Anti-racism, JEDI and decolonization

Oxfam Canada is a feminist organization with a vision for a just and sustainable world, and a mission to fight inequality and patriarchy to end poverty and injustice. We have a deeply held conviction that ending poverty and injustice begins with advancing the rights of women, girls and gender non-conforming people -in all their diversity. We strive to act in alignment with values of accountability, courage, empowerment, equality, inclusion and solidarity. We cannot achieve our mission and vision or live up to our values without understanding and challenging intersecting systems of oppression such racism, colonialism, sexism, cissexism, heterosexism, classism, ageism, ableism, xenophobia and other forms of injustice and discrimination, both in society at large, and within our organization.

We need to recognize and undo the longstanding power imbalances in a sector that has failed to shift power, redress inequalities and get resources directly to the local actors who are at the frontlines of the fight for social justice and human rights, particularly to women’s rights organizations. We must substantially change and evolve past a system of white feminism that is entrenched in racism, colonialism, patriarchy, paternalism and white supremacy. We must look at our own organization’s history and the systems that have resulted in discrimination, inequalities and harm to our staff and the communities with which we work.

We need to start by stating unequivocally that Oxfam Canada stands against patriarchy, paternalism, racism, colonial practices, white supremacy, white feminism, violence, and hate. We stand for intersectional feminism, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) and decolonization in our culture, structure, policies, systems, programs, advocacy, campaigning and outreach work.

Oxfam Canada also acknowledges the historical and ongoing oppression and colonization of all Indigenous Peoples, cultures and lands on what we now know as Canada. As settlers on these lands, we have a responsibility to work with, and to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis and to advance reconciliation efforts.

Oxfam Canada’s overarching commitments

We are committed to “grow as a feminist, anti-racist and inclusive organization”, as a key priority in our Oxfam Canada Strategic Framework 2021-25.

We commit to identify, understand, and challenge inequity and oppression in our work and dismantle biases, systems and ways of working that uphold racism and oppression in our organization, including in the way we recruit, onboard, promote, and help our staff advance.

We commit to solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and communities -particularly First Nations, Inuit and Métis- in their struggles for self-determination and justice.

We commit to change our business model and the ways in which we partner, design programs, disburse funds, communicate and fundraise in order to shift decision-making power and resources towards people and communities we work with and for. We also commit to working to influence power shifts within the Oxfam confederation and the broader international development and humanitarian ecosystem to ensure that those experiencing poverty, discrimination and injustice have the resources and the power to drive change for good, in alignment with the ‘Pledge for Change’.

To advance our commitment to anti-racism, JEDI and decolonization, we will focus on six goals: