Debt Justice

Who we are

We exist to abolish unjust debt and its root causes. Through courageous campaigning, we build collective power with the people most affected — whether by personal debt in the UK or public debt in exploited countries — so together we can rewrite the rules of global finance and build a fair economy for all.

Our vision is of a world that is just and sustainable, where everyone has their basic needs met, their human rights respected, and the opportunity to flourish, live a dignified life, and contribute to their community and to society as a whole. This is a world where finance and the banks serve the public interest, and where no-one is exploited, oppressed or driven into poverty by unjust debt.

We have a small, highly-skilled team with an agile, creative and flexible approach, a network of local activists across the UK, a growing community of online activists, and a strong network of allies in the UK and around the world. All of this adds up to a big impact, relative to our size. Key victories in recent years include:

• $130 billion of debt cancellation for developing countries as part of the Jubilee 2000 campaign
• An Act of Parliament to protect 40 poor countries from being sued by vulture funds in UK courts
• $100 million of debt cancellation for Ebola-affected countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea
• Creation of a new global network to tackle the dangerous new debt-creating mechanism ‘Public Private Partnerships, currently comprising 150 campaigners in 45 countries.

Our culture and values

We have three core values that guide our work:

Solidarity

We know we cannot achieve our goals alone – we actively work in movements to build collective power. This means working in meaningful collaboration with the debt movement and others, especially the people most affected by unjust debt, recognising that our liberation is tied in with others. 

Courage

We believe in campaigning for ideas and proposals that meet the scale of the large and complex problems we are trying to tackle. We will be creative, trying new ideas and actions and not be afraid to fail. We will stand up for what is right even when it is uncomfortable for those in power or for us. 

Kindness

The world is often structured in a way that denies people dignity and doesn’t centre kindness. We want to model the world we want to see and so we treat ourselves and others with respect and kindness, even when we disagree. We recognise that everyone comes to this work with their own experiences of oppression and we will approach the work of dismantling structures of oppression with kindness. 

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Debt Justice is committed to promoting equality and diversity, providing an inclusive and co-operative environment in which all individuals working for and on behalf of the organisation feel respected and able to give their best. Through the implementation of this policy we seek to:

• Ensure that all staff (current and prospective), volunteers, members of the Board, and other elected representatives and members are afforded equal opportunities regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religious or political belief or affiliation, trade union membership, age, health, gender, gender reassignment, marital status, parental status, caring responsibilities, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic background, educational background, ex-offender status, or any other inappropriate distinction.
• Promote diversity and equality for persons working for and on behalf of Debt Justice and value input from individuals and groups of people from diverse cultural, ethnic, socio-economic, and other distinctive backgrounds.
• Promote fair and equal treatment for employees in fulfilling their potential, ensuring that no individuals or groups of people are afforded unfair privilege within the working environment. 
• Treat all members of staff fairly and equally, irrespective of their length of service, status and number of hours worked.
• Challenge discriminatory practice and less favourable treatment, wherever this is identified.
• Undertake positive action, wherever possible, to encourage greater participation of under-represented groups of people across the organisation.
• Promote an environment free from discrimination, victimisation or bullying in any way or form in relation to all employees and visitors to the organisation.
• Regard breaches of the Equality and Diversity Policy as misconduct which may lead to disciplinary action. 
• Keep under review all employment practices and procedures to ensure fairness. 
• Keep under review all practices and procedures as set out by the Management Committee and as defined within the Staff Handbook, to ensure fairness and equality.