Announcement of Winnie Byanyima's co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s 2015 Annual Meeting

Published: 4th December 2014

On 4 December 2014, Winnie Byanyima was announced as co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s 2015 Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. Here is her response:

"There is overwhelming consensus that things must change. The World Economic Forum has listed growing income inequality as a major global risk for several years running. Business leaders, faith leaders, and leaders of governments agree: extreme and growing inequality must be addressed urgently. What’s needed now is solutions: action by governments and businesses, with reform of global tax rules a top priority.

"This is not where the need for leadership ends. The coming year is absolutely critical for action on climate change. The 2015 global conference in Paris must agree on action at the scale and speed we need to avoid catastrophic climate change. The recent agreement between the US and China is a welcome start. Far more is needed to achieve the agreement and action we need for all countries.

"I am pleased to be asked to co-chair the World Economic Forum. This is an important opportunity to take the voices of the world’s poorest people to Davos – to bring their perspectives to a global discussion with some of the world’s most powerful leaders.

"I will be looking to business and political leaders to join me in a conversation to find a way forward for the greater good."

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More on the co-chairs for the World Economic Forum’s 2015 Annual Meeting.

Contact information

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Caroline Hooper-Box, Head of Corporate Communications, Oxfam International, + 1 202 496 1173 or +1 202 321 2967
twitter: @hooper_box

For updates, please follow @Oxfam.

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