June 17, 2020
Part of Global Financial Integrity’s mission is to help developing countries raise the funds necessary to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as set by the United Nations. While our organization has a predominantly international outlook, we are based in, and also do work focused on, the United States. These efforts are primarily related to financial transparency issues.
However, these past few weeks have spurred us to take a deeper look at our own home base here in Washington, D.C., where our office is just two blocks from Lafayette Park, the White House and the portion of 16th Street recently renamed “Black Lives Matter Plaza” by Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The United States, as a member of the United Nations, is committed to achieving the SDGs, but the overwhelming evidence of systemic racism and police brutality here have shown that there is still considerable work to be done at the domestic level in many areas. This is seen principally in achieving Goal 10 to “Reduce inequality within and among countries” and Goal 16 to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”
We as an organization cannot be silent on this issue. Global Financial Integrity reaffirms its commitment to diversity and inclusion and ardently stands against racism of any form. In recognition of the fact that minority groups have been disproportionately treated with police violence, we support the peaceful protests calling for equitable treatment of all people and call for an end to economic and social inequality. On this point, we promise to continue prioritizing diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices, workforce policies and organizational governance, as well as in our advocacy and research work in the United States and around the world.
Black lives matter.
Tom Cardamone, President & CEO
Global Financial Integrity Staff
Global Financial Integrity Board of Directors