Sarah Taragon of Clarity CIC has provided the following article, which considers the staging of the World Cup in Qatar to reflect on campaigning for minority and marginalised groups.
“Charities, campaigning and decision making”
“We work with a number of organisations who support the LGBTQ+ community here in the South West. I also follow some national charities in this arena. Some of these organisations are promoting a ban on the World Cup (due to homosexuality still being illegal in Qatar). Some are campaigning and opening conversations; and some are very quiet.
“Campaigning as a Charity is complex. How best do you raise awareness and start difficult conversations without creating ‘hate’ responses and turning people off further from your cause.
“For organisations whose main function is campaigning some of these decisions are easier. But if your main function is support of a minority group, when do you make a decision to speak out? When is it necessary and at what points does it become detrimental to those you support? When does not speaking out have a worse impact than doing so?
“I think there has to be input from Trustees/Directors, staff, volunteers and ideally clients into these decisions – so that all in the organisation are clear about their response and why its being made. Maybe having conversations ahead of events so that all involved already have guidance and have had chance to have some input would be valuable?
“What works in your experience? When have you got it right… or wrong?
“Personally I will be watching the World Cup, and I will also be opening conversations about human rights and the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community (in Qatar and elsewhere). For me, the World Cup offers an ‘opening’ for discussing something that can be difficult to raise. But I understand that for some, having the World Cup sited in Qatar is too much and that not engaging with it at all is the best response for them.”
Sarah Taragon, Clarity CIC.
Clarity CIC enables social purpose organisations, including community groups, charities and social enterprises, to be effective, sustainable and well-run. It helps organisations solve everyday problems, build their own capability, think and act strategically and demonstrate the value of their work.