This is a moment of change. Against a background of rapid and potentially irreversible ecological destruction, the neoliberal paradigm is increasingly questioned. It has promoted an aggressive free-market agenda of deregulation, privatisation and trade liberalisation that has undermined the State’s role in the provision of services that are essential to human security. In many parts of the world, inequality has become so extreme that societies are unsustainable, while extractive economic models have led to ecological breakdown. Moreover, the same economic system has perpetuated inequalities between the Global North and South.

These are therefore challenging times for human rights. Globally, we face a perfect storm: a global pandemic that is exacerbating structural and intersectional inequalities, the threat of climate and environmental catastrophe, and the spread of authoritarian regimes that close down democratic space.

At the same time, there are reasons to stay hopeful. A growing number of people and social organisations are realising that ESC rights are of paramount importance and that solidarity, both national and international, is essential to face societal challenges. Human rights, as a set of democratically sanctioned societal goals, provides a compass that we can use to transform our political, economic and social institutions towards a fairer future for all.

We believe that, to confront these existential challenges, human societies will need to profoundly rethink social relations and political and economic institutions. We will need to renew our vision of work, of wealth, of justice, of care, our relationship to the natural world, and our consumption patterns; and transform policies and the organisation of our economic and political institutions accordingly. We believe that, to survive, we will need governance and institutions that are fairer, more just, more respectful of the environment, more accountable, more caring and inclusive, and that consume the world’s resources more responsibly.

We identify concerns and issues and work on them, assembling evidence and arguments that lead to new narratives. Transformative narratives together with broad social coalitions have the power to strengthen the institutional human rights framework, influence public and institutional attitudes, and change thinking.

Most of our activities and programmes are intersectional and cross-cutting.