The unusual combination of financial crisis, food crisis, energy and climate crisis requires a new approach based on human rights, argues the international Social Watch coalition in its 2008 report, launched during the United Nations Conference on Financing for Development. Next December 10, as the report remembers the 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be commemorated and the title of the Social Watch Report 2008 is, precisely, “Rights is the Answer”.

DOHA, Dec 1 (IPS) - The demand is seemingly simple. ‘Vote for democratic, people-centred development’, advise civil society at the ongoing inter-governmental review of the Monterrey Consensus in Doha, Qatar.

With the clock ticking on the outcome of the meeting, that will set the agenda for financing development, civil society has turned the heat on governments locked in closed door sessions to negotiate the final outcome document.

"This is a general assembly of the U.N., and the G192 should vote on who will decide the outcome document," urges Roberto Bissio of Social Watch as he button holes delegates and participants in the corridors of the Doha Sheraton, the venue of the four-day Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development.  ...more »

Closing Remarks by Jens Martens, Global Policy Forum

1. Let me start with a quote from the Draft Outcome Document from 25 November:

“The environment for Financing for Development has improved over the past 6 years, primarily due to a significant improvement in domestic savings of developing countries but also because of a sustained expansion in world trade, record private capital flows, higher remittances, a reduction in debt burdens especially in heavily-indebted poor countries and a reversal in ODA from earlier declines. The development impact of these flows is enhanced by a commitment to free market principles, including the rule of law, respect for private property, open trade and investment, competitive markets and efficient, effectively regulated financial systems. These principles are essential to economic growth and prosperity and have lifted millions out of poverty and have significantly raised the global standard of living.” (para 2bis)

This paragraph is not agreed and hopefully will never be agreed, but I am wondering: Do the delegates who drafted these sentences live in a parallel universe, when they praise the “efficient and effectively regulated financial systems” that have lifted millions out of poverty? At least additional 75 million people are forced to live in hunger and poverty this year due to the global food crisis. What would they think when they had to read these sentences?

 ...more »

Doha, Qatar

November 28, 2008

Dear Mr. President of the General Assembly,

With the culmination of a two day Forum in preparation for the Official Review Conference of the Financing for Development Process, we the members of Civil Society, representing some 252 delegates from 52 countries have adopted a declaration to be delivered to the Official Review Conference.

Mr. President today, here, we present to you the key findings of this declaration and would appreciate your reaction to these proposals and your plans for the way forward.

We find ourselves in the midst of a crisis that threatens not only the completion of the MDG’s, and the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, in the North and the South, but also the stability of the world’s economies. In view of the failure of Northern Governments and the appointed institutions (BWI, etc) to provide adequate resolutions to avert this crisis, we can think of no better moment for the UN to assert itself as the instrument that defines the way forward.  ...more »

As one of the lead elements proposed for recommendation to the Financing for Development Review Conference, the Civil Society Forum supports an international summit on financial and economic architecture and global economic governance structures, in 2009. The Forum position challenges the proposal of some governments that the Bretton Woods Institutions (the World Bank and International Monetary Fund) organize an event, as well as moves to concentrate decision-making in the G-20 group of governments.  ...more »

Today’s Washington Post reports that World Bank President Robert Zoellick cited “Thanksgiving plans” as his excuse for dropping out of the November 29-December 2 Financing for Development Conference in Doha, Qatar. This year’s American turkey-eating fest falls on November 27.

“Is the United States a ‘failed state’? Its financial mismanagement has
triggered a world wide crisis.” Thus, Social Watch coordinator Roberto
Bissio challenged some 300 civil society delegates, who meet today at the
Ramada Plaza Hotel. The Civil Society Forum leading to the Financing for
Development Review Conference is addressing the international crises that
threaten our climate, development and social justice, developing
recommendations for change to carry into the official Conference..

The Draft Declaration to be considered by the Forum states: “the world is
consumed by an urgent triple crisis of energy, food and finance that not
only threatens the realization of the MDGs, but also the stability of the
world’s economies.

 The Northern governments and financial system are responsible for the
current financial crisis, but the costs and the impacts are paid for by
the entire world and by the poorest countries in particular. Moreover,
climate change is threatening the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of
millions of people, in the North and the South.” ...more »

Job Description:
CEPR is currently looking for two full-time International Program Interns for Winter 2009 (Jan-May).  Responsibilities include assisting staff with research on upcoming papers and opinion pieces; organizing events with Latin American government officials, CEPR staff, and visiting academics; as well as working on outreach to press, advocacy organizations and Congress.

Job Description:  ...more »