Anti-racism

Racism creates harm and undermines democracy by preventing the full participation of all people in all areas of public and private life. Eliminating racial discrimination and repression is necessary to strengthen democracy and improve equitable access to political participation, human rights, education, employment, health and housing. IFES works to become an anti-racist organization and advance equal participation in civic and political life. IFES has partnered with people, organizations and institutions in dozens of countries to strengthen the inclusion and political participation of people of all races and ethnicities.

IFES’ anti-racist programming includes:

• Civic and voter education campaigns: IFES creates innovative civic and voter education materials and tools that are accessible and meet the needs of minority groups. IFES also works with majority communities to build and promote a more inclusive notion of citizenship and national identity.
• Capacity-building, leadership training and governmental outreach: IFES works with minority groups to raise awareness of their rights and build leadership and advocacy skills. IFES also supports local minority-led civil society organizations to improve community outreach, develop trainings on minority rights, track data on and strengthen institutional awareness of electoral violence and expand support networks.
• Increasing capacity of state and electoral institutions: IFES works with government institutions and election management bodies to improve minority groups’ awareness of and access to political and electoral processes. IFES provides technical assistance to government officials on how to implement international standards, such as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
• Combating disinformation and hate speech: IFES supports electoral stakeholders to deter hate speech and disinformation against minorities while upholding international principles of free speech.

IFES’ Anti-Racism Task Force addresses the effects of systemic racism by promoting employee equity, representation and inclusion within the organization, delivering programs that promote anti-racism in all IFES service lines and promoting community-based actions on racial justice outside IFES.

Explore our resources linked here to learn more and get involved.

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