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Can litigation achieve true social justice?
Commentators have argued over the value and effects of strategic litigation. What can funders learn about the issue from their analyses? In the 1954 case of Brown v Board of Education, the US Supreme Court …
Strategic litigation and grassroots power
To ensure a democratic future, funders should help build ecosystems and get behind intersectional approaches The victory of the Biden-Harris campaign in the 2020 US presidential election was not born out of fundraising campaigns and …
Financing people-centred justice in Africa
In the many places where access to justice is limited, funders should put money into supporting community-based paralegals The 2019 ‘Justice for All’ report found that 5.1 billion people – a staggering two-thirds of the …
Not just a question of law
The work of the East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative shows the need to adopt a context-driven approach to eliminating the persecution of same-sex conduct Removing laws that criminalise same-sex conduct will eliminate the …
Abolishing slavery once and for all
Few practices have incurred more odium than slavery, yet it persists. Building a philanthropy-backed sustainable litigation ecosystem is key to ending it for good More than 40 million people live in slavery today – where …
Restrictions blot the landscape
Despite the growth of philanthropy in Europe and moves towards greater European integration, new research finds that foundations face ongoing restrictions A favourable legal and operating environment is crucial for the philanthropy sector to meet …
Model aircraft, yes – social justice, no
The interpretation of an antiquated law on charitable status is threatening politically active civil society organisations in Germany In February 2019, the German Supreme Tax Court issued a judgment with far-reaching consequences. It ruled that …
Advancing justice is a multi-pronged act
Many funders are reluctant to delve into legal work because they see it as too specialised. However, it can be a more supple and accessible instrument for achieving change than they realise To a degree …
Funding for global health: too much and not enough
Investments made by governmental and philanthropic donors in healthcare systems around the world too often reinforce arrangements that favour private interests over public provision In March, Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy observed that, ‘historically, …
In profile: Global health philanthropy
Health and healthcare has been a traditional priority for philanthropy. Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic has stimulated activity among funders and foundations not previously much associated with it. Here is a snapshot of who is doing …