Action Fund

When Human Rights Are Under Attack, We Must Act Fast

Poverty, disaster, gender inequality, and climate change form a web of injustices that threaten human rights, devastating millions of lives worldwide. To create a more just world, we must address these interconnected issues at their roots.

ActionAid invests globally to transform unjust systems, making them accountable to the needs of the masses. Through our partnerships and your support, millions on the front lines of poverty and exclusion are claiming their rights, demanding accountability from decision-makers, and enacting lasting change.

Empowering Young Women in Cambodia: Dara's Story

Dara is a young woman from Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. Born into a fisherfolk family with no farming land, Dara faced significant challenges from the start.

Dara engaged in the Greater Young Women Empowerment in Decision Making and Accountable Public Service Delivery project, facilitated by ActionAid and partners.Through this initiative, she participated in capacity-building training on gender equality, gender-responsive public services, media production, organizing public forums, and campaign tactics. She also benefited from knowledge exchange visits to Kampot and other events and platforms.

In 2022, she and other residents discovered that a company was illegally dredging sand beyond its licensed boundary. Dara mobilized over 200 citizens living along the river, documenting the illegal activity with photos and videos. She repeatedly presented the issue to local authorities and eventually raised it at a charter of demand workshop organized by CCSP.

The workshop, attended by 45 individuals including district and commune chiefs, police officers, health center and school representatives, and young people, served as a platform for presenting issues collected from community forums. The evidence-based documentation included images, case studies, and specific details about the location and impact of the issue.

As a result of the workshop, higher-ranking officials intervened, and the company signed an agreement to cease illegal dredging. The authorities acknowledged the validity of the young people's concerns and committed to taking action.

“I never thought I could achieve such success for my community. I was just an ordinary woman, unknown to many. I am so proud of myself,” Dara said.

Supporting Community Leaders Worldwide

Through the Action Fund, you support courageous and innovative community leaders like Dara in over 71 countries. These leaders are addressing urgent needs within their own communities, driving transformative change.

ActionAid’s programs are community-driven, women-led, and rights-based, ensuring that your donation today contributes to sustainable change. Together, we are building the power to create a more just world.