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Justice

Working with some of the poorest people in the world, Trócaire recognises that the only permanent way to lift people out of poverty is to increase their capacity to help themselves and to interact with and challenge those in power, such as local and national governments.

The high level of corruption and lack of accountability by governments in developing countries is currently being highlighted on an increasingly regular basis. Trócaire recognises that corruption is not exclusive to poor countries and that the causes of corruption are often related to external factors, such as the role of large private companies and the interests of external governments.

However, there is a real need for greater accountability by governments in developing countries, particularly with regard to the development and implementation of national policies and the use of resources in an open and transparent manner.

In its drive for social justice, Trócaire supports partner agencies all over the world to ensure full participation by citizens’ organisations in key policy and decision-making processes and to challenge governments on accountability for the use of resources.

A three-year Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) project that came to an end in 2006 was a particularly successful example of how an internationally-applied PRS mechanism could mobilise local civil society organisations on participation and accountability issues in countries such as Honduras and Rwanda.

This work is designed to make people aware of their rights and to help them to see how they can use that knowledge to improve their situation and meet their needs. Local grassroots organisations play a key role in helping build just democracies throughout the world and in devising solutions that work for them.

Trócaire works with hundreds of those organisations, helping them build their capacity and in turn educate and impart their knowledge throughout their villages and societies.

Many of Trócaire’s partners are courageous and outspoken advocates for justice for the poorest and most vulnerable people. Trócaire believes that the development of strong, vibrant civil society movements that represent the rights and interests of the poor is an essential condition for emergence of democratic societies and the eradication of problems related to corruption, poverty, inequality and injustice.

Helping people to change the structures that cause poverty and inequality will remain a fundamental part of Trocaire’s approach in the future.

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