We focus on areas where we make unique contributions including: universal, sustainable access to information; advancement of science and health; promotion of the rule of law and justice; and anti-crime.

Elsevier has a powerful role to play in advancing human welfare and economic progress by widening access to science and improving health outcomes. It makes a significant contribution to the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) including eradicating poverty and hunger; promoting gender equality and empowerment of women; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; supporting environmental sustainability; and global partnerships for development.

At LexisNexis, the CR focus is on access to justice and rule of law. A transparent legal system is a fundamental element of a healthy society and growing economy and requires a clear set of laws that are freely and easily accessible to all, strong enforcement structures, and an independent judiciary to protect citizens against abuse of power by the state, individuals or others. LexisNexis promotes rule of law through outreach and advocacy, educational forums, thought leadership, and the free dissemination of, and training on, LexisNexis solutions. In 2009, LexisNexis donated $5.3 million in cash and in-kind contributions to support rule of law and pro bono work around the globe.

Reed Exhibitions provides platforms at its trade shows to organisations supporting our CR focus areas, bringing people together for two-way communication and debate. Over the last five years, Reed Exhibitions has given free space at the London Book Fair to Book Aid International, which annually provides 500,000 books – including those donated from across Reed Elsevier – to readers in the developing world, enabling the charity to engage with a wide range of potential book and financial donors. At 2009 World Travel Market, the global event for the travel industry organised by Reed Exhibitions, World Responsible Tourism Day was marked by the Responsible Tourism Awards, recognising sector initiatives in areas like poverty reduction, low carbon transport and technology, and conservation.

Reed Business Information (RBI) uses the power of its brands to aid communities. Variety, the leading entertainment industry news source, published by RBI, has established Power of Youth to spur young entertainers to support philanthropic and humanitarian causes, and to encourage their fans to do so as well. Since its inception in 2007, Power of Youth has raised more than $1.25 million to aid children. In 2009, Variety held a major event and auction which yielded $250,000 to benefit Starlight Children’s Foundation, which helps seriously ill children and their families through entertainment and education, and LA’s BEST, which provides after-school activities and education for more than 28,000 economically disadvantaged young people. Read the Power of Youth case study.