Challenging
Unfair Systems
Poverty and inequality don’t happen by accident.
We are a women’s rights organisation based in Ireland and we believe charities can go further in the fight for fairness and equality. For us, that means standing in solidarity with lasting change for women and girls.
Why? Because across the world, there are systems in place that decide:
Who has power.
Who gets access to resources.
Who gets to choose their future.
Far too often, women and girls are excluded by those very systems. They are denied opportunities and unfairly forced into poverty.
It is time for that to change. Unstoppable leaders for a fairer world.
Why do we talk about "systems"
- and why does it matter? Women and girls.
Why do we talk about ‘systems’ – and why does it matter?
Despite important progress, rights and power between men and women are not shared equally in many cultures. It’s the result of “the way the world is run” which is a set of laws and rules designed to serve the rich and powerful that are deeply linked to colonial attitudes towards race and gender. They shape everyday life. Across the world, they unfairly lock women and girls out of power, resources and opportunity. Driven by groundbreaking research, we understand and define these “systems” so that we can
take action to transform them so they are fairer for everyone. The systems we seek to transform are:
Political: Affecting the rights of women and girls and where women are grossly underrepresented.
Economic: Deciding how women and girls can access money, resources and crucial services.
Social: Defining how safe and free women and girls are to live their lives on a daily basis. Challenging and changing them is crucial to building a fairer world for everyone.
The world is not built fairly. Here's how you can understand global economic injustice.
Countries facing the worst impacts of climate breakdown are too often carrying unsustainable debt burdens at the same time. Money that could be spent on healthcare, education and climate resilience is instead lost to repayments.
Communities that did least to cause the crisis are often forced to carry the greatest burden.
Our report Who Owes Who? challenges the global debt system and asks why countries facing climate breakdown are being made to pay the price.
Why is climate action a critical part of our work?
Climate change is here now. Record high temperatures. Severe storms and rainfall. As extreme weather events intensify, the heat not only rises on our planet but on the systems that it is shaped by.
Did you know that women are 14 times more likely to die in a climate disaster? And the risks don’t stop there. When extreme weather events threaten essential natural resources like food and water supplies, women and girls are the most under threat. They are far more frequently pulled out of school or forced to skip meals during crop failures, and face heightened risks of sexual violence when forced to walk further for scarce water.
This is proof that across the world, the climate crisis is heightens their risk of poverty and inequality and at the same time destabilises attempts to change that. It’s the direct result of systems designed to protect the rich and powerful and discriminate against women and girls. We have decades of experience researching solutions to support women facing this injustice. Everything we do is grounded in action to challenge and change those systems and correct the balance so that women and girls have equal access to justice and reparation.
As a women’s rights organisation, we take action to meet the immediate needs of women and girls, whilst staying to support them making changes that stick.
Inequality is rising with the temperature of our planet.
It is affecting women and girls around the world, every day.
Saumu, 24, had her ability to harvest cassava and vegetables stolen from her. It was how she fed and cared for her family in Northeastern Tanzania. That was until the construction process of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) seized farmland and forced local residents out.
Sauma and her family were removed from their land which spanned several acres. They didn’t receive fair compensation, and as a result have since struggled to meet their basic needs. The urgency of international leaders to claim and mine fossil fuel from our already struggling planet is:
- Increasing deforestation and increasing temperatures where Saumu lives
- Aggravating her child’s respiratory problems
- Causing an increase in gender-based violence
Women & girls are leaders in their communities.
That's why we stand in solidarity with women and girls, right to lead the response to climate change.
What we’re doing now
We believe in lasting change over time. Not overnight. The two biggest drivers of climate change are:
- Fossil fuels
- Industrial agriculture
As the climate crisis escalates, these industries continue to expand and thrive in a battle to strip our planet of what little resources it has left. Their urgency to do so makes poverty and inequality worse whilst undermining attempts to alleviate them. Our commitment is to researching how the systems of our world operate, so we can understand what needs to be done to make them fairer. We invite you to join us as we:
Campaign
Action
The solutions we are proposing begin right here at home. This is how you can be part of a women’s rights organisation taking action lasting change. Stand with us in our commitment to do more and go beyond what is expected of charities here in Ireland.
Ireland’s role in the
climate crisis.
We work alongside women and girls in communities worldwide. Their unjust exposure to poverty and inequality are backed by evidence that exposes how unfair systems operate, including here in Ireland. Our report The Hidden Truth reveals Ireland’s role in the global fossil fuel industry.
That can and must change, immediately. It’s not acceptable for communities on the frontlines to face devastating consequences whilst money continues to flow into the industries driving the crisis. Get informed today.
Join us in building a fairer world.
Banks, investors and governments can choose a different path.
Together, we can stand in solidarity with women and girls everywhere. Demand that money is moved away from industries causing harm and directed towards solutions.
Changing the systems that unfairly force women and girls into poverty is possible.
We are ActionAid, a women’s rights organisation stepping up and standing in solidarity with women and girls in a bid to do more than is expected of charities here in Ireland. But we can’t do it alone, your support is crucial.
Currently, women’s rights organisation’s receive only 0.13% of total official development assistance. It’s a star manageable monthly donation, you are making an investment to make sure that women and girls are given the support they need to lead lasting change. Are you ready to donate and make your commitment to show that women are worth more than minus 1%?
How to get involved
Give a monthly gift
A monthly gift is one of the most effective ways to support our work. Your ongoing contribution provides reliable funding that helps us plan ahead, respond quickly to urgent needs, and deliver lasting support to the communities we serve.
Campaign with Us
We’re a women’s rights organisation campaigning in solidarity with women around the world, who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, conflicts and emergencies.
There are practical ways you can be part of that today. Here you can access meaningful opportunities to take action through a trusted community creating change worldwide.
ActionAid tax giving
Did you know that by simply completing the below form you can help ActionAid reclaim thousands of euro at no extra cost?
If you have donated €250 or more in one year, your signature is worth – at a minimum – an extra €112. This is of no additional cost to you, but it can make a huge difference to the communities we support.
Donate for Gaza
Thousands of families in Gaza are struggling to access the essentials needed to survive. Food, clean water, healthcare, and safe shelter remain urgently needed as communities work to rebuild their lives.
Fundraise for us
Looking for a meaningful way to support our work? Fundraising for us is a great way to bring people together while making a real difference to the lives of those we serve.
From birthdays and challenges to community events, every effort helps us continue our mission and expand our impact.
Leave a gift in your Will
After taking care of your loved ones, a gift in your Will can create lasting change for generations to come.
Learn more about leaving a gift in your Will here.