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LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES - LDC
UN List of Least Developed
Countries:
Direct Link to LDC Civil Society
Istanbul Declaration:
Multiple gender dimensions and
issues impacted by LDC documentation.
Civil Society Disappointed with Outcomes of Least Developed Countries Conference
At the
closing of the Civil Society Forum, which was held on the sidelines of the
Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV),
representatives of civil society organizations from across the globe, presented
the Istanbul Declaration. The Declaration voices the disappointment experienced
by civil society as many of their recommendation to advance the LDCs are not
reflected in the Istanbul Programme of Action, and neither in the Istanbul
Political Declaration.
It
highlights that, in the lead up to LDC-IV, civil society had supported
proposals for a paradigm shift, and for a New International Support
Architecture. In addition, it called for a more fundamental transformation of
the relations between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, and men and women
in order to create a more just, equitable and sustainable world. However, the
Istanbul Programme of Action does not provide any framework to reach such a
world, the Declaration indicates.
The
Declaration also voices frustration. “Civil society is frustrated that, having
caused massive costs in the LDCs through financial and food speculation, unjust
trade rules, illegitimate loans with onerous conditionality, and ecological
damage, including climate change, the developed countries have not even
committed to provide more aid to LDCs. Even worse, many donors are either
reducing their aid or diverting it to pay for climate change damage, despite
their commitments in UNFCCC negotiations to provide new and additional funding
for climate finance. Current levels of aid are dwarfed by the mounting costs of
the damage done to LDC economies and their people.”
Besides,
civil society notes that it has been the developed countries that have
systematically undermined the process to create renewed partnerships, amongst
others by not committing to new targets beyond those already agreed upon in
forums such as the Millennium Summit, WTO and the UNFCCC. Civil society, in the
Declaration, therefore recognizes the huge potential of South-south cooperation
for the future of LDCs. However, it cautions that “Support for LDCs from the
south should complement but not substitute for the agreed obligations of
developed countries.”
Although
civil society does welcome the attention given in the Istanbul Programme of
Action to the development of LDCs’ productive capacities, the creation of a
technology bank, as well as the need for governments to lead the development
process (rather than donors or the private sector), it warns that the approach
adopted to achieve these goals demonstrates a repackaging of economic
liberalization policies. “The Programme of Action calls for the removal of
impediments to the private sector, without recognition that governments need to
regulate to protect workers, consumers, the environment and local communities,”
the Declaration states.
Consequently,
the Declaration calls for a rejection of the Washington consensus; government
leadership in diversifying the economies of LDCs; and for putting the rights of
vulnerable and marginalised people at the centre of economic decision-making,
with stronger mechanisms for transparency, integrity and accountability.
Moreover, “LDC governments should uphold and guarantee core labour rights,
including freedom of association, and prepare national plans for the
implementation of the ILO Global Jobs Pact with the meaningful participation of
social partners and representative civil society organisations.”
Civil
society also calls for an end to unjust trade agreements. Food sovereignty
should be strengthened, and agrarian reform policies must support the needs,
strengths and rights of smallholder farmers. Gender equality, and women’s
rights, should be further promoted and implemented and women should actively
participate in the formulation of policies and decisions, implementation,
monitoring, follow-up and evaluation of strategies.
The
Declaration further pays attention to the rights of migrants and their
families; to public investment in education, health, water and sanitation; to
immediate and unconditional debt cancellation; to climate change adaptation and
mitigation, and to the need for adequate and predictable sources of finance.