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The International Conference on Financing for Development (ICFfD) meets in Monterrey, Mexico, from March 18 –22, 2002. Assembled will be Heads of State, Finance and Trade Ministers, representatives of relevant international institutions, members of civil society and representatives of the business community – all stakeholders in this process. At issue is how to put into practice the practical strategies that are needed to implement the Millennium Development Goals Having overcome fierce opposition to even the idea of having such an “Event” and after two years of intense preparation, the Conference participants have begun to converge on Monterrey. The ICFfD represents an extraordinary opportunity for governments, donors and other stakeholders to come together, speak face to face and commit to some “time-defined” actions on behalf of the poor and vulnerable groups and countries. Despite inadequate resources to meet extreme need, from some points of view the Monterrey Conference can be considered a success. It has focused world attention on the issues of: (1) the crippling effect of external debt on the poorest countries, (2) free trade, (3) Official Development Assistance (ODA), (4) the effects of unregulated capital markets, (5) the issues of corruption and governance and (6) the systemic issues that impede the process of development. In preparing for FfD, a strong emphasis has been placed on “development” as “people-centered human development”. Finally, The Financing for Development Conference is part of a process that will continue at the World Food Summit (Rome) this summer and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg) this September. For poor countries (not always speaking with one voice) and for NGO’s in solidarity with them, expectations for this Conference ran high. Yet, because the interests and the mandates of the stakeholders varied so greatly a certain level of disappointment with the Conference agenda was perhaps inevitable. The remainder of this article provides reactions of some significant NGO groups to the “Monterrey Consensus” document which forms the basis for the Conference agenda. The Financing for Development Conference is a political event and in the give and take of that event there may be a significant reworking of the agenda – especially because the stakes are so high. CANADIAN NGO’S The dismay of much of the Canadian non-governmental organizations is clearly expressed in a press release and in a letter written to the Prime Minister, Jean Chritien. The “Monterrey Consensus” document reflects an unwillingness of powerful states to even consider a serious global policy framework for sustainable development.. The FfD process could have been a forum to affirm the primacy of human rights in development and to investigate new and innovative approaches to the eradication of poverty; instead it has become an affirmation of the inequitable status quo. In the past, Canada has prided itself on being an honest broker at the United Nations…(Now) Canada risks being a mere echo of the US. By rejecting any new proposals and opting for business as usual, Canada is undermining four decades of United Nations initiatives on behalf of the poor and marginalized. Canada has nothing to gain from US unilateralism and, in a post-September 11 world, everything to gain from a healthy multilateralism. In Monterrey, we will continue to lobby for increased aid, for enhanced aid effectiveness, for trade policy reviews, for currency transaction tax implementation, for a review of inequitable governance at the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO, for debt cancellation, and for a debt arbitration mechanisms. AFRICAN CAUCUS We have looked forward to the FfD process as an unprecedented opportunity implement the commitments made by the Heads of States at the Millennium Summit to “make the right to development a reality for everyone, thus freeing the entire human race from want.” We are deeply concerned by the ways the FfD process seems to undermine the values and principles of equality, solidarity and shared responsibility of the Millennium Declaration. The current process is likely to endanger the achievement of the development goals of African countries, thereby worsening the effects of globalization on our peoples. Although we welcome the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders in the FfD process, we have noted that the process has been perverted by a lack of clarity in procedure, and that there have been attempts by some stakeholders to go beyond agreed-upon rules. We insist that the “Monterrey Consensus” re-affirm the “rights-based approach to development in order to insure the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, gender and racial equity and equality, and the right to sustainable development.” On the issue of international trade, it is outrageous that some developed countries are attempting to use the FfD process to advance their WTO objectives. [At the closing ceremonies in Doha, the Chair of that Conference clearly stated that no new negotiations would happen without the consent of all countries involved.] We are concerned about the negative impact of trade liberalization in developing countries on the rights and the livelihoods of African peoples, especially the poor, children and women. We affirm that the FfD process, as well as IMF and World Bank policies, must not be used to force African countries to assume new obligations in the WTO. The African Caucus voiced concern over (1) the inability to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS if the level of Official Development Assistance (ODA) continues to decrease, (2) the growing number of armed conflicts that is related to the over-exploitation of its natural resources, and the African Caucus calls (3) for sanctions on companies contributing directly or indirectly to financing wars in Africa. Africa needs the establishment of an international economic environment in which the trade of its natural resources will support the development of African countries. The African Caucus expressed a strong determination to stay involved in the process beyond Monterrey. European NGO’s ask, “ Where is the Coalition against Poverty”? Only 18 months after the UN Millennium Summit hopes are fading that world leaders honor their commitments to fight global poverty. The “Monterrey Consensus” fails to address the structural problems that prevent the realization of a sustainable, gender-sensitive and equitable economic globalization. This Consensus merely repeats the promise that further trade and investment liberalization will enable the private sector to take care of the world’s poor, despite evidence to the contrary. Our governments appear unready to face the challenge of reform. With the “Monterrey Consensus” our governments fail in their responsibility to make the world a safer and fairer place ~ the same governments that “built a coalition against terrorism in a month!” In Monterrey, NGO’s will inform the global public of the failure by governments to address sustainable, people-centered and gender-sensitive global development and economic justice! And, we will campaign for serious action by governments to realize the Millennium goals. | Return Home | About Us | What's New | Urgent Action | Getting Involved | Great Links | Current Newsletter | Monterrey | Articles | Contact Us | |
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