Global Call for Action Against Poverty
Notat fra etableringsmøte i Johannesburg i september 2004, se Internasjonal tusenårsmålskampanje mobiliserer til kamp mot fattigdom, RORG-Samarbeidet 13.12.04)
Contents:
- Preamble
- Policy Change Objectives
Trade
Aid & Debt
National-level Action
MDG Process
Crosscutting Issues - Title, slogan, logo
- Joint mobilisation
- National campaigns/platforms and outreach
- International Facilitation Group
At the start of the 21st century more than a billion people are trapped in abject poverty. We face an AIDS emergency, with 40 million people already infected by the disease. 104 million children don’t go to primary school, and 860 million adults (most of them women) cannot read or write. Hunger is a daily reality for many. In parts of the world the death of mothers in childbirth and children in infancy is still routine - deaths that could be prevented by the availability of simple healthcare. 1.4 billion people don’t have access to safe water. This poverty is a violation of human rights on a massive scale; it is compounded by the trade injustice that keeps people poor. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects the rights of all people to an adequate standard of living and well-being, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care: rights whose achievement are undermined by unjust trade practices.
Efforts to tackle poverty and deliver sustainable development, as pledged in the Millennium Declaration, are grossly inadequate. Governments too often fail to address the needs of their citizens, aid from rich countries is inadequate in both quality and quantity, and promises of debt cancellation have not materialized. Rich countries have yet to act on their repeated pledges to tackle unfair trade rules and practices.
For the first time in history, we have the means to turn this situation around. 2005 is the year when we can make governments take action. Acting on this opportunity, a group of NGOs, international networks, trade unions, religious groups and other civil society actors met in Johannesburg and agreed to launch a Global Call to Action Against Poverty.
The last few years have seen great global fragmentation and division. People all over the world feel less secure and less safe than ever. We believe that the world can unite again in solidarity against poverty. We have agreed to undertake joint action and mobilization at key times in 2005. We plan to link our actions symbolically by the wearing of a white band.
There is great diversity among our group, but we know that we will be more effective when we work together. We do not endeavour to reach absolute agreement on a detailed global policy platform, but we do want to pressure governments to eradicate poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We want
- Trade justice
- Debt cancellation
- A major increase in the quantity and quality of aid
- National efforts to eliminate poverty and achieve the Millennium goals that are sustainable and developed and implemented in a way that is democratic, transparent, and accountable to citizens
The Global Call to Action Against Poverty is an alliance of both South and North; it is not a membership organization. Any non-profit organization willing to support the core message and joint action is invited to become involved. The main level of co-ordination will be national platforms, layered under regional networks. National activities will be home grown, will include national priorities and national demands and will build on existing initiatives. Mass mobilization and people-centred advocacy will be key to the campaign.
An International Facilitation Group was established in Johannesburg to take this work forward, in consultation with all involved.
There is great diversity among our group, but we know that we will be more effective when we work together. We do not endeavour to reach absolute agreement ona detailed global policy platform, but we do want to pressure governments to eradicate poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We want
- Trade justice
- Debt cancellation
- A major increase in the quantity and quality of aid
- National efforts to eliminate poverty and achieve the Millennium goals that are sustainable and developed and implemented in a way that is democratic, transparent, and accountable to citizens
- While specific objectives will be determined by national priorities and contexts, the following texts reflects the Johannesburg meeting policy discussion
- We recognise that meeting the MDGs is a first step to achieving the goal of eliminating poverty.
Trade
Trade has become the vehicle for the indiscriminate liberalization of developing country economies and the imposition of harmful conditions, instead of supporting sustainable development, poverty eradication and gender equity.
We want trade rules and policies that ensure the right of developing countries to pursue their own development agendas, putting their people’s interests first.
In 2005, we will call on the WTO, international financial institutions and national governments to:
Enact measures to protect public services from enforced liberalization and privatisation, secure the right to food and affordable access to essential drugs, and strengthen corporate accountability.
Increase accountability and transparency of governments and international organisations to their grassroots constituencies in the formulation of international trade rules and national trade policies, while ensuring consistency of trade policies with respect for workers’ rights, and human rights more broadly.
Immediately end dumping and rich country subsidies that keep people in poverty.
Aid & Debt
Governments and international institutions must urgently provide the major increase in resources necessary for the eradication of poverty and the achievement of the MDGs, through:
Aid and debt cancellation that is not tied to contracts with donor countries, or linked to economic conditions that hurt people in poverty.
A total cancellation of the unpayable debt of poor countries, by way of a fair and transparent process.
Realisation of the 0.7% target on aid and ensuring aid is directed to achieving development objectives.
Ensuring that aid supports rather than undermines, community and country defined development priorities.
Exploring innovative taxes and mechanisms for raising finance for development.
National-level Action
We call on governments to:
Adapt the promises in the global Millennium Declaration and apply the Millennium Development Goals to the national context.
Reflect the rights of all citizens (women and men), in the legal, policy and budgetary frameworks and processes, recognising historical gender imbalances.
Actively involve civil society and the poor, particularly socially excluded groups, in the formulation of national development priorities, policies and plans.
Ensure that adequate domestic and external resources are allocated to providing accessible quality public services for all.
Be fully accountable and transparent in the use of public resources and aggressively fight corruption.
Exercise the right to nationally determine policies and practices that benefit the majority of citizens, and resist potentially harmful, externally driven conditions imposed by international institutions and agreements.
MDG Process
The Global Call to Action Against Poverty campaign will develop specific policy objectives for the UN Summit to maximise the impact of the Millennium Declaration and the MDG process on poverty alleviation These objectives will, in particular, allow national campaigns to drive specific policy and crosscutting objectives in addition to trade, aid and debt.
Crosscutting Issues
In all the aforementioned objectives, we call on governments, international institutions and civil society actors to uphold principles of human rights and accountable governance, to oppose social exclusion and discrimination based on race, caste, HIV status and minority classification (including on sexual and religious grounds), sustainable development and, further, to ensure gender justice and uphold women’s rights as well as child rights.
A single global title for the mobilisation is needed to provide focus, cohesion and to maximise impact of activity. National and sectoral campaigns will have differing emphases and names: these can be used in conjunction with the global title. National and sectoral campaigns will include more motivating language, with the global title being broad and significant.
Criteria for the global title are:
Clear and descriptive
Simple language
Realistic
Global
Active
Not time specific
The group co-ordinating the outcomes from the small meetings debated the naming issue extensively and asked that the following options be considered in the plenary session:
Make Poverty History
No Excuses, Make Poverty History
Call to Action 2005
On the issue of the logo, it was thought that a global logo would help to unify and identify disparate themes and activities. The white band theme was supported, and input is sought on how to use this across regions. It was also decided that professionals would develop all final designs.
After extensive discussion, the meeting resolved to use the title “Global Call to Action against Poverty.” (Henceforth referred to G-CAP).
It was agreed that the campaign would undertake global joint mobilisations at four key times in 2005.
December 2004 to January 2005: warm up/roll out event. The group shortlisted three possible options to launch the mobilisation: Skip A Million Meals on December 10th (Human Rights Day, 2004), Greeting Card Action and the 1st January stunt. National platforms would launch the G-CAP during this period with whichever option they prefer in their national and regional context. The G-CAP 2005 will further be presented to the World Social Forum in January 2005. The event will focus on actions and media coverage.
1st July 2005: White Band day. While recognising that there will potentially be a number of mobilisations and demonstration on and around the G8 meeting, the aim of G-CAP will be to undertake a mass global mobilisation on one day immediately before the 2005 G8 meeting
September 2005: UN Millennium Development Summit – White Band day II (date to be decided once UN announces Summit dates).
WTO Ministerial: Planned for December 2005, this will be a crucial meeting, and it was resolved that G-CAP will work with those trade networks and campaigns which are already working on strategies around this meeting
On these days, the mobilisation will undertake to co-ordinate global mass action by civil society to underline global solidarity. The aim of ‘White Band Day’ will be to get everyone around the world that wants to end poverty to wear a white band on those days.
In addition, the campaign recognises key dates in the international civil society calendar where we should support the actions that are already planned for April/May:
Global Week of Action on Trade, 10th – 16th April
Global Action on Week on Education, 26th to 30th April
Civil society actions around the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings, April
The International Workers Day on the 1st of May.
National platforms will be encouraged to participate in these events. Moreover, there will be additional civil society mobilisations, which will be linked to these efforts.
(4). NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS/PLATFORMS AND OUTREACH
At the national level the coordinating structure should be referred to as the National Campaign Group or Committee.
(A preliminary set of principles might guide the national processes):
The definition of national strategies must be home grown to promote national ownership.
The national campaign must remain open, inclusive and participatory.
National campaigns must be built on the practical needs, concerns and efforts of local people and (grassroots) groups.
The campaign must be CSO-led and focus on sustainable and long term national processes.
The campaign must encourage equal status and equal participation by all organizations.
INGOs (international non-government organizations) should only play an enabling role (and not a leadership role) in developing countries.
While we refer to 'national campaigns', it is understood that actions at national level be coordinated by other entities, such as platforms, coalitions, or networks.
(An additional set of strategies and actions might facilitate national processes):
Organization of mobilizations around key national events (budget, specific laws, etc.).
Monitoring and preparing shadow reports.
Establishment of partnerships with key networks and strong linkages with all relevant processes
A deliberate effort to achieve a broad outreach that will include trade unions, NGOs, CBOs, the media, the private sector, FBOs, MPs, other interest groups and local authorities.
(5). INTERNATIONAL FACILITATION GROUP
Co-ordination on the global level
G-CAP is an alliance: it is not a membership organization. Any non-profit organisation willing to support the core messages and joint actions through mobilisation and participation in the events and actions is invited to join with current participants. The main level for co-ordination, advocacy work and mobilisation will be national platforms layered under regional networks.
However there is a need for co-ordination and information exchange on the global level. Two principles should guide this global co-ordination. To create the momentum we need for our joint efforts we should aim at the maximum possible participation and transparency for all organisations, and at the same time develop a flexible and light mechanism that allows us to act and react quickly.
Engagement in G-CAP means being involved through 2005, which is the current mandate of this mobilisation.
Global Action Forum
All civil society organisations who are interested in taking part in the global co-ordination and linking the global campaign to national and regional networks should be regularly informed and consulted on key plans and decisions. They will form the Global Action Forum, the core of which would be the participants of the Johannesburg meeting, however, remaining open to other interested stakeholders. Involvement would be organised through a list serve that allows information exchange on national and regional activities as well as information and consultation on the global co-ordination. Since this global forum would be relatively big and hopefully a growing group, a smaller Facilitation Committee would need to serve as a working group of this broader forum.
International Facilitation Group
The main task of the Facilitation Group is to facilitate and support the participating national/ regional coalitions and networks. The mandate of the group is defined by the policy objectives and mobilisation plans decided by the Johannesburg meeting. The group has this mandate until the end of the year 2005:
Facilitate outreach to encourage a wide range of organizations to become involved in G-CAP.
Develop a logo and slogan as well as other common material (e.g. toolkits and for all countries/groups willing to participate in the action)
Facilitate co-ordination of policy development and share information on lobbying opportunities.
Facilitate the preparation of the white bands or other agreed symbolic actions
Liase with participating organisations and others (including the UK 2005 G8 Group and the UN) to ensure effective planning and coordination of events and actions internationally.
Undertaking international coordination of planned events and actions.
Ensure information flow up and down by regular consultation with the Global Action Forum (by regular monthly updates, sharing agendas minutes of the Co-ordination Group for comments and inputs)
The IFG will not undertake fundraising activities.
Any initiatives at national level will only be taken in co-operation with the national coalition there
Guidelines for media work to be developed by the IFG
Composition of the IFG
1. Key good regional representation, 1 – 2 members per region
- Africa
- Middle East
- Asia/Pacific
- Latin America/ Caribbean
- Europe
- North America
2. Include key organisations (e.g. trade unions, faith based groups, thematic networks).
Other criteria:
Diversity of experience and knowledg
Gender balance
Trust to serve our common project
A commitment and capacity to participate in the work (1-hour teleconference per week, ability to participate in preparatory groups)
Support for members that have less resources (e.g. for communication costs)
The group would ideally not have more than 15 members. Since the coalition is hopefully a growing movement, the coordination group appointed in Johannesburg will be mandated to co-opt new members or invite observers. This should be done after consultation with the Global Action Forum.
This civil society led coalition will work in strategic partnership with a number of other actors amongst which are the UN Millennium Campaign and media specialists. Strategic partners can be invited as observers to the IFG.
Working Groups
Working groups to support the work of the IFG would be based on:
Mobilisation
Media work
Lobby/policy
Regional and International Composition of the International Facilitation Group
1. LATIN AMERICA – CARIBBEAN:
Patricia Garce – Social Watch
Jorge Balbis – ALOP
2. N. AMERICA
Erin Tunney – Interaction
3. ARAB REGION
Ziad Abdel Samad – Arab NGO Network for Development
4. EUROPE:
Nicolas Guilhard – Agir ici
Maurizio Gubbiotti – Peace Round Table
5. AFRICA:
Davis Ddamulira – AWEPON
Gorgui Sow – ANCEFA
Ezra Limiri Mbogori - MWENGO
Thomas Deve – MWENGO
6. N. AFRICA – MID. EAST:
Ziad Abdel Samad- Arab NGO Network for Development
7. ASIA:
Dr. Bappukunju Ekbal – Peoples Health Movenent
Avi Mahaningtyas – Yayasan Bina Usaha Lingkungan/GEF - SGP
8. INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS:
Wendy Caird - Public Service International
Owain James - Oxfam International
John Samuel – ActionAid Alliance
Duncan Pruett - ICFTU
Ted Van Hees - Novib/ Oxfam International
Marina Ponti – UN Millennium Campaign
Roberto Bissio – Social Watch
Christiane Overkamp - CIDSE
Oliver Buston - DATA
Celita Eccher – ICAE/DAWN
Alejandra Scampini –DAWN
Anne Jellema – Global Campaign for Education
Michael Smitheram - Micah Challenge
Kel Currah – World Vision International