Press room

New Oxfam plan to tackle global poverty based on “people power”

filip — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Under the title “The Power of People against Poverty”, Oxfam has adopted a new strategic plan that shifts the focus of its work onto the empowerment of people to shape their own future free from poverty.

Under the title “The Power of People against Poverty”, Oxfam has adopted a new stra

oxfam-rubiks-cube-fingers-460x236.jpg

oxfam-rubiks-cube-220x220.jpg

Our approach is to link our work from the local to global levels in order to reinforce the empowerment of people to make the case for broad policy change.

Winnie Byanyima

Executive Director of Oxfam International

Notes to Editors

The Oxfam “Rubik’s Cube” videos can be viewed in English, in French and in Spanish.

Read the Oxfam Strategic Plan, 2013-2019

Contact Information

Matt Grainger, matt.grainger@oxfaminternational.org, +4401865339128 or +4407730680837

Recommendations

Scandal of land grabs and tax dodging continues at expense of the world’s poor – G8 leaders must act to end hunger

filip — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:01:00 +0000

During the two days of the G8 Summit, which starts today, $2.2 billion in illicit flows will have hemorrhaged from developing countries into tax havens and land one and a half times the size of Manhattan sold off to foreign investors.

During the two days of the G8 Summit, which starts today, $2.2 billion in illicit flows will have hemorrhaged from developing countries into tax havens^1<

g8-northern-ireland-bigheads-helicopter.jpg

oxfam-big-heads-g8-2013-hitchhike-220x220.jpg

The G8 must change the rules so that no corporation or rich individual can avoid paying their fair share of taxes, and so that no company can take land from poor families without facing repercussions.

Jim Clarken

Oxfam Ireland’s Executive Director

Notes to Editors

^ Global Financial Integrity estimates that 44.2% of illicit financial flows are absorbed by offshore tax havens, which is the latest analysis available. This estimate was based on a list of 46 tax haven jurisdictions. (Global Financial Integrity, The Absorption of Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2002-2006).
The 48-hour figure was calculated on estimates of illicit financial flows for the year 2012, which is $892 billion. (Global Financial Integrity: Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2001-2010): We divided this by 365 then multiplied by two to get to the 48 hour figure.
This figure was then multiplied by the percentage absorbed by offshore tax havens (44.2%) to arrive at the $2.2 billion.
^ According to the Land Matrix Partnership (downloaded 10 June): Manhattan covers an area of 8,750 hectares. Between 2000 and 2013, concluded land deals by foreign investors (for all purposes) covered a land area of 33 million hectares, or 13,900 hectares every two days. This is equivalent to 1.6 times the area of Manhattan being acquired every two days.
^ This crucial sharing of information can be achieved by signing up to the existing transparency convention called the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, and by making sure any new multilateral tax information exchange deal (such as FATCA) includes developing countries.
^ The amount of land is 11 million hectares, calculated from the new figures from the Land Matrix Partnership. This is a third more than the amount of Northern Ireland (1.4 million hectares) and the Republic of Ireland (7.0 million) combined.
^ According to the Land Matrix, land deals in developing countries concluded for the primary purpose of agriculture or forestry, where the primary investors are from G8 countries, cover a land area of 11 million hectares. The potential annual cereal production on acquired land was calculated by multiplying the area acquired by the average cereal yield for that country (FAOSTAT). The food energy available from this potential harvest was calculated by multiplying the potential production volume by the kcal available from one tonne of cereal in the given country (obtained by dividing the annual food energy supply by the annual food supply quantity, in both cases for cereals excluding beer – FAOSTAT). The number of people that could potentially be fed from acquired land in each country was then calculated by dividing the potential annual supply of food energy by the annualized average dietary energy requirement for people in that country (FAO food security indicators). Totals for individual deals were then summed to arrive at a global total of 96 million people potentially fed.

Contact Information

Oxfam has a team at the G8 in Northern Ireland. For details and to arrange briefings or interviews, contact:

Lucy Brinicombe, +44 (0) 7786 110054 / lbrinicombe@oxfam.org.uk

Presidents Obama and Putin must deliver on Syria at the G8

Louis Belanger — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:32:44 +0000

Sending more arms to Syria will only increase the bloodshed, says Oxfam

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin must throw all their political weight into making the Geneva peace conference on

Crisis in Syria

The transfer of all arms and ammunition to Syria must be immediately stopped.

Ray Offenheiser

President of Oxfam America

Notes to Editors

Oxfam is working in Syria through local organizations and working in Lebanon and Jordan helping Syrian refugees. It is aiming to help 650,000 people in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria in the next 12 months.

Contact Information

To arrange interviews with Oxfam’s spokespeople at the G8 contact Lucy Brinicombe on: +44 (0) 7786 110054 or email lbrinicombe@oxfam.org.uk or Maura Hart, Senior Press Officer Oxfam America +1 (202) 476 0093

More on Oxfam's humanitarian response to the Syria Crisis

Aid loaded at Oxfam warehouse for Syria crisis

Joel M Bassuk — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:15:12 +0000

Twenty five tons of aid equipment to help Syrian refugees was loaded at Oxfam’s warehouse in Bicester, Oxfordshire today (Thursday, 13 June) and will be flown to Jordan on Saturday.

ogb_80676__dsc0315-syria-aid-460.jpg

ogb_80676__dsc0315-syria-aid-220.jpg

Notes to Editors

Oxfam is working in Syria through local organizations and working in Lebanon and Jordan helping Syrian refugees. It is is aiming to help 650,000 people in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria in the next 12 months.

UNICEF are providing children in Syria and refugee children in five neighbouring countries – Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt – with safe drinking water, essential vaccines, education and psychological support. UNICEF and partners have provided millions with access to safe water in Syria and the surrounding region.

The Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for the Syria crisis has raised around $23.45m from the British public so far. Oxfam’s appeal in the UK has raised an additional $3.58m. The UK public has been amongst the most generous worldwide in contributing to UNICEF’s appeal for Syria and has provided some £3.6million.

Contact Information

For more information or footage contact: Tricia O’Rourke on +44 (0)78815 594370 or Ian Bray on +44 (0)7721 461339.

For more information about UNICEF’s work in Syria and the region contact Rebecca Wynn at UNICEF UK on +44 (0)20 7375 6082 or +44 (0)7966 962984

>> Please donate to Oxfam's Syria Crisis Appeal <<

G8 implicated in land grabs risk – action needed at next week’s summit

filip — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 01:01:00 +0000

Since 2000, companies in G8 countries have acquired land in developing countries more than the size of the whole of Ireland. This is enough to feed 96 million people every year – almost the total population of the UK and Canada.

Since 2000, companies in G8 countries have acquired land in developing countries more than the size of the whole of Ireland¹.

oxfam-big-heads-g8-2013-bus-460x236.jpg

oxfam-big-heads--g8-uk-220x220.jpg

The G8 must lift the veil of secrecy around land deals to help put an end to the scandal of land grabs.

Mark Goldring

Oxfam GB’s Chief Executive

Notes to Editors

^ The amount of land is 11 million hectares, calculated from the new figures from the Land Matrix Partnership. This is a third more than the amount of Northern Ireland (1.4 million hectares) and the Republic of Ireland (7.0 million) combined. The total population of Canada and the UK is 98.4 million. http://faostat.fao.org/
^ For an example, look at The Munden Project: The Financial Risks of Land Tenure: An Investment View
^ The UN Voluntary Guidelines on Land Tenure were unanimously agreed by the UN Committee on Food Security in 2012 and include wide-ranging provisions to improve land governance and tenure to improve the land rights of vulnerable communities.

Contact Information

For more information or interviews contact:

Lucy Brinicombe, Oxfam press officer, +44(0)7786 110054, lbrinicombe@oxfam.org.uk

Oxfam will have a team at the G8 in Northern Ireland and will be available for interviews, briefings and analysis. For more information, contact Lucy Brinicombe (in Northern Ireland from June 15) as above.

Governments sign historic global treaty to regulate the $85bn arms trade

Joel M Bassuk — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:09:13 +0000

History will be made today at the United Nations as many governments sign an Arms Trade Treaty designed to protect millions living in daily fear of armed violence.

Millions of lives to be protected as poorly regulated arms trade is brought under control

History will be made today at the United Nations as many governments sign an Arms Trade T

control-arms-hunger-620x280.jpg

control-arms-hunger-220x220.jpg

The signing of the Arms Trade Treaty gives hope to the millions affected by armed violence every day.

Anna Macdonald

Oxfam’s Head of Arms Control

Notes to Editors

The Arms Trade Treaty was adopted by majority vote at the General Assembly on 3 April. Three States voted against – Iran, Syria and North Korea, 156 states voted for and 22 abstained.

The treaty will come into force 90 days after the 50th signatory state has completed the ratification process. The Control Arms Coalition is calling on states to urgently prioritise signing and ratifying as soon as possible.

The global arms market was valued at $85.3 billion in 2011 (Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2004-2011, Richard F. Grimmett).

Jamaica, Colombia, Guatemala, Swaziland, South Africa, South Sudan (then included as part of Sudan), DRC and Brazil are all in the top 20 countries when ranked by violent death rate per 100,000 population, 2004–09 (The Global Burden of Armed Violence 2011, The Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development).

By signing the treaty states commit to:

Properly regulate all transfers of conventional arms, ammunition or parts and components.

Ban the export of conventional arms, ammunition, or parts and components where there is knowledge the weapons would be used to perpetrate war crimes, genocide, attacks against civilians, and other grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.

Comprehensively assess the risk of any transfer to contribute to or undermine peace and security or to facilitate serious violations of international human rights or humanitarian law, terrorism, organized crime, gender-based violence or violence against women and children.

Consider the risk that arms might be re-directed from the original recipient to another user – known as “diversion”.

Submit annual reports on its international transfers and national implementation activities to the other States Parties, improving transparency in the global arms trade.

Contact Information

For interviews with spokespeople, including ATT experts and survivors of violence contact:
Anna Ridout on +164 6912 1926/ aridout@oxfam.org.uk
Kate Wiggans on +1 917 244 5690/ media@controlarms.org

Global leaders shirk responsibility to tackle global inequality crisis

Joel M Bassuk — Thu, 30 May 2013 19:01:18 +0000

Responding to the High Level Panel report on post-2015 global development goals, international agency Oxfam welcomed the ambition and coherence of the Panel’s report and proposed goals, and the focus on ending extreme poverty.

Oxfam response to UN post-2015 development goals report

Responding to the High Level Panel report on post-2015 global development goals, international agency Oxfam welcomed the am

The Panel has failed to recognize the growing consensus that high levels of inequality are both morally repugnant and damaging for growth and stability.

Stephen Hale

Deputy Advocacy and Campaigns Director, Oxfam

Notes to Editors

HLP report is at www.post2015hlp.org

The report was drafted by a High Level Panel co-chaired by President Yudoyono of Indonesia, President Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom, and delivered to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are set to expire in 2015.

The current eight MDGs – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education – have guided global and national development efforts since 2000. Three of the eight goals have been achieved prior to the final deadline of 2015 – on global poverty rates, slums and water - but progress has been uneven within and across countries. The global economic crisis, aid cuts, and multinational tax dodging that drains billions out of developing country economies every year have also undermined development efforts.

1.4 billion people live below the $1.25 a day poverty line. According to the Brookings Institution, providing every person in the world with a minimum income of $1.25 per day— ie guaranteeing the right not to live in absolute poverty— would cost $66 billion. http://bit.ly/TB5EEG

Contact Information

For information please contact:
Caroline Hooper-Box, caroline.hooper-box@oxfaminternational.org, +1 202 321 2967

One year on, EU falls short on promise to Palestinians

Elena Cornellana — Mon, 27 May 2013 08:34:04 +0000

A year after all 27 EU countries committed to challenging settlement expansion, forced displacement, and demolition of Palestinian property in an unprecedented Foreign Affairs Council statement, approvals for illegal settlements have increased.

A year after all 27 EU countries committed to challenging settlement expansion, forced displacement, and demolition of Palestinian property in an unprecedented Foreign Affairs Council state

Crisis in Gaza

They can and must work together to address harmful policies of the Israeli government and support the most vulnerable Palestinians in the West Bank.

Nishant Pandey

Oxfam Country Director

Notes to Editors

On May 14, 2012, EU foreign ministers adopted some of the most extensive and far-reaching recommendations on the issue of the Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian territory. In particular, the EU ministers approved specific recommendations for developing Area C and improving Israel’s policies that are currently damaging to the development of Palestinian livelihoods and for the future viability of a Palestinian state. It also called on the Government of Israel to end impunity on settler violence, as well as allow the EU to pursue development projects in Palestinian communities without risks of Israeli demolitions. In addition, for the first time, the EU declared: "Ending the conflict was a European interest”.
More than 60 percent of the occupied West Bank is designated as “Area C”, meaning it falls under full Israeli military and civil control. An estimated 150,000 Palestinians live there among 325,000 Israelis living in settlements that are illegal under international law. Area C is home to some of the most vulnerable Palestinian communities who are isolated from services provided by the Palestinian Authority in other parts of the West Bank. Palestinians living in Area C rely heavily on humanitarian and development assistance.
Israeli government demolition of Palestinian structures typically takes place because they lack building permits, which are hard to obtain, with 94 percent of Palestinian applications for building permits denied in recent years.

Contact Information

AIDA members are available for interviews and can facilitate media fieldtrips to Area C. To schedule an interview or fieldtrip, please contact:

Willow Heske, AIDA Communications at willow.h@aidajerusalem.org or + 972 (0) 597133646 or +972 (0) 546202994

or Louise Finan, ACF Advocacy and Communications Coordinator at lfinan@pt.acfspain.org or +972 (0) 544617274 or +972 (0) 595988835

or Janna Hamilton, Oxfam Media Lead at janna.hamilton@oxfamnovib.nl or +972 (0) 542542408

EU foreign ministers must bite the bullet and extend the arms embargo on Syria

Joel M Bassuk — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:15:21 +0000

Transfer of weapons to Syria likely to spell further disaster for civilians caught in the crossfire, and fuel deadly arms race

EU Foreign Ministers meeting on Monday (May 27) in B

79524scr-woman-syria-620x280.jpg

79524scr-syria-woman-220x220.jpg

There are no easy answers when trying to stop the bloodshed in Syria, but sending more arms and ammunition clearly isn't one of them.

Anna Macdonald

Oxfam's Head of Arms Control

Notes to Editors

Given clear evidence, from a variety of credible sources, that the Syrian army and associated forces have committed widespread and systematic violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, no government should transfer arms or ammunition to the Syrian government.

Given the fractured nature or opposition groups and the near impossibility of monitoring whether transferred weapons would be used to commit violations, reports of abuses, the risks of diversion of arms and ammunition and the likely humanitarian knock on effects of increased transfers, Oxfam is currently also opposed to transfers of arms and ammunition to armed groups inside Syria.

Even if the embargo were lifted, it should be noted that EU Member States would still have to abide by the EU Common Position on arms exports and prevent any arms transfer presenting a clear risk to contribute to HR or IHL violations, or prolong armed conflicts (see: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:335:0099:0099:EN:PDF)

Oxfam has been advocating to bring the arms trade under control for more than a decade and played a crucial role in the campaign to secure a robust Arms Trade Treaty. Under the new treaty – which was passed by majority vote at the UN in April this year and opens for signature on June 3 – arms transfers must not be authorized where there is a major risk the weapons will be used to commit violations of human rights or international humanitarian law.

Contact Information

For more information or to arrange interviews call Angela Corbalan on Tel +32 (0) 2 234 11 15 or mobile + 32 (0) 473 56 22 60

>> Please donate to Oxfam's Syria Crisis Appeal <<

Space

European Union Office

Space only

Risky jobs and domestic violence - new report reveals ‘hidden’ social costs of today’s high food prices

Lara Sanchez — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:00:09 +0000

A new era of high and volatile food prices is causing life-changing shifts in society, according to Oxfam and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in a joint report published today.

A new era of high and volatile food prices is causing life-changing shifts in society, according to Oxfam and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in a joint report published today.&n

mainimage.jpg

summaryimage.jpg

The implications of high and volatile food prices go way beyond the dinner table and are driving social change that must be better understood and addressed if communities are going to survive intact.

Richard King

Oxfam’s researcher

Notes to Editors

'Squeezed' is the first research report of a four-year research study: Life in a Time of Food Price Volatility. The research involves tracking food security indicators around the world, yearly return visits to 23 urban and rural communities, and analysis of national survey data, to give a bigger picture of how people across the country are being affected.

Download the report: Squeezed: Life in a Time of Food Price Volatility, Year 1 Results

Read the summary: Squeezed: Life in a Time of Food Price Volatility, Year 1 Results - highlights

Photographs and testimonies from Pakistan: http://wordsandpictures.oxfam.org.uk/?c=13922&k=83d19500c7

Photographs and testimonies from Kenya: http://wordsandpictures.oxfam.org.uk/?c=13898&k=83691c0f3d

Information on UK households from a survey by the consumer group, Which: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22417334

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) is a leading global charity for research, teaching and communications on international development. Our vision is a world in which poverty does not exist, social justice prevails and economic growth is focused on improving human wellbeing. We believe that research knowledge can drive the change that must happen in order for this vision to be realised. See www.ids.ac.uk for more information.

Oxfam is a global confederation of 17 organizations working together to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. Oxfam is campaigning for action to fix our broken food system through the GROW campaign: www.oxfam.org/grow

Contact Information

For more information or interviews contact

Anna Ratcliff, Oxfam, anna.ratcliff@oxfaminternational.org or +447796993288

Carol Smithyes, IDS, +44 (0)1273 915638 or c.smithyes@ids.ac.uk

Spaces

Space

GROW

Press room

New Oxfam plan to tackle global poverty based on “people power”

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

You may also like

Scandal of land grabs and tax dodging continues at expense of the world’s poor – G8 leaders must act to end hunger

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

You may also like

Presidents Obama and Putin must deliver on Syria at the G8

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

Aid loaded at Oxfam warehouse for Syria crisis

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

>> Please donate to Oxfam's Syria Crisis Appeal <<

You may also like

G8 implicated in land grabs risk – action needed at next week’s summit

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

You may also like

Governments sign historic global treaty to regulate the $85bn arms trade

Millions of lives to be protected as poorly regulated arms trade is brought under control

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

You may also like

Global leaders shirk responsibility to tackle global inequality crisis

Oxfam response to UN post-2015 development goals report

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

You may also like

One year on, EU falls short on promise to Palestinians

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

EU foreign ministers must bite the bullet and extend the arms embargo on Syria

Transfer of weapons to Syria likely to spell further disaster for civilians caught in the crossfire, and fuel deadly arms race

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

>> Please donate to Oxfam's Syria Crisis Appeal <<

You may also like

Space

Space only

Risky jobs and domestic violence - new report reveals ‘hidden’ social costs of today’s high food prices

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

Space