The global financial crisis may increase social conflict, says the head of the International Labour Office, claiming that civil society groups have an important role in helping those affected to be heard.

A report published yesterday shows that the Government needs to do more if it is to achieve its goal of eradicating child poverty from the UK by 2020, campaigners have said.

A new and wide coalition of development agencies, unions, faith and environmental groups plans to tell world leaders attending the G20 summit in April that only just, fair and sustainable policies can lead the world out of recession.

UK-based international development agency Christian Aid is urging supporters to recruit their local MPs in a bid to pressurise the British government to bring tax justice to economically impoverished countries.