WASHINGTON – On behalf of the staff of the Center for Global Development (CGD), President Masood Ahmed released the following statement Thursday:
“As a Washington, DC-based think tank, focused internationally to fulfill our global development mission, the incidents of the past weeks have compelled us to look locally. And we are saddened and angered by the individual injustices and institutionalized discrimination that we have seen, from the taking of George Floyd's, Breonna Taylor's, and other Black lives to violent reactions against peaceful protesters. We join our local community and communities across the country—as well as all over the world—in calling for justice, working to end institutionalized racism and violence, and affirming that Black lives matter.
“Our mission at CGD is to conduct research and craft policy proposals to combat global poverty and promote global prosperity. Central to human development and prosperity is good governance grounded in fundamental human rights: civil, political, and judicial systems that advance equal rights, safety, and openness for everyone, especially the historically marginalized and victimized. It takes a concerted effort of conscientious people working together to undo the structural wrongs of the past and build a better future. This is just as true in low-income countries as it is in wealthy countries like the US.
“We are also looking internally at our staff and culture, at the areas where we haven’t done enough to advance and promote diversity. We are committed to doing better.”
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About the Center for Global Development:
The Center for Global Development is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to reduce global poverty and improve lives through innovative economic research that drives better policy and practice by the world's top decision makers. /page/about-cgd