Our Themes

Equidem is governed by a Board of Trustees who are responsible for effective governance including legal compliance, financial stability and transparency, strategic direction and performance and impact evaluation.
Equidem’s Chief Executive Officer reports to the Board and is responsible for overseeing implementation of the charity’s strategies and workplans. The CEO is responsible for the operation of Equidem with support from a management team consisting of a Chief Operations Officer, Head of Program, Fundraising Manager, and a Comms Manager. Grassroots and human rights expert staff in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East lead on individual human rights projects

Our Analysis

Equidem analyse findings against international and national human rights and labour rights standards and develop concrete, practical recommendations on how to address identified problems. We work in Africa, Asia the Middle East and Europe with United Nations agencies and other international non-government organisations (INGOs). Investors and multi-national businesses, civil society and trade union groups.

Programmes of work within each thematic area will be framed by:

  • the disproportionate impact of hidden human rights violations on marginalised groups
  • situating abuses against these groups in the wider, global context of anti-racism, anti-discrimination and gender equality
  • progressing Equidem’s strategic goals and alignment with the strategic decision-making criteria.

Our Areas of Focus

Together, we identify problems and explore potential solutions to pinpoint Equidem’s added value as a direct contributor, capacity builder and connector.

Broad issues we focus on include:

That bridge between the Global South and the Global North puts Equidem in a unique position to facilitate connections, and actions.

  • Climate change and human rights: investigating and exposing the impact of climate change on human rights with a particular focus on how climate change will impact the future of work, climate-induced migration and implications for migrant workers, and the climate impacts on those least responsible for causing it; holding states to account for exacerbating climate change.
  • Forced Labour, Trafficking, and Modern Slavery: continuing investigations and advocacy against forced labour, trafficking, modern slavery, discrimination, recruitment practices & remittances, non/underpayment of wages, coercion and reprisals, restrictions on movement and association, unsafe working/living conditions), corporate responsibility; and investigating new and emerging issues including gender-based violence and discrimination.
  • Corporate accountability: investigating human rights abuses in supply chains, especially implicating major brands and mega-projects with significant international business investment; exposing state-business nexus in serious human rights abuses; assessing the efficacy of rights protection regulations; educating corporations on human rights responsibilities; articulating the business case for protecting worker rights.
  • Survivor leadership: elevating the leadership of survivors in the fight against gender-based violence ensuring their experiences are heard at national and international levels. Driving awareness and policy changes in global advocacy efforts while supporting survivors in developing leadership skills. Connecting survivors with local and international support networks and through research highlighting the experiences of survivors and advocating for stronger legal frameworks, corporate responsibility, and the creation of safe workplaces for women.
  • Gender parity: examining cases of harassment, discrimination, and exploitation, particularly among migrant women workers. Through in-depth research and firsthand testimonies, advocating for change in industries like domestic work, garment production, and hospitality, while calling for reforms, greater transparency and accountability from governments, corporations, and other stakeholders. Amplifying the voices of women workers, bringing about incremental policy changes.

Our Pillars

But we don’t just connect.

Our pillars guide our investigators, campaigners, and organisers. Our four key pillars are

  • Strengthening international systems. This pillar guides our work expose how authoritarian states and corporate interests co-opt human rights systems.
  • Democracy at Work. This work is a pillar as labor rights represent the democratic power of workers within the economy, making workplace democratization essential to ensuring full respect for workers’ rights and human rights. When workers have a voice and ownership over their working conditions, they can challenge exploitation, hold employers accountable, and advocate for systemic changes.
  • Accountable business. This pillar focuses on the immense responsibility of businesses to respect human rights under international law. We advocate for business models that prioritize the dignity and rights of workers.
  • Just Transitions. This pillar acknowledges the significant threat that climate change poses to human rights, affecting the safety, security, and livelihoods of people worldwide. It reflects a deep knowledge of migrant worker communities and experience in the future of work.