordinating games, and distributing refreshments. Though we initially resisted this interruption to our summer fun, the experience invariably left us with a profound sense of fulfillment.
During my teenage years, I developed a belief that the private sector was more effective than government agencies in meeting community needs, given their closer connection to the populations they served. While my views have evolved with time, both sectors must work robustly together to effectively address the scale of societal needs. Nonprofits’ relative independence from political fluctuations enables them to pursue their missions consistently, regardless of the prevailing political climate, a real asset.
The Urgency of Supporting Nonprofits
As a new administration prepares to take office in Washington, there are growing concerns that the disparity between government support for vulnerable populations and society’s need for equitable policies and practices will expand dramatically. The traditional balance between large-scale government assistance and more targeted, passionate private aid may need to be inverted.
The incoming leadership and their congressional supporters advocate for substantial reductions in social programs, believing current government assistance levels are excessive. These cuts threaten to create significant gaps in both domestic and international social safety nets. Beyond the immediate increase in human suffering, these changes pose potential national security risks.
Humanitarian crises often create environments where extremist elements can flourish, potentially destabilizing societies and governments. Such destabilization can escalate into various forms of conflict, from cold wars to active hostilities, each bringing its own devastating consequences. The nonprofit sector is a crucial buffer, capable of mitigating these adverse developments through sustained community engagement.
Defining Nonprofits, Charities, and NGOs
Before delving into my vision for this new philanthropic paradigm, it’s essential to establish clear definitions for “nonprofit,” “charity,” and “non-governmental organization.” While some aspects of these terms may seem self-evident, there are nuanced distinctions that warrant examination:
Nonprofit organizations operate on a unique model where any surplus funds get channeled back into their mission rather than distributed to shareholders. Unlike traditional businesses, nonprofits don’t have owners or shareholders but are stewarded by elected or appointed officers who serve in trust.
This fundamental difference sets them apart from profit-driven enterprises. As a subset, charities concentrate on philanthropic objectives and receive specific tax advantages extending to their donors. NGOs encompass a broader spectrum, addressing various social issues, and may generate profits, though they do not inure to the financial benefit of any one individual or group.
In the American context, most tax-exempt organizations that offer tax deductibility to donors face restrictions on political engagement. While this doesn’t completely bar political activity, it must remain secondary to their primary mission. Organizations focused primarily on political work can maintain tax-exempt status, though contributions to them aren’t tax-deductible.
Further Distinctions Between Nonprofits, For-profit Businesses, and Governmental Entities
The fundamental difference between nonprofits and government bodies lies in their governance structure. Unlike government agencies, nonprofits typically operate under volunteer boards of directors or trustees, underscoring the importance of volunteers in nonprofit organizations. These boards guide the organization’s direction while governed by constitutions, bylaws, or similar frameworks established by their members.
Members are responsible for the entity and its resources, though the benefits extend to the entire community rather than select individuals. For incorporated nonprofits, dissolution requires transferring assets to another nonprofit entity.
Regarding financial sustainability, nonprofits blend various funding sources, including donations, grants, and earned income, to support their missions. This revenue structure requires a careful balance between idealistic goals and practical considerations, with every resource dedicated to creating positive change. While bound by applicable laws, nonprofits maintain significant autonomy in establishing internal procedures, resolving conflicts, and defining relationships with constituents. This independence enables them to remain focused on their core mission while adapting to changing community needs.
Nonprofits must adhere to regulatory requirements, including filing reports with the IRS, state agencies, and local authorities. Credible allegations of misconduct can result in sanctions or closure. However, when operating ethically, nonprofits generally maintain their autonomy, protected by constitutional rights, particularly First Amendment provisions. Religious nonprofits usually enjoy enhanced protection against external interference.
How Nonprofits Meet Needs and Fill Voids
Nonprofits especially shine within the humanitarian aid sector. Groups like Doctors Without Borders (MSF), World Central Kitchen, the Red Cross, and the International Rescue Committee often venture into conflicts and disasters ahead of military or government interventions. Habitat for Humanity’s response to Indonesia’s devastating 2018 earthquake and tsunami demonstrates this impact. The catastrophe claimed over 2,000 lives, injured countless others, and displaced entire communities. Habitat’s comprehensive, community-centered approach included several crucial components:
Emergency shelters: They provided immediate temporary housing to more than 5,000 families.
Water and Sanitation: Clean water systems were established, benefiting over 10,000 individuals.
Permanent Housing: Their primary focus involved rapidly constructing disaster-resistant homes.
Within the first year, Habitat achieved significant milestones:
1,500 disaster-resistant houses were constructed
7,000 families received comprehensive support, from housing to livelihood assistance
This Indonesian case study represents just one nonprofit’s impact. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, functioning as a quasi-nonprofit NGO itself, coordinates thousands of global charitable organizations that extend beyond essential infrastructure development, addressing various community needs, from distributing personal hygiene products to deploying trauma counselors.
The NGO Long Game
Global NGOs demonstrate the importance of nonprofit organizations through their long-term strategic initiatives addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges. At the Skoll Foundation‘s 2017 World Forum at Oxford University’s Said Business School, over 2000 social innovators gathered to share successful strategies for tackling issues from rural healthcare in Africa to sustainable housing solutions in India and youth agricultural employment in Nigeria. Founded in 1999 by eBay’s founding president, Jeff Skoll, the Foundation catalyzes transformative social change through strategic investments, networking, and championing social entrepreneurs who develop innovative solutions to global challenges.
Room to Read illustrates another remarkable example of sustained impact, particularly in regions previously plagued by illiteracy. Their literacy program has achieved an impressive 82% increase in reading fluency and comprehension. The organization’s reach extends to 23 million children across 20 countries in Asia and Africa, demonstrating again the importance of volunteers who help implement these programs.
Similarly, news commentator Lawrence O’Donnell‘s K.I.N.D (Kids in Need of Desks) Fund showcases how focused initiatives can create substantial change. Through viewer support on MSNBC, the fund has raised over $17 million, providing desks to more than 500,000 students and scholarships to over 3,000 young women in Malawi and other sub-Saharan nations.
Supporting these organizations through donations and volunteering creates a multiplier effect, as their services benefit numerous nonprofits simultaneously.
The principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) face increasing challenges under the new executive administration and its congressional supporters, who sophomorically label these efforts as the “woke agenda.” The latter three consultative organizations mentioned above actively work to strengthen these values, both through their direct programming and indirect support to beneficiary organizations.
Healthcare Access
Healthcare provides compelling examples of the importance of nonprofits. St. Jude’s Hospital for Children is a beacon of innovation in pediatric cancer treatment. Through dedicated research, they’ve achieved remarkable success in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia, raising survival rates from a stark 4% to an impressive 94%. Their commitment extends beyond treatment to pioneering research that has transformed approaches to malignant diseases, making treatments gentler and more effective. Their unwavering promise that no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food – regardless of their place of origin – exemplifies their ethic. Similarly, Philadelphia’s Shriners Children’s Hospital operates as an independent, charitable research and teaching institution, ensuring quality care regardless of patients’ ability to pay.
These organizations represent just a fraction of the over 2 million nonprofits in the United States. The National Philanthropic Trust reports that NGOs receive approximately $500 billion annually, with individuals contributing $340 billion of that sum. The sector continues to grow, with state corporation regulations facilitating the relatively easy establishment of new nonprofits across jurisdictions. As you read this article, hundreds of new organizations addressing various worthy causes will be born.
The following organizations exemplify the diverse range of needs, causes, and populations served by nonprofits:
Social Justice and Equality
The Trevor Project – This national organization provides crucial suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ youth, offering essential support during vulnerable periods of self-discovery.
SAGE – Focusing on the other end of the age spectrum, this organization champions LGBTQ+ elders through comprehensive advocacy and housing initiatives, ensuring dignity and support for those who faced historical discrimination.
The Coalition for the Homeless—As the nation’s oldest advocacy and direct service organization for homeless individuals and families, it fights for fundamental rights, including affordable housing, adequate food, and living wages.
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty for Low-Income Individuals and Households
National Immigration Law Center (NILC)—According to its mission statement, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a pioneering advocacy organization that champions the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their families.
National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC): This coalition champions the fundamental human right to housing, striving to ensure America’s lowest-income residents have access to safe, affordable, and dignified homes.
Feeding America: As the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, Feeding America coordinates a vast network of food banks. Its dual approach addresses immediate hunger needs while advocating for systemic changes to eliminate food insecurity.
Reclaiming Heritage and Rights for Indigenous Americans
Native American Rights Fund (NARF): Through strategic legal advocacy, NARF is a powerful defender of tribal sovereignty and Native rights, working to reverse centuries of systemic injustice. Their comprehensive efforts range from protecting sacred lands to ensuring equal voting access for Native communities.
American Indian College Fund: This organization recognizes education as a catalyst for change. It creates opportunities for Native students through comprehensive scholarship programs and support services. Its work exemplifies how education can preserve cultural heritage and build sustainable futures.
Wings of America: This organization holistically strengthens Native communities by nurturing mind, body, and spirit while honoring ancestral traditions. Their programs encompass running training, youth mentorship, educational advancement, and cultural identity reinforcement.
Strengthening Vulnerable Women of Color
Black and Missing Foundation: Addressing a critical gap in media coverage and law enforcement attention, this Foundation advocates for missing persons of color, particularly women and girls. They provide essential resources to families while educating minority communities about personal safety.
Women of Color Foundation: Operating as a 501c3 tax-exempt organization, Women of Color creates powerful networking opportunities while delivering comprehensive personal and professional development programs for Women of Color.
Ujima (The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community): Established to combat domestic, sexual, and community violence in the Black community, this organization takes a proactive approach to creating lasting change.
Justice for Sexual Assault Victims
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): The nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, RAINN, provides invaluable support to survivors through their 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline while advocating for stronger policies to prevent sexual violence and support survivors.
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): A division of Respect Together, this organization pursues an unwavering commitment to ending sexual violence and supporting survivors nationwide. Their comprehensive programs transform societal understanding and responses to sexual harassment, abuse, and assault, creating lasting change.
Stop It Now! takes a proactive approach to preventing child sexual abuse. They empower adults, families, and communities with crucial resources and support systems to protect children before harm occurs, creating a safer environment for future generations.
Forgotten People
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)is a vital advocate for those affected by rare diseases, highlighting the importance of volunteers in nonprofit organizations. Their patient advocacy initiatives, research support programs, and educational outreach bring essential attention and resources to often-overlooked conditions.
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Established by the renowned late actor Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana following his spinal cord injury, this Foundation serves as a comprehensive national resource for those affected by paralysis. Through its National Paralysis Resource Center, it provides crucial support for independent living and quality of life enhancement, emphasizing the daily challenges and triumphs of the paralysis community.
The Arc – Champions the universal human rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, actively promoting their complete inclusion and participation in society.
Preserving, Defending, and Advancing a Free and Democratic Society
Common Cause works tirelessly to fortify American democracy against contemporary challenges. Their initiatives span all government levels, focusing on protecting voting rights, regulating campaign finance, ensuring public official accountability, and strengthening democratic institutions.
The Center for Election Innovation and Research dedicates its efforts to rebuilding trust in America’s electoral system, promoting inclusive participation while ensuring robust election security and integrity measures.
The National League of Cities (NLC) unites leaders from cities, towns, and villages in their mission to enhance the quality of life for current and future constituents through strengthened local governance structures.
In Summary
Nonprofit organizations are potent catalysts for positive change, demonstrating that every action contributes to broader movements for justice and equality. These organizations challenge society to expand perspectives, acknowledge others’ struggles, and take meaningful action. Whether through board service, financial support, volunteer work, social media advocacy, professional engagement, or establishing new organizations with like-minded individuals, everyone can contribute to these vital missions for social change.
Nonprofit organizations are pillars of civil society, fostering community connections, facilitating accurate information dissemination, and mobilizing citizens to support vulnerable populations. These organizations demonstrate their importance through their ability to influence elected officials, shape public policy, and ensure governmental accountability. The importance of leadership in nonprofit organizations is evident as their leaders unite diverse communities and exemplify ethical, compassionate, and moral guidance. Many of these leaders later transition into public service roles.
The United States itself operates as an extensive nonprofit entity. This fact underscores why nonprofit sector experience is invaluable for future government personnel across all departments. Government operations align more closely with nonprofit principles than business practices. Furthermore, nonprofits are crucial in organizing resistance against unresponsive governance, public corruption, and state-sponsored misconduct.
Regardless of their specific focus, these organizations contribute to global betterment, enhance human welfare, and reinforce freedom, democracy, and social justice. They maintain collaborative efforts for the common good while standing firm against propaganda, indignity, violence, hatred, and malevolence.
This moment presents an opportunity to evaluate our engagement with nonprofit organizations. Their need for support will only increase over the next 48 months. For those not currently involved with non-governmental benevolence organizations, affinity groups, or community initiatives, consider investing your time, skills, and resources in these worthy causes. For those connected to non-profit work, consider doing even more in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. Your contribution can make a significant difference in strengthening these vital institutions. Do it for your own sake, the sake of others, and the world’s sake.
America’s Coming Oligarchic Criminal Kleptocracy Necessitates a Turn Away From Government-Only Solutions
The Wake-Up Call
The American political landscape is undergoing a transformation that will soon result in a federal government that is far less supportive and potentially more antagonistic toward its citizens. Based on what incoming administration officials have said, specific segments of the executive branch might do more harm to certain population sectors and whole people groups, even beyond US borders.
This shifting dynamic emphasizes why voters who don’t align with the emerging political ideology must seek alternative, non-governmental channels for organizing, safeguarding, and advancing the common good. Most consequentially, those abandoned and marginalized by an increasingly profit-focused Republican majority will need to depend on private benevolent institutions for their well-being.
It’s time for people of conscience to turn their focus from government entities to non-governmental organizations. Doing so will not only benefit the most vulnerable among us immediately but could also subvert the malicious intentions of the oligarchic autocracy.
The Importance of Nonprofits
I deeply value nonprofit organizations, charitable foundations, associations, guilds, societies, and religious institutions. In essence, wherever people unite freely and voluntarily to pursue a cause greater than themselves, I see democracy at its finest.
The recent passing of our 39th president, Jimmy Carter, highlighted the importance of nonprofit organizations through his exemplary post-presidential humanitarian work—constructing homes for those in need, safeguarding the integrity of elections worldwide, and nearly eradicating Guinea worm disease. His achievements through The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, demonstrate how vital non-governmental agencies are in ameliorating human suffering.
My Life in the Nonprofit Sphere
The civil rights movement of the 1960s profoundly shaped my early years. When governmental bodies were either indifferent or openly opposed to African American rights, it was the collective effort of churches, educational institutions, and organizations like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee that created and sustained meaningful change. The importance of non-government actors became evident through my parents’ admiration for Martin Luther King, Jr. I can also remember my father’s stories of his teenage fundraising efforts for the NAACP in the 1940s. These stories were a constant presence in my childhood. By twelve, I was well-versed in organizations like MLK’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the ACLU, and, through the Jewish side of my family, B’nai B’rith and the Anti-Defamation League. I understood these as citizen-led initiatives working independently of government to create a fairer society.
My father was also devoted to his Lions Club, an international service organization supporting visually impaired individuals and children with disabilities. As their local chapter president for multiple terms, Dad exemplified how individuals can band together to help those political actors might ignore, vilify, or even injure. Every July, my siblings and I participated in the club’s “Annual Picnic for the Blind and Handicapped,” where the importance of volunteers in nonprofit organizations became evident through our hands-on service – piloting wheelchairs, coordinating games, and distributing refreshments. Though we initially resisted this interruption to our summer fun, the experience invariably left us with a profound sense of fulfillment.
During my teenage years, I developed a belief that the private sector was more effective than government agencies in meeting community needs, given their closer connection to the populations they served. While my views have evolved with time, both sectors must work robustly together to effectively address the scale of societal needs. Nonprofits’ relative independence from political fluctuations enables them to pursue their missions consistently, regardless of the prevailing political climate, a real asset.
The Urgency of Supporting Nonprofits
As a new administration prepares to take office in Washington, there are growing concerns that the disparity between government support for vulnerable populations and society’s need for equitable policies and practices will expand dramatically. The traditional balance between large-scale government assistance and more targeted, passionate private aid may need to be inverted.
The incoming leadership and their congressional supporters advocate for substantial reductions in social programs, believing current government assistance levels are excessive. These cuts threaten to create significant gaps in both domestic and international social safety nets. Beyond the immediate increase in human suffering, these changes pose potential national security risks.
Humanitarian crises often create environments where extremist elements can flourish, potentially destabilizing societies and governments. Such destabilization can escalate into various forms of conflict, from cold wars to active hostilities, each bringing its own devastating consequences. The nonprofit sector is a crucial buffer, capable of mitigating these adverse developments through sustained community engagement.
Defining Nonprofits, Charities, and NGOs
Before delving into my vision for this new philanthropic paradigm, it’s essential to establish clear definitions for “nonprofit,” “charity,” and “non-governmental organization.” While some aspects of these terms may seem self-evident, there are nuanced distinctions that warrant examination:
Nonprofit organizations operate on a unique model where any surplus funds get channeled back into their mission rather than distributed to shareholders. Unlike traditional businesses, nonprofits don’t have owners or shareholders but are stewarded by elected or appointed officers who serve in trust.
This fundamental difference sets them apart from profit-driven enterprises. As a subset, charities concentrate on philanthropic objectives and receive specific tax advantages extending to their donors. NGOs encompass a broader spectrum, addressing various social issues, and may generate profits, though they do not inure to the financial benefit of any one individual or group.
In the American context, most tax-exempt organizations that offer tax deductibility to donors face restrictions on political engagement. While this doesn’t completely bar political activity, it must remain secondary to their primary mission. Organizations focused primarily on political work can maintain tax-exempt status, though contributions to them aren’t tax-deductible.
Further Distinctions Between Nonprofits, For-profit Businesses, and Governmental Entities
The fundamental difference between nonprofits and government bodies lies in their governance structure. Unlike government agencies, nonprofits typically operate under volunteer boards of directors or trustees, underscoring the importance of volunteers in nonprofit organizations. These boards guide the organization’s direction while governed by constitutions, bylaws, or similar frameworks established by their members.
Members are responsible for the entity and its resources, though the benefits extend to the entire community rather than select individuals. For incorporated nonprofits, dissolution requires transferring assets to another nonprofit entity.
Regarding financial sustainability, nonprofits blend various funding sources, including donations, grants, and earned income, to support their missions. This revenue structure requires a careful balance between idealistic goals and practical considerations, with every resource dedicated to creating positive change. While bound by applicable laws, nonprofits maintain significant autonomy in establishing internal procedures, resolving conflicts, and defining relationships with constituents. This independence enables them to remain focused on their core mission while adapting to changing community needs.
Nonprofits must adhere to regulatory requirements, including filing reports with the IRS, state agencies, and local authorities. Credible allegations of misconduct can result in sanctions or closure. However, when operating ethically, nonprofits generally maintain their autonomy, protected by constitutional rights, particularly First Amendment provisions. Religious nonprofits usually enjoy enhanced protection against external interference.
How Nonprofits Meet Needs and Fill Voids
Nonprofits especially shine within the humanitarian aid sector. Groups like Doctors Without Borders (MSF), World Central Kitchen, the Red Cross, and the International Rescue Committee often venture into conflicts and disasters ahead of military or government interventions. Habitat for Humanity’s response to Indonesia’s devastating 2018 earthquake and tsunami demonstrates this impact. The catastrophe claimed over 2,000 lives, injured countless others, and displaced entire communities. Habitat’s comprehensive, community-centered approach included several crucial components:
Emergency shelters: They provided immediate temporary housing to more than 5,000 families.
Water and Sanitation: Clean water systems were established, benefiting over 10,000 individuals.
Permanent Housing: Their primary focus involved rapidly constructing disaster-resistant homes.
Within the first year, Habitat achieved significant milestones:
1,500 disaster-resistant houses were constructed
7,000 families received comprehensive support, from housing to livelihood assistance
This Indonesian case study represents just one nonprofit’s impact. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, functioning as a quasi-nonprofit NGO itself, coordinates thousands of global charitable organizations that extend beyond essential infrastructure development, addressing various community needs, from distributing personal hygiene products to deploying trauma counselors.
The NGO Long Game
Global NGOs demonstrate the importance of nonprofit organizations through their long-term strategic initiatives addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges. At the Skoll Foundation‘s 2017 World Forum at Oxford University’s Said Business School, over 2000 social innovators gathered to share successful strategies for tackling issues from rural healthcare in Africa to sustainable housing solutions in India and youth agricultural employment in Nigeria. Founded in 1999 by eBay’s founding president, Jeff Skoll, the Foundation catalyzes transformative social change through strategic investments, networking, and championing social entrepreneurs who develop innovative solutions to global challenges.
Room to Read illustrates another remarkable example of sustained impact, particularly in regions previously plagued by illiteracy. Their literacy program has achieved an impressive 82% increase in reading fluency and comprehension. The organization’s reach extends to 23 million children across 20 countries in Asia and Africa, demonstrating again the importance of volunteers who help implement these programs.
Similarly, news commentator Lawrence O’Donnell‘s K.I.N.D (Kids in Need of Desks) Fund showcases how focused initiatives can create substantial change. Through viewer support on MSNBC, the fund has raised over $17 million, providing desks to more than 500,000 students and scholarships to over 3,000 young women in Malawi and other sub-Saharan nations.
Supporting these organizations through donations and volunteering creates a multiplier effect, as their services benefit numerous nonprofits simultaneously.
The principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) face increasing challenges under the new executive administration and its congressional supporters, who sophomorically label these efforts as the “woke agenda.” The latter three consultative organizations mentioned above actively work to strengthen these values, both through their direct programming and indirect support to beneficiary organizations.
Healthcare Access
Healthcare provides compelling examples of the importance of nonprofits. St. Jude’s Hospital for Children is a beacon of innovation in pediatric cancer treatment. Through dedicated research, they’ve achieved remarkable success in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia, raising survival rates from a stark 4% to an impressive 94%. Their commitment extends beyond treatment to pioneering research that has transformed approaches to malignant diseases, making treatments gentler and more effective. Their unwavering promise that no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food – regardless of their place of origin – exemplifies their ethic. Similarly, Philadelphia’s Shriners Children’s Hospital operates as an independent, charitable research and teaching institution, ensuring quality care regardless of patients’ ability to pay.
These organizations represent just a fraction of the over 2 million nonprofits in the United States. The National Philanthropic Trust reports that NGOs receive approximately $500 billion annually, with individuals contributing $340 billion of that sum. The sector continues to grow, with state corporation regulations facilitating the relatively easy establishment of new nonprofits across jurisdictions. As you read this article, hundreds of new organizations addressing various worthy causes will be born.
The following organizations exemplify the diverse range of needs, causes, and populations served by nonprofits:
Social Justice and Equality
The Trevor Project – This national organization provides crucial suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ youth, offering essential support during vulnerable periods of self-discovery.
SAGE – Focusing on the other end of the age spectrum, this organization champions LGBTQ+ elders through comprehensive advocacy and housing initiatives, ensuring dignity and support for those who faced historical discrimination.
The Coalition for the Homeless—As the nation’s oldest advocacy and direct service organization for homeless individuals and families, it fights for fundamental rights, including affordable housing, adequate food, and living wages.
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty for Low-Income Individuals and Households
National Immigration Law Center (NILC)—According to its mission statement, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a pioneering advocacy organization that champions the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their families.
National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC): This coalition champions the fundamental human right to housing, striving to ensure America’s lowest-income residents have access to safe, affordable, and dignified homes.
Feeding America: As the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, Feeding America coordinates a vast network of food banks. Its dual approach addresses immediate hunger needs while advocating for systemic changes to eliminate food insecurity.
Reclaiming Heritage and Rights for Indigenous Americans
Native American Rights Fund (NARF): Through strategic legal advocacy, NARF is a powerful defender of tribal sovereignty and Native rights, working to reverse centuries of systemic injustice. Their comprehensive efforts range from protecting sacred lands to ensuring equal voting access for Native communities.
American Indian College Fund: This organization recognizes education as a catalyst for change. It creates opportunities for Native students through comprehensive scholarship programs and support services. Its work exemplifies how education can preserve cultural heritage and build sustainable futures.
Wings of America: This organization holistically strengthens Native communities by nurturing mind, body, and spirit while honoring ancestral traditions. Their programs encompass running training, youth mentorship, educational advancement, and cultural identity reinforcement.
Strengthening Vulnerable Women of Color
Black and Missing Foundation: Addressing a critical gap in media coverage and law enforcement attention, this Foundation advocates for missing persons of color, particularly women and girls. They provide essential resources to families while educating minority communities about personal safety.
Women of Color Foundation: Operating as a 501c3 tax-exempt organization, Women of Color creates powerful networking opportunities while delivering comprehensive personal and professional development programs for Women of Color.
Ujima (The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community): Established to combat domestic, sexual, and community violence in the Black community, this organization takes a proactive approach to creating lasting change.
Justice for Sexual Assault Victims
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): The nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, RAINN, provides invaluable support to survivors through their 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline while advocating for stronger policies to prevent sexual violence and support survivors.
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): A division of Respect Together, this organization pursues an unwavering commitment to ending sexual violence and supporting survivors nationwide. Their comprehensive programs transform societal understanding and responses to sexual harassment, abuse, and assault, creating lasting change.
Stop It Now! takes a proactive approach to preventing child sexual abuse. They empower adults, families, and communities with crucial resources and support systems to protect children before harm occurs, creating a safer environment for future generations.
Forgotten People
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)is a vital advocate for those affected by rare diseases, highlighting the importance of volunteers in nonprofit organizations. Their patient advocacy initiatives, research support programs, and educational outreach bring essential attention and resources to often-overlooked conditions.
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Established by the renowned late actor Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana following his spinal cord injury, this Foundation serves as a comprehensive national resource for those affected by paralysis. Through its National Paralysis Resource Center, it provides crucial support for independent living and quality of life enhancement, emphasizing the daily challenges and triumphs of the paralysis community.
The Arc – Champions the universal human rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, actively promoting their complete inclusion and participation in society.
Preserving, Defending, and Advancing a Free and Democratic Society
Common Cause works tirelessly to fortify American democracy against contemporary challenges. Their initiatives span all government levels, focusing on protecting voting rights, regulating campaign finance, ensuring public official accountability, and strengthening democratic institutions.
The Center for Election Innovation and Research dedicates its efforts to rebuilding trust in America’s electoral system, promoting inclusive participation while ensuring robust election security and integrity measures.
The National League of Cities (NLC) unites leaders from cities, towns, and villages in their mission to enhance the quality of life for current and future constituents through strengthened local governance structures.
In Summary
Nonprofit organizations are potent catalysts for positive change, demonstrating that every action contributes to broader movements for justice and equality. These organizations challenge society to expand perspectives, acknowledge others’ struggles, and take meaningful action. Whether through board service, financial support, volunteer work, social media advocacy, professional engagement, or establishing new organizations with like-minded individuals, everyone can contribute to these vital missions for social change.
Nonprofit organizations are pillars of civil society, fostering community connections, facilitating accurate information dissemination, and mobilizing citizens to support vulnerable populations. These organizations demonstrate their importance through their ability to influence elected officials, shape public policy, and ensure governmental accountability. The importance of leadership in nonprofit organizations is evident as their leaders unite diverse communities and exemplify ethical, compassionate, and moral guidance. Many of these leaders later transition into public service roles.
The United States itself operates as an extensive nonprofit entity. This fact underscores why nonprofit sector experience is invaluable for future government personnel across all departments. Government operations align more closely with nonprofit principles than business practices. Furthermore, nonprofits are crucial in organizing resistance against unresponsive governance, public corruption, and state-sponsored misconduct.
Regardless of their specific focus, these organizations contribute to global betterment, enhance human welfare, and reinforce freedom, democracy, and social justice. They maintain collaborative efforts for the common good while standing firm against misinformation, indignity, violence, hatred, and malevolence.
This moment presents an opportunity to evaluate our engagement with nonprofit organizations. Their need for support will only increase over the next 48 months. For those not currently involved with non-governmental benevolence organizations, affinity groups, or community initiatives, consider investing your time, skills, and resources in these worthy causes. For those connected to non-profit work, consider doing even more in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. Your contribution can make a significant difference in strengthening these vital institutions. Do it for your own sake, the sake of others, and the world’s sake.
Pop singer and education activist Shehzad Roy plays chess with Malala Yousafzai. Courtesy: Shehzad Roy
KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan 13 2025 (IPS) – “She was at her brilliant best, speaking fearlessly and boldly about the treatment of women by the Afghan Taliban, robbing an entire generation of girls their future, and how they want to erase them from society,” said educationist and one of the speakers, Baela Raza Jamil, referring to the speech by Nobel Laureate and education activist Malala Yousafzai.
Malala addressed the second day of a two-day international conference organized by the Pakistan Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFE&PT) on January 11 and 12, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for girls’ education in Muslim communities.
“They are violators of human rights, and no cultural or religious excuse can justify them,” said Malala. “Let’s not legitimize them.”
Pop singer and education activist Shehzad Roy was equally impressed.
Roy said, “When she speaks, she speaks from the heart.”
It has been a little over three years since the Taliban banned secondary education for girls in Afghanistan on September 17, shortly after their return to power in August 2021. In 2022, the Taliban put a ban on women studying in colleges, and then in December 2024, this was extended to include women studying nursing, midwifery and dentistry.
In October 2012, at 15, Malala survived a Taliban assassination attempt for advocating girls’ education in Mingora, Pakistan. She was flown to England for treatment and has since settled there with her family while facing continued Taliban threats.
Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, a university professor and columnist, acknowledged that the treatment of girls and women in Afghanistan was essentially “primitive and barbaric,” but emphasized that “before the Pakistani government takes on the mantle of being their [Afghan women’s] liberator, there are laws relating to women (in Pakistan) that need to be changed and anti-women practices that need to be dismantled.”
Syani Saheliyan project, which helped nearly 50,000 adolescent girls by providing academic, life skills, vocational training, and technology-driven support to reintegrate Courtesy: Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi
Dismantling many of the colonial laws and legal systems that perpetuate gender inequality at both personal and societal levels was also pointed out by Jamil, who spoke about the important role women can play in peacebuilding. But that was only possible, she said, when society can promote education and lifelong learning without discrimination.
“In Malala, we have a living example of a contemporary young student’s lived experience of responding to deadly violence by becoming a unique peacebuilder,” said Jamil in her speech to the conference.
This high-profile conference deliberately kept low-key till the last minute for “security reasons gathered 150 delegates, including ministers, ambassadors, scholars, and representatives from 44 Muslim and allied countries, as well as international organizations like UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Saudi-funded Muslim World League.
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Hoodbhoy, however, said the summit was “solely purposed to break Pakistan’s isolation with the rest of the world and shore up a wobbly government desperate for legitimacy.”
While some Indian organizations were represented, Afghanistan, despite being invited, was conspicuously absent.
This did not go unnoticed.
“The silence of the Taliban, the world’s worst offender when it comes to girls’ education, was deafening,” pointed out Michael Kugelman, director of the Washington D.C.-based Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute. Given the strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said the former may have wanted this conference to bring attention to the Taliban’s horrific record on girls’ education.
“And it has succeeded, to a degree, especially with an iconic figure like Malala using the conference as a platform to condemn gender apartheid in Afghanistan under the Taliban.”
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Yusafzai was glad that the conference was taking place in Pakistan. “Because there is still a tremendous amount of work that is ahead of us, so that every Pakistani girl can have access to her education,” she said, referring to the 12 million out-of-school girls.
Kugelman credited Pakistan as the host for not trying “to hide its own failures” on the education front. “It was important that Prime Minister Sharif acknowledged the abysmal state of girls’ education in Pakistan in his conference speech,” he said.
With 26 million out-of-school children in Pakistan, 53 percent of whom are girls, the summit seemed to be in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s declaration of an education emergency in Pakistan last year, vowing to “bring them [unschooled children] back to school.”
“The PM is rightly worried about out-of-school kids, but I’m more worried about those who complete ten years of education and fail to develop critical thinking,” said Roy, commenting on the summit. The pop singer has been a very vocal education activist for over two decades.
Hoodbhoy had similar thoughts. “Had there been serious intent to educate girl children, the more effective and far cheaper strategies would be to make coeducation compulsory at the primary and early secondary levels to increase school availability and design curriculum to educate and inform girls (and boys) rather than simply brainwash,” he said.
Pop singer and education activist Shehzad Roy is concerned with the quality of education. Courtesy: Shehzad Roy
Roy stated that Yousafzai has consistently emphasized the importance of quality education. With just 150 government training institutions in Pakistan, he said there was an urgent need for reform through public-private partnerships. He also noted that many private schools hire unqualified teachers and advocated for a teaching license, like medical licenses.
Since forming the Zindagi Trust in 2003, Roy has been advocating for better quality education in public schools. He has also adopted two government girl’s schools in Karachi and turned them around, providing meals to nursery children and teaching chess and musical instruments, both unheard of in public schools, especially for girls.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that enrolling 26 million students in school was a challenging task, with “inadequate infrastructure, safety concerns, as well as deeply entrenched societal norms” acting as barriers, and stated that the real challenge was the “will” to do it.
For 34 years, Jamil has raised questions about the design and process of education in Pakistan through annual reports. She believes that bringing 26 million children back to school is less challenging than ensuring “foundational learning” for those already enrolled. “Forty-five percent of children aged 5-16 fail in reading, comprehension, and arithmetic,” she told IPS. Along with improved funding and well-equipped school infrastructure, Jamil was also concerned about what she termed a runaway population.
Lamenting on a “lack of imagination to solve the education crisis” within the government, she said there was potential to achieve so much more. Jamil’s own organisation’s 2018 Syani Saheliyan project helped nearly 50,000 adolescent girls (ages 9-19) in South Punjab who had dropped out of school. It provided academics, life skills, vocational training, and technology-driven support to reintegrate them into education. The project was recognized by HundrEd Innovation in 2023.
Even Dr. Fozia Parveen, assistant professor at Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development, would like the government to think outside the box and find a “middle ground” by including local wisdom in modern education.
“Instead of western-led education in an already colonial education system, perhaps a more grassroots approach using local methods of education can be looked into,” she suggested, adding: “There is so much local wisdom and knowledge that we will lose if we continue to be inspired by and adopt foreign systems. An education that is localized with all modern forms and technologies is necessary for keeping up with the world,” she said.
Further, Parveen, who looks at environmental and climate education, said “more skill-based learning would be needed in the times to come, which would require updated curriculum and teachers that are capacitated to foster those skills.”
The two-day International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities ended with the signing of the Islamabad Declaration, recognizing education as a fundamental right protected by divine laws, Islamic teachings, international charters, and national constitutions. Muslim leaders pledged to ensure girls’ right to education, “without limitations” and “free from restrictive conditions,” in line with Sharia. The declaration highlighted girls’ education as a religious and societal necessity, key to empowerment, stable families, and global peace, while addressing extremism and violence.
It condemned extremist ideologies, fatwas, and cultural norms hindering girls’ education and perpetuating societal biases. Leaders committed to offering scholarships for girls affected by poverty and conflict and developing programs for those with special needs to ensure inclusivity.
The declaration concluded by affirming “it will not be a temporary appeal, an empty declaration, or simply a symbolic stance. Rather, it will represent a qualitative transformation in advocating for girls’ education—bringing prosperity to every deprived girl and to every community in dire need of the contributions of both its sons and daughters equally”.
A permanent committee was urged to oversee the implementation of these outcomes.
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Jan 8 2025 (IPS) – Colombia has just marked a historic milestone in the global campaign against child marriage, with the Senate passing one of Latin America and the Caribbean’s most comprehensive bans on child marriage and early unions. In a country where one in five girls under 18 and one in 10 under 14 are married or live in marriage-like conditions, the new law raises the minimum age to 18 with no exceptions, eliminating a 137-year-old Civil Code provision that allowed children over 14 to marry with parental consent. This achievement aligns with goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which has a target of eliminating harmful practices like child marriage by 2030. The new law now awaits the signature of President Gustavo Petro to come into effect.
The breakthrough
Child marriage disproportionately affects Colombia’s most vulnerable communities, with rates of between 40 and 65 per cent among rural, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations. In some communities, girls as young as 10 are married off. These early unions expose girls to unequal power relations, deny them education, limit their bodily and economic autonomy and lead to higher rates of gender-based violence and health issues linked to early pregnancy.
The passage of the #SonNiñasNoEsposas (‘They are girls, not wives’) bill reflected the power of persistent civil society advocacy. After several failed attempts since 2007, the bill, authored by two congresswomen, passed with unanimous support. This success was driven by a coalition of Colombian civil society organisations as part of the Girls Not Brides global network, including the Foundation for Gender and Family Development, Fundación Plan and Profamilia, working alongside international partners such as Equality Now and Plan International, with Girls Not Brides directly supporting legislative advocacy and media campaigns.
Beyond raising the marriage age, the new law establishes the National Comprehensive Programme for Life Projects for Children and Adolescents. This preventive initiative targets the structural causes of early unions – poverty and lack of education – particularly in remote rural areas. The programme includes the participation of Indigenous communities through their own governance structures, recognising the importance of cultural sensitivity in implementation.
The global landscape
Colombia is by no means alone in having a child marriage problem. Around the world, some 12 million girls are married each year, two million before the age of 15. While child marriage can affect boys as well, girls are six times more likely to be married as children than boys.
According to the Child Marriage Monitoring Mechanism, a collaborative initiative to generate evidence to support efforts to end child marriage, one in five young women worldwide are married before their 18th birthday, with rates highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
To tackle this problem, The Elders, a group of senior public figures, launched the global Girls Not Brides partnership in 2011. With over 1,400 member organisations in more than 100 countries, Girls Not Brides works to prevent under-age marriage, recognising it as both a human rights violation and an obstacle to development. It identifies four main drivers of child marriage: poverty, limited educational and economic opportunities, gender inequality and insecurity in conflict or disaster situations. It tackles the problem with awareness-raising campaigns, national and international policy advocacy and community engagement to challenge social norms that perpetuate child marriage.
Since then, efforts have multiplied. In 2016, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched the Global Programme to End Child Marriage. Now in its third phase, set to run until 2030, the programme operates in 12 high-prevalence countries in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Working directly with governments, it has reached millions of adolescent girls, focusing on education, healthcare and economic opportunities.
Many more initiatives work at national and local levels. They combine multiple responses, including working with religious and community leaders to change social norms, supporting girls’ education and economic empowerment, engaging with men and boys on gender equality, advocating for stronger laws and their enforcement, providing support services to girls at risk of child marriage, using media and technology to raise awareness and change attitudes and building networks of young advocates and change-makers.
Progress and challenges
These efforts have contributed to a global decline in child marriage rates. According to UNICEF, the proportion of young women married as children has decreased from 25 per cent to 21 per cent over the past decade, meaning that 25 million child marriages have been prevented. However, the global number of child brides is still estimated at 650 million, including girls under 18 who have already married and adult women who married as children.
The average annual rate of reduction has been 0.7 per cent over the past 25 years and 1.9 per cent over the past decade, showing the impact of recent initiatives. But at this rate, the SDG target of eliminating the practice by 2030 won’t be achieved.
Setbacks have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflict and economic instability. Wherever insecurity rises, so does child marriage, as parents see early marriage of daughters as a financial and security solution. During Syria’s conflict, for example, the rate of child marriages shot up among refugees in countries such as Jordan and Lebanon.
Looking ahead
Colombia’s new law marks significant progress, but it’s just the beginning, as evidenced by the fact that many of the early marriages that take place in Colombia would have been illegal under the old law.
The real work of implementation begins now. Colombia’s efforts over the next few years will be crucial in demonstrating how legislative change can translate into real protection for vulnerable girls. For Latin America and the Caribbean, it should open up opportunities for strengthened cross-border cooperation and similar legislative reforms.
Colombia’s comprehensive approach could serve as a model for change in a region where many countries still have legal exceptions that allow child marriage under some circumstances, while others have strong laws that aren’t adequately implemented.
While the declining trend in global child marriage rates offers hope, the current pace of change remains far too slow. Colombia’s example shows that significant progress is possible through sustained, multi-stakeholder commitment and comprehensive approaches that change laws but also address underlying social dynamics. The international community must build on this momentum. This means scaling up successful initiatives, increasing funding for civil society organisations and maintaining political pressure.
