A YORK-based international development charity has gathered its representatives based in deprived countries across the globe for their annual general meeting.

International Service, located in Rougier Street, protect and promote the rights of marginalised people in the Palestinian territories, Ghana, Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Mali with the goal of improving human rights and promoting equality.

The charity’s directors for each country, along with UK-based staff, met in York for the two-week series of meetings to discuss the future of their work into 2015 and beyond.

Jo Baker, the charity’s chief executive, said: “At the moment our focus is particularly on women’s rights and disability as we move into the development goals post 2015.

“We’re really excited to be linking with new project partners in each of our countries and indeed the City of York.”

International Service works closely with partner organisations in each nation and also sends volunteers abroad as part of the UK government-funded International Citizen Service programme.

Their achievements across 2013-14 include ensuring access to cataract surgery for 1,000 Bolivians, reaching out to 80,000 Ghanaians through volunteer work, and providing capacity building support to partner organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

For more information about International Service and their work, visit www.internationalservice.org.uk