Blogs & Stories

Through the Creating Spaces project, these women champion female leadership to advance gender justice.

by Asma Siyala and Farwah Qasim | March 8, 2022

Generation Equality Forum: A blueprint for gender equality “Human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights” – a key refrain from the Fourth United Nations World Conference…

by Amar Nijhawan, Amber Parks & Julie Thekkudan | July 20, 2021

Schools tailored to girls’ needs in northern Ghana are removing barriers and motivating them to pursue higher education.

by Divya Amladi | August 15, 2019

Written by Winnie Byanyima⁩, Executive Director, Oxfam International. These are restless, exciting, and frightening times to be a woman. Every day brings with it a rousing success or a crushing…

by Oxfam Canada | June 6, 2018

“You can’t change the past, but you can change the future.” – Rubina Rubina has been through a lot in her 18 years of life. In fact, still not much…

by Oxfam | May 3, 2018

The #MeToo campaign is empowering survivors across the globe to share their stories. Sexual abuse and violence against women are more pervasive than we ever thought – whether in the…

by Luna Allison | February 8, 2018

Since August 25, over 600,000 Rohingya refugees have crossed over into Bangladesh’s southeastern districts. More than half are women, and 60 percent of these are girls under 18. They have faced…

by Sara Thaw | December 6, 2017

“Do not get married if you are a child, because you do not yet understand about the household. “  These are the words of Putri (15) who, married at 13,…

by Sara Thaw | October 11, 2017

This summer, Coldplay invited Oxfam volunteers on their World Tour to encourage fans to get involved with the STAND AS ONE campaign. Right now, more than 65 million people have been forced…

by Sara Thaw | August 23, 2017

Sometimes we harm the people we try to help. As humanitarians we deliver life-saving assistance to people who need it, but sometimes, the way we provide that assistance can inadvertently…

by Luna Allison | August 18, 2017

The moral poverty of the America First idea lies in the false choice it presents: are you a part of the American family or the human family? We shouldn’t have…

by oxfamcanada | January 24, 2017

Oxfam’s new inequality report, which found that just 8 men own the same wealth as half the world, is making headlines around the globe. Since we launched we have been…

by oxfamcanada | January 17, 2017

Written by Julie Delahanty, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada. First published in The Hill Times on July 27, 2016. To mark its 20th anniversary, artists from India to Nigeria revamped…

by Luna Allison | August 11, 2016

Written by Chiara Capraro and Francesca Rhodes, originally published on openDemocracy, April 7, 2016 The world is talking about tax this week, so here’s another tax story for you. Asana…

by oxfamcanada | April 15, 2016

  While President Obama's visit has put Havana in the spotlight, more remote communities are preparing for earthquakes and natural disasters. Those who live in La Flora, a community in…

by oxfamcanada | March 23, 2016

Oxfam made headlines this week with our stats on wealth inequality, particularly the finding that the 62 richest people in the world own as much as the poorest half of…

by oxfamcanada | January 22, 2016

Photo: Women in Nepal, one of the countries that will be part of Oxfam Canada’s new 5-year program that will take action on violence against women.   by Laura Haylock, Women’s Rights Knowledge Specialist…

by oxfamcanada | December 17, 2015

By Julie Lafrenière, Women’s Rights Specialist at Oxfam Canada.  In South Sudan, domestic violence is widespread and largely tolerated. In the all-too-common words of two young women from Warrap State:…

by oxfamcanada | December 3, 2015

Written by Julie DelahantyExecutive Director, Oxfam Canada Early reviews of last night’s Munk Debate on foreign policy have been positive. There was a substantive airing of some important issues. And…

by oxfamcanada | September 29, 2015

Written by Julie DelahantyExecutive Director, Oxfam Canada Election season is heating up. The leaders debate on economic policy is almost upon us. And my mother wants me to say a…

by oxfamcanada | September 17, 2015

Making “Cuba’s Hour” Count for Cubans  by Marianela Gonzalez, communications officer for Oxfam in Cuba. Since December 17th, Cuba has been “trending“. Reporters, politicians, analysts and celebrities have all turned their eyes towards…

by oxfamcanada | August 14, 2015

Somalia hasn’t been in the news much in the past couple of years – which is largely good news – but just because there aren’t headlines doesn’t mean there isn’t…

by oxfamcanada | August 5, 2015

Last summer, 16 year old Eba'a Hamouda watched terrified as the bombs fell all around her in Gaza. Since then she has used her love of drawing and writing to…

by oxfamcanada | July 7, 2015

Today is World Public Service Day. Around the world, governments and citizens are marking the contribution of public servants to our communities. And next week, our government will also be…

by oxfamcanada | June 23, 2015

By Shaheen ChughtaiOxfam’s Deputy Head of Humanitarian Policy and Campaigns Kathmandu was ever a disaster-in-waiting. The densely populated capital of one of the world’s poorest countries clings to the slopes…

by oxfamcanada | April 26, 2015

An Oxfam staff worker has written a blog about what life has been like in Yemen for the past week. She is based in Sanaa. Oxfam has been working in…

by oxfamcanada | April 16, 2015

A week ago when Cyclone Pam hit, families in Etas did their best to hide from the ferocious storm, taking shelter in small churches and in neighbours’ homes that were…

by Amy Christian | March 23, 2015

Mariam, 33, mother of five, gazes out of her tent at the snow capped mountains and the icy mud encircling the dwellings in the informal camp where she settled with…

by oxfamcanada | March 11, 2015

Eight years ago, Rebecca Elija moved to South Sudan with her father and little sister, leaving the rest of the family in Khartoum, Sudan. Although she has been in part…

by oxfamcanada | March 5, 2015

Make It Happen: Stories From south sudan Stella's story “I hope that I don’t continue writing about war and destruction. I want peace to come so that I can write…

by oxfamcanada | March 5, 2015

If there is one person on the planet who embodies what Oxfam is all about, it’s Ipaishe. Her resourcefulness, resilience and compassion in facing the challenges of extreme poverty are…

by oxfamcanada | March 1, 2015

By Ann Witteveen Aid organizations and staff have long known that humanitarian crises affect men and women differently, depending on their roles in society and the particular nature of the…

by oxfamcanada | February 5, 2015

Worldwide violence against women and girls is a widespread human rights violation. Oxfam is part of a global movement challenging systems and beliefs that perpetuate violence against women and girls.…

by Oxfam | November 24, 2014

Food. It’s one of life’s great pleasures. We think about it all the time. Most of us eat food at least three times a day. Some of us take photos…

by oxfamcanada | October 14, 2014

“Rather than being a human, be a humanitarian” ― Kowtham Kumar K Today, August 19th, is World Humanitarian Day. Currently, Oxfam is responding to over 35 humanitarian crises around the…

by oxfamcanada | August 19, 2014

by Jasmine Lum Over the past school year, Oxfam Canada clubs on university and college campuses across Canada have once again been busy raising awareness and taking action on gender justice,…

by oxfamcanada | August 9, 2014

by Simon Starling It was boiling hot last Friday afternoon when I heard the news. I was just getting used to the idea of drinking a land-grab-free soft drink to…

by oxfamcanada | August 6, 2014

by Noah Gottschalk, Oxfam America A lanky boy wearing torn shorts and ill-fitting black sandals adorned with pink plastic hearts emerged from a grass-thatched hut and walked towards me. In…

by oxfamcanada | June 20, 2014

by Lauren Ravon and Lise Martin Last week the international community was shocked when two little girls in India looking for a safe place to go to the toilet were…

by oxfamcanada | June 12, 2014

by Emily Brown, Oxfam Great Britain Have you ever felt like no one is listening to you? Do you think it’s fair? No, Oxfam doesn’t either…  And that’s why Raising Her…

by oxfamcanada | June 11, 2014

by Melanie Gallant A couple of months ago I biked 350 kilometres under the Cuban sun, cutting straight across the island from the Atlantic to the Caribbean coast. The trip…

by oxfamcanada | June 3, 2014

by Caroline Gluck When typhoon Haiyan hit the central Philippines last November, killing more than 6,000 people and destroying millions of people’s houses and livelihoods, people like fisherman Lionel Advincula,…

by oxfamcanada | April 30, 2014

In the current discussions around this week’s first High-Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, transparency, accountability, and inclusion are not being sufficiently integrated. Tariq Sayed Ahmad…

by oxfamcanada | April 15, 2014

by Françoise Venni This year the World Economic Forum (or WEF) for the Latin America region was held in Panama. A country where growth levels, which are among the 20…

by oxfamcanada | April 8, 2014

Photo: (l-r) Nicole Kieley, Oxfam Canada board member; Debbie Forward, President of the Newfoundland & Labrador Nurses' Union (NLNU); and Bill Hynd, Oxfam Canada. Bill is presenting a plaque recognizing…

by oxfamcanada | March 14, 2014

by Jane Beesley We might feel aggrieved when we’ve gone out of our way to do something for someone and receive no word of thanks afterwards. I’m sure most of…

by Oxfam | February 8, 2014

We witnessed a continuing barrage of natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes and cyclones. And conflicts around the world have again torn apart the lives of millions of people, trapping…

by oxfamcanada | January 14, 2014

by Melanie Gallant Violence against women and girls is an attack on human rights – it ruins lives and impoverishes communities. It is present in all nations – rich and…

by oxfamcanada | December 11, 2013

by Meyer Brownstone My first and most memorable encounter with Nelson Mandela coincided with a moment marking one of his basic goals – the equal right to vote in South…

by oxfamcanada | December 10, 2013

By Cherian Matthews, Regional Director of Oxfam in Asia I have just returned from the typhoon-ravaged areas of Daanbantayan and Bantayan Island in Cebu province of the Philippines. When I…

by oxfamcanada | November 26, 2013

A month ago, Oxfam launched the second action of our Behind the Brands campaign asking three of the biggest companies in the sugar industry – Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Associated British…

by Oxfam | November 7, 2013

Yesterday was World Food Day. It was also an exciting day for the Behind the Brands campaign, with stunts taking place in Canada, USA, and the Netherlands. But what’s the…

by oxfamcanada | October 17, 2013

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Associated British Foods (ABF) have had varied reactions to Oxfam’s new report, Sugar Rush, exposing land grabs and conflicts in their sugar supply chains, and their need…

by oxfamcanada | October 4, 2013

by Rachel George What is a land grab? Land grabs are huge purchases of land by banks, private investors, governments or corporations which result in the often violent eviction of…

by oxfamcanada | August 16, 2013

  by Melanie Gallant Maxaquene is an impoverished neighborhood on the outskirts of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. The unpaved and pot-holed streets are filled with mud-brick houses, chickens, and…

by oxfamcanada | August 8, 2013

  by Vanita Suneja The recent flash floods in Uttrakhand have already claimed around 1000 lives and more than 3000 people are still missing.   One of the worst calamities caused…

by oxfamcanada | July 4, 2013

  by Ann Witteveen Since 1970 the number of people exposed to floods and tropical cyclones has doubled and the latest climate science indicates worse to come.  Volatility in food…

by oxfamcanada | May 23, 2013

  by Karen A. Murray So, I just got back from a week of walking through the Sahara Desert.  Yep, I did just say, a week of walking, through the…

by oxfamcanada | April 29, 2013

  It’s been a busy few months for Oxfam campaigners, and it’s all been leading up to this moment: the World Bank Spring Meetings. Here’s why they’re so important to…

by oxfamcanada | April 19, 2013

  by Hannah Stoddart At the beginning of its Land and Poverty Conference this week, the World Bank Group put out a statement on land that follows many months – and in some cases…

by oxfamcanada | April 15, 2013

Small-scale women farmers are the backbone of Africa’s food system, but, as corporations buy up huge swathes of rural land, they are losing out at every turn. Marc Wegerif, Oxfam’s…

by oxfamcanada | April 9, 2013

by Nidhi Tandon The first and greatest violence is the systematic exclusion of people – a great number of people – by society. From this violence other violence directly and indirectly flows. Where you exclude, you must establish instruments…

by oxfamcanada | March 7, 2013

  There’s been a great response to the Behind the Brands launch. Consumers clearly care about the people behind the foods they buy. Thousands of people have taken action; the…

by oxfamcanada | February 28, 2013