Peace and Social Justice

Over the last 100 years, societies around the globe have generated more wealth and technological advances than in any other century. They have also produced more violence and inequities. The best hope for curtailing conflict, poverty and suffering lies with an engaged populace and with public officials who are committed to the inherent dignity and worth of every person. To realize this vision, people around the world are taking steps to strengthen the rule of law and promote human rights, improve government performance and accountability, and create opportunities for civil society to thrive and fulfill the promise of human rights. Our Peace and Social Justice program supports these inspiring people.

Tackling Tough Problems
The program works globally to address some of the most difficult issues facing societies today. Our grantees are leading efforts to:

• Strengthen the role of governments and citizen groups as a force for peace and social justice
• Enhance social justice philanthropy
• Safeguard the rights of women, refugees and other vulnerable groups
• Ensure reproductive rights and choice
• Combat racial inequality
• Promote innovative foreign policy, particularly as it relates to peace and conflict
• Combat the stigma of HIV/AIDS
• Democratize the institutions of global economic governance

Maximizing Positive Social Change
Our Peace and Social Justice staff works out of the foundation's headquarters in New York and in our regional offices around the world. These many vantage points put us in close contact with local scholars, activists and public officials striving to develop solutions that are appropriate to different historical, cultural and political contexts. They also enable us to fund regional and international work being done by people in different countries who are sharing ideas and resources, thereby maximizing their contribution to positive social change.

The Peace and Social Justice program is organized into two units.

• Human Rights: We support activities that promote access to justice and the protection and implementation of economic, social and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights, particularly for the most vulnerable. We also help to empower people to understand and assert their fundamental right to sexual and reproductive health.
  
  Fields
  

  Human Rights
  Sexuality and Reproductive Health

  
  
• Governance and Civil Society: Our work in this area supports efforts to put in place the basic building blocks of democracy. It explores ways to make the process of governing more transparent, accountable and responsive. The grantees we support seek to strengthen institutions and relationships that allow people to reconcile disparate interests and make collective decisions that advance the common good. These efforts embrace the values of human rights and focus on ways to achieve justice for all members of society, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
  
  Fields
  

  Civil Society
  Governance