“Economic justice is the most sacred promise you can make, because if you break it you kill people. We cannot be the instruments of death – we need to be the instruments of life." Bob Geldof

In 2005 world leaders agreed to cancel $50 billion of debt, bringing new hope to some of the world’s poorest people. Already more than $41 billion of this debt has been cancelled.

Britain is exceeding its pledges on debt relief. And we are pushing other lenders to cancel debt for nations that invest in reducing poverty.

So far, 23 countries – 19 of them in Africa – have had all their debts written off. This has allowed millions of children into school, and made treatment for people with AIDS a reality. In the long run, cancelling the debt will help up to 41 poor countries.

Once freed from the shackles of debt, poor countries can spend more on schools, hospitals and other vital services for their citizens.

• Find out more about DFID's work to reduce poverty through debt relief.
• The Jubilee Debt Campaign calls for the world to drop poor countries' debts. Visit their website to learn more.