Panos is made up of a global network of autonomous institutes bound together through a shared name and shared values and aims.The Panos institutes work to ensure that information is effectively used to foster public debate, pluralism and democracy.

Panos believes that people most affected by global change – often the most marginalised societies and most marginalised peoples within societies – should help shape and drive such change. To achieve this, more balanced information flows between and within societies on issues that affect the poor are urgently needed.

Panos argues that both freedom and pluralism of information within societies are essential preconditions for sustainable development. It believes in particular that the role of the media is critical in ensuring genuinely democratic public debate.

Panos holds that information is central to change, and that people need and have a right of access to understandable, relevant and unbiased information in order to be able to take informed action and play an active role as citizens in democratic societies.

The images above represent women participating in a radio listening club in Zambia; the El Ihemrat village, in North Kordofan, Sudan; and Chuqulisa in Siminto kebele, Guji Zone, Ethiopia.