Today, Monday 12 August, leaders of 58 UK NGOs have come together to stand in solidarity with people of colour and communities who have been targeted and threatened by racist, Islamophobic & antisemitic violence in the UK over the past two weeks.

In an open letter, leaders of organisations working in international development and humanitarian assistance have pledged to “support the wellbeing and safety of colleagues who are directly or indirectly affected by, and fearful of, this violence.”

These NGO leaders affirm, “There is no justification for racism on the streets of the UK. This violence is not an isolated incident—it’s a symptom of a deeper, pervasive issue that we must stand against and actively work to eradicate.”

Signatories have also re-committed to tackling and dismantling racism in the sector, marking it as a key priority for their organisations. They recognise that the colonial roots of the international development and humanitarian system must be addressed. As leaders, they recognise they need to take a deliberate approach to challenging structural racism within the sector and ensure organisations become actively anti-racist.

Signatories include the CEOs of Action for Humanity, ADD International, Age International, CAFOD, Concern Worldwide UK, Christian Aid UK, Fairtrade Foundation, International Rescue Committee UK, Oxfam GB, Results UK, Save the Children UK, Scotland’s International Development Alliance, Tearfund and many others.