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	Genuine progress in the international arena depends on the real inclusion of civil society by HRW, Amnesty, GCAP, IPS News, agencies   May 2024   United Nations member countries should use negotiations on the “Pact for the Future” to commit to strengthening human rights, including promoting economic justice and protecting the right to a healthy environment, Human Rights Watch said.   The UN Pact for the Future, currently being negotiated, is expected to be adopted at the Summit of the Future, a special UN meeting slated for September 2024. Among the issues being discussed by the 193 UN member countries are economic policy reforms and how to realize the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, as well as the emphasis that should be placed on human rights generally.   “The Pact for the Future shouldn’t become another UN document that gets adopted and then ignored,” said Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch. “Governments should commit to action to end widening economic inequalities that deny billions of people their rights and a climate crisis that’s taking a mounting toll on lives and livelihoods around the globe.”   Many governments that recognize the importance of sustainable development often ignore that human rights are key to achieving this goal, Human Rights Watch said. They need to confront climate change and responsibly manage new technologies. And while most governments acknowledge the importance of complying with international humanitarian law in conflicts, they disagree on how to address atrocities against civilians in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine.   Although the final text will be non-binding, the pact presents a critical opportunity to affirm a vision of human rights that can help bridge some of the sharp divisions between governments on these and other issues.   In the process, governments should strengthen the ability of the UN system to deliver on the UN Charter by protecting and promoting peace and security, development, and human rights.   Some governments were disappointed with the initial draft of the pact due to what they considered its scant attention to human rights, diplomats told Human Rights Watch.   A number of countries are seeking to strengthen the human rights language in the draft pact. However, China, Russia, Cuba, Iran, and others have sought to weaken, dilute, or delete references to human rights.   Western governments are partly to blame for leaving space to those critical of a human rights approach, Human Rights Watch said. Their selective application of human rights undermines the credibility of such an agenda, particularly for countries in the Global South.   While the United States and other Western countries justifiably condemn Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine, for example, many of them have not shown the same resolve concerning Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. While the European Union says it champions human rights protection globally, it opposes efforts at the UN to make the international tax system fairer for developing countries.   All governments’ assertions in support of human rights would resonate more powerfully if they applied them consistently, including in their own countries and with their friends and allies, Human Rights Watch said.   Rather than dismissing the views of countries in the Global South on international financial reforms, Global North states should support much-needed changes to the international financial architecture. Those include aligning international financial institutions’ policies and practices with human rights, supporting efforts to achieve a global tax treaty, combatting illicit financial flows, and reducing governments’ debt burdens.   The concept of a “human rights economy,” which has been championed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, offers the potential to meet the legitimate demands of Global South countries through a more holistic approach to human rights.   Governments should also ensure that the pact reaffirms the centrality of human rights in confronting the climate crisis. They should explicitly endorse the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, recognized by the UN General Assembly in 2022, while emphasizing the urgent need for phasing out fossil fuels through a just transition that is consistent with human rights. Fossil fuels are the primary driver of the climate crisis, and all stages of their use have been linked to severe human rights harm.   The pact should also highlight the importance of civil society and the rights to freedom of speech, association, and peaceful assembly. The upcoming UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Kenya on May 9-10 is an opportunity for the UN leadership and delegations overseeing the drafting process to hear from hundreds of civil society representatives from around the world.   The drafters should listen carefully to civil society priorities for the Pact for the Future and its two annexes, the Global Digital Compact on “shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all” and the Declaration on Future Generations. Outreach to civil society organizations in the drafting process has so far been haphazard.   “Instead of standing by while governments trample on human rights, or selectively condemning abuses by their adversaries while ignoring those of their friends, UN member countries should commit to ending repression wherever it occurs and improving everyone’s lives,” Charbonneau said.   http://www.hrw.org/news/2024/05/07/un-revise-pact-future-focus-rights http://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-10/secretary-generals-remarks-the-united-nations-civil-society-conference-support-of-the-summit-of-the-future-delivered http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/05/our-future-is-too-important-to-be-left-solely-to-states/ http://gcap.global/news/african-csos-and-global-coalition-urge-action-on-debt-relief-and-social-protection-at-arfsd-side-event/ http://www.socialprotectionfloorscoalition.org/2024/05/recording-of-the-side-event-on-social-protection-at-the-2024uncsc/ http://www.forus-international.org/en/custom-page-detail/76297-marchwithus http://www.article19.org/resources/un-global-digital-compact-and-civil-societies http://cesr.org/sites/default/files/2024/CESR_-_Presentation_in_Nairobi_UNCSC_Impact_Coalition_on_FfD.pdf http://civilsocietyforeu.eu/the-manifesto http://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/news/interviews/7216-summit-of-the-future-civil-society-has-been-vocal-in-urging-that-the-summit-address-the-real-needs-of-people   Kathmandu, Feb 16, 2024   Grassroots Voices call for Climate Justice. (IPS)   Kiprotich Peter from the East African country of Kenya is trying to convey his climate crisis message using the platform of the World Social Forum (WSF) taking place in the mountain nation of Nepal, which has also been battered by the impacts of climate change.   Youth activist Peter, who works for Green World in Kenya to promote environmental education and reforestation, is holding a placard that reads: “The World’s Poorest Countries are being forced to take out loans to respond to a climate crisis not of their making,” on day 1 of the WSF in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.   “I am here to raise my voice against loans to deal with the climate crisis. Small countries like Kenya and Nepal need grants to fight and mitigate the climate crisis, not loans,” he added. “The climate change is a real-time crisis in Africa, and I think in Nepal and other parts of the global South too.”   Low and mid-income countries like Nepal and Kenya have contributed just tiny amounts of the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, but they are on the frontlines of its impacts, in the forms of droughts, flash floods and other extreme weather events.   According to the 2023 Kenya Country Climate and Development report, to maintain gains in poverty reduction, the country must act on climate change. “Inaction against climate change may result in up to 1.1 million additional poor in 2050, in a dry and hot climate future scenario.”   Far from Kenya but close to Nepal in South Asia, one third of Pakistan was submerged because of a massive flood in 2022, affecting 33 million people. Pakistani historian and youth leader Ammar Ali Jan described the aftermath of that flood and the international community’s treatment as an ugly image of humanity.   “Almost a province was wiped out; we haven’t seen a flood like that. The way desperate people rushed at food trucks, it was almost as if the humanity of people was taken away,” said the founder and president of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Party addressing a session called, Towards a Global Movement for Climate Justice, on Friday.   “People were in hunger without having anything to eat; they were stuck. It’s as if these people are becoming disposable human beings, and their deaths will not be mourned because their lives are not valued enough,” added the leader of his country’s new ‘Green’-inspired party.   Ali blamed an International Monetary Fund loan for the economic deterioration that followed the disaster. “The IMF’s loan was given after six months, not by saying ‘we will give you this grant and forgive your debt because you are affected by a crisis not of your making.’ They said ‘you must pay every penny to the international creditor.’ We need support, not loans.”   The party leader argues that a large chunk of humanity is lacking empathy, while retaining resources and political power. “To achieve climate justice, we need to find ways to make our agenda, the people’s agenda, heard,” he added. “Progressives need to take power.”   Shanti Devi was listening to Ali and nodding her head. “It’s what’s happening in our village in Bihar, India. We don’t get rainfall when needed, and floods hit at the time of harvesting,” said Devi, adding that she was attending the WSF to make her voice heard.   Indian researcher and science activist Soumya Dutta called for continuous pressure to make the voices of the frontline communities that live with the consequences of climate-induced changes heard in every forum. “We have long crossed climate change; we are in a climate crisis,” he said during a discussion on climate justice. “We need to elevate the social movement to create a larger political discourse.”   Other speakers and participants called for collaboration and support to address the world’s crises, including climate change.   United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutters also urged unity in his message to the WSF: “We need global solidarity to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals – and reform an outdated, dysfunctional and unfair global financial system. We must also rally together to address the climate crisis.”   While laying out the stark reality of climate change’s impacts on communities, water and climate change researcher Ajaya Dixit proposed a way forward. “We are still taking nature for granted, which needs to changed,” said the Nepal-based researcher, who collaborates with other researchers in South Asia. “To understand climate change, we have to understand the water and hydrological cycle, because the crisis we are facing is all connected with water one way or another.”   According to Dixit, to understand the ground reality of climate change, science and community must come together. “We still hesitate to recognize community knowledge, especially the historical knowledge of Indigenous people. Natural science, physical science and community knowledge need to be combined in our education systems; then we will be able to better understand climate change and act accordingly.”   http://www.ipsnews.net/2024/02/grassroots-voices-unite-call-climate-justice/ http://www.ipsnews.net/2024/02/local-knowledge-womens-leadership-key-food-justice-activists/ http://www.ipsnews.net/2024/02/world-social-forum-counterweight-world-economic-forum/ http://minorityrights.org/events/open-civic-space-and-the-right-to-participation-essential-steps-on-the-path-to-climate-justice/ http://www.wsf2024nepal.org/news-declaration/civil-society-network-hails-guterres-visit-to-nepal http://www.socialprotectionfloorscoalition.org/2024/03/joint-statement-towards-universal-social-protection/   Feb. 2024   Over 350 Civil Society Organizations ask for real inclusion in UN Summit of the Future negotiations, by Bibbi Abruzzini and Clarisse Sih. (Forus International)   A coalition of over 350 civil society organisations part of the #UNmute initiative, shared concerns over the current engagement mechanisms for civil society at the UN – particularly in light of the upcoming Summit of the Future.   At the heart of global policy-making, civil society organisations have long been seen as those bearing the torch of grassroots advocacy and bringing forward the messages of communities worldwide.   Civil society has changed the world we live in, fighting against discrimination, securing voting rights for women, raising awareness about environmental issues, being at the forefront of humanitarian aid, and advocating for equity and acceptance.   Civil society’s impact is undeniable, yet increasingly questioned with negative narratives, risks to their safety, and limited access to decision- making spaces. To silence or exclude this voice is to silence the collective needs and aspirations of millions of people around the world.   At the national level, attacks on civic space and democratic freedoms have escalated. New legislation limits civil society’s ability to engage in online and offline advocacy.   International collaboration between civil society networks, social movements and activists is increasingly criticized, penalized, and criminalized. This is unfortunately replicated at the global level.   As we approach the Summit of the Future – set to to redirect our course towards a more effective and equitable future, there is a worrying drift from collaboration to restriction in the relationship between the UN, Member States in their national and local contexts, and civil society.   For several years, civil society voices have found themselves on the periphery, with challenges ranging from limited access at key UN sessions, to restrictive participation in key UN forums such as the High Level Political Forum, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Internet Governance Forum.   In fact, the current system, contrasts with earlier UN processes and falls short of the UN’s stated commitment and previous good practices to inclusivity as written in the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Our Common Agenda.   “For civil society activists and human rights defenders facing repression at national level the space at the UN is very important. The UN opened up since the 1990s. For example, it was possible to contribute to the 2030 Agenda development in national consultations, regional meetings and as part of the Open Working Group in New York. We were never excluded a decade ago. Therefore, we are disappointed that this is happening now. It will weaken the Summit of the Future,” says Ingo Ritz, Director of the Global Call to Action against Poverty.   Despite efforts to promote inclusivity and engagement on paper, in practice civil society organizations frequently face a lack of access to information and resources, limited opportunities to participate in decision-making processes, as well as exclusion from key meetings and events, increasing repraisals, discrimination, harassment, and insufficient avenues for input in policy discussions.   The clock is ticking, and the integration of civil society into the heart of the UN is not only beneficial, it is essential.   Jyotsna Mohan Singh, representing the Asia Development Alliance, points out that “Over the years, we have seen the UN open its doors to civil society, but lately those doors seem to be closing. Stronger collaboration is not only desirable, it is necessary. Engaging with the UN should not be a labyrinth where only a few know the way. We need transparent and inclusive processes that do not marginalise any civil society organisation on the basis of size or origin. Civil society sees the UN as a beacon of hope, a platform for global cooperation, where the voices of the marginalised and the aspirations of humanity are heard, leading to a world of equality, sustainability and true peace.”   Over 350 civil society organizations part of the #UNmute initiative have come together to issue a united call for inclusivity and participation in the preparatory process of the forthcoming Summit of the Future.   The collective, which spans a broad spectrum of global civil society including Civicus, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Forus, the United Nations Foundation, the Coalition for the UN We Need, World Vision International, Greenpeace, Global Focus, are calling for action at the United Nations.   “From the streets to the UN halls, we witness the alarming and continuous shrinking space for civil society and rights defenders. With the aim of restoring trust and preparing the UN for the future, the voice of civil society must be key for the Summit of the Future. This requires Member States to support and promote the unique role of civil society, especially the historically marginalized and underrepresented communities and informal activist and social movements, from New York to Nairobi. The UN is for the ‘we’, it is for the people, and it is based on their trust that the success of the Summit of the Future should be held against,” says Global Focus‘ Director, Mette Muller Kristensen.   What needs to change   The role of civil society cannot just be recognized, it needs to be actively strenghtened and placed at the core of global governance, where it belongs. We need to build, rather than erode, trust.   The success of the Summit of the Future should be measured on how it delivers for people – inclusively and meaningfully. We call for immediate action, including the establishment of inclusive platforms for engagement, designated seats for Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) and civil society representatives in all phases of the Summit of the Future, and a comprehensive review of civil society’s engagement in UN processes.   These measures aim to democratize representation, ensuring that all voices and perspectives are equally represented in international dialogues, which unfortunately is not the case as of today.   As Mavalow Christelle Kalhoule, civil society leader and Chair of Forus and SPONG, the Burkina Faso NGO network, puts it, “In a world increasingly driven by technology, many of our colleagues from under-represented regions find themselves mute, not for lack of passion or knowledge, but because of the digital divide and lack of resources and access. To truly champion global voices, we need to bridge this gap and ensure that civil society has the tools and support it needs to engage meaningfully in political processes and amplify the voices of the myriad communities and NGOs it represents.   Civil society participation must be simplified and facilitated; it is also about real political will. Genuine progress within the framework of the United Nations depends on the real inclusion of civil society.   Every decision taken without their engagement risks missing the heartbeat of the communities we serve. The purpose of the UNmute initiative is not to raise a few voices, but to ensure that the chorus of civil society is heard loud and clear at every meeting of the United Nations.”   http://www.forus-international.org/en/pdf-detail/110397-unmute-civil-society-statement-summit-of-the-future http://www.ipsnews.net/2024/07/summit-future-un-secretary-general-underestimated-difficulty-reaching-consensus/ http://www.ipsnews.net/2024/05/democracy-civic-space-fundamental-freedoms-attack-civil-society-stay http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/blog http://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-articles/if-momentum-is-lost-persons-with-disabilities-will-fall-further-behind/ http://defenceforchildren.org/200-ngos-sent-a-joint-letter-to-un-representatives-regarding-online-participation/ http://ishr.ch/latest-updates/un-liquidity-crisis-rights-groups-call-on-states-to-payyourdues/ http://ishr.ch/latest-updates/ http://voicesofsdg16plus.org/videos http://ada2030.org/publication.php http://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-center/news/news http://www.socialplatform.org/what-we-do/over-arching-campaigns/over-the-line-campaign-for-adequate-minimum-income/ http://www.iwgia.org/en/ http://www.helpage.org/latest-news/ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/20/threats-intimidation-creating-climate-of-fear-un-cop-events http://www.coalitionfortheicc.org/icc-rome-statute-turns-25 http://www.unrisd.org/en/library/blog-posts/a-peoples-un-social-work-peoples-assemblies-and-new-eco-social-contracts   Feb. 2024   Climate Action Network (CAN) reacts with shock to the exclusion of civil society representatives from IEA 50th Anniversary Ministerial Meeting.   The International Energy Agency (IEA) Ministerial started from the 13th of February, 2024 and runs for three days. CAN is calling out the lack of civil society representation at these events.   The IEA has failed to champion any voices from the environmental, climate or wider civil society movements for the multiple panels taking place over the three days. This, despite leaders acknowledging that without massive public support, a just energy transition will simply not happen.   CAN represents over 1,900 organisations from 130 countries, we are part of the clean energy transition and our efforts to further climate action are essential to the process.   “A just energy transition aligned with the Paris Agreement and a 1.5 C pathway will not happen unless people’s voices, concerns and solutions are heard. It is shocking therefore that the IEA 50th Anniversary agenda gives no space to representatives from environmental civil society, social movements or trade unions from across the world and only includes the usual echo-chamber of voices from governments, business and technical experts.   It is time that the IEA not only recognises the important role that civil society plays to address the climate crisis, but also puts this into action through creating the space to have our voices heard. It is the only way to address this crisis so that no one is left behind.” - Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network International.   http://climatenetwork.org/2024/02/13/can-reacts-with-shock-to-the-exclusion-of-civil-society-representatives-from-iea-50th-anniversary-ministerial/   * Limiting frontline voices in the Loss and Damage Fund is a recipe for disaster - Representatives of groups hardest-hit by the climate crisis say restrictions on their participation at the fund’s first board meeting set a worrying precedent: http://www.climatechangenews.com/2024/04/26/limiting-frontline-voices-in-the-loss-damage-fund-is-a-recipe-for-disaster/ http://insideclimatenews.org/news/19062024/bonn-climate-talks-justice-issues-for-developing-countries/   Mega-corporations can use lawsuits to silence, intimidate and ruin their critics. $300 million SLAPP lawsuit that threatens to shut down Greenpeace USA.   290+ Organizations join Greenpeace in campaign to defend Free Speech rights and Fight Corporate Intimidation.   Greenpeace USA has launched a new campaign to defend freedom of expression in the United States and save Greenpeace USA from a corporate intimidation tactic designed to shutter the storied environmental and climate organization.   The campaign aims to raise awareness of the $300 million strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) filed in North Dakota court against Greenpeace by the oil pipeline company Energy Transfer (ET), which owns a majority stake in the Dakota Access Pipeline.   In that lawsuit, Energy Transfer claims that Greenpeace organized the 2016-2017 Standing Rock resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline – a false claim that attempts to abuse the legal system to silence dissenting views. The case goes to trial in North Dakota in February 2025, where Energy Transfer is seeking a judgment of $300 million – an amount that would functionally bankrupt Greenpeace USA.   “No matter who you are, no matter what your politics are, this is one of the most important issues in America right now,” said Rolf Skar, spokesperson for Greenpeace USA. “Energy Transfer built the Dakota Access Pipeline. But they’re suing anyway in order to send a message: if you dare to oppose us, we will financially ruin you. The whole point of this type of lawsuit is to limit freedom of expression, so even if you don’t care about climate change, or you don’t care about Greenpeace, you should pay attention. What’s at stake isn’t just Greenpeace or environmentalism, but the fundamental American rights to freedom of peaceful expression and advocacy for all of us.”   An open letter to Energy Transfer was signed by more than 290 organizations including 350.org, Public Citizen, ACLU North Dakota, SEIU, Indigenous Environmental Network, and Amnesty International USA.   “Amnesty International USA stands steadfast with Greenpeace USA in their fight against Big Oil’s attempt to punish and silence a strong advocate for environmental rights and climate justice for its fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline,” said Justin Mazzola, Researcher, Amnesty International USA. “As we experience the continual warming of our planet year over year due to the burning of fossil fuels, we need Greenpeace USA now more than ever to advocate and be a strong voice for the communities most at risk from the impacts of the climate crisis, rather than defending itself against retaliatory lawfare.”   As SLAPPs are a growing threat, most states have put legal protections in place to protect advocates. But in North Dakota – and 17 other states – no anti-SLAPP statutes exist. Last Congress, Rep. Jamie Raskin introduced the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) Protection Act to deter other corporations from filing SLAPP suits and to protect everyone’s right to speak out against injustice.   “The case against Greenpeace illustrates how mega-corporations can use lawsuits to silence, intimidate and ruin their critics,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, sponsor of the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) Protection Act set to be reintroduced in the US Congress in September 2024. “America must demand, and Congress must pass, bipartisan legislation to protect First Amendment rights against ruinous litigation practices.”   http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/290-organizations-and-public-figures-join-greenpeace-in-new-campaign-to-defend-free-speech-and-fight-corporate-intimidation/
	The fight for democracy in global institutions by PSI, International Trade Union Confederation   As we mark World Water Day, austerity policies and privatisation continue to strain public water services, while the sector faces mounting pressure from climate change demands and reduced development assistance, writes David Boys from Public Services International (PSI):   As multiple crises across the world deepen, PSI and its unions continue to organise and mobilize to protect labour rights and improve universal access to quality public services. Increasing threats require greater solidarity, unity and clarity of purpose. Our job is to protect the workers and to ensure that our communities receive the necessary public services.   Growing trade and military conflicts will increase pressure on government budgets, leading to more austerity measures, degradation of public services and further privatisations. This will impact national and local/regional governments, already financially strained.   Key challenges facing the sector include:   Austerity policies choking public spending; Privatisation enabling massive capital extraction from public services; Climate crisis demanding increased investment; Reduced and redirected development assistance; Stagnating progress in water and sanitation access.   In the water and sanitation sector, the privatisation started under the Thatcher government in 1989, taken up and imposed on many countries through IMF and World Bank structural adjustment policies, has proved to be highly problematic from the perspective of workers and users.   Many local authorities terminated or refused to renew private concessions contracts which failed to meet the needs of people and planet. And the UK's privatised water utilities are in deep crisis, with the biggest, Thames Water, defaulting on debt payments in 2024, despite paying billions to shareholders since the initial privatisation.   As a result of increasing political resistance from trade unions and community activists – organised as the Global Water Justice Movement – the momentum of privatisation in the sector was slowed by 2010. Regrettably, the momentum has recently increased, but with some new actors and dynamics.   Although the World Bank denies that it supports privatisation, it is driving the global paradigm that says public funds should be used to attract (subsidise) private investors into public services. Hence, some of the biggest private equity funds are availing themselves of public funds to facilitate private takeover of public utilities.   PSI continues to support unions struggling against privatisation. But we need systemic reform of the global systems which allow public services to be undermined. We work on the reform the global tax system which allows the wealthy and big corporations to avoid paying their taxes – the key source of public funds.   This process is moving forward, thanks to the member states of the African Union who presented a resolution passed at the UN General Assembly to reform the global tax system under the aegis of the UN. This resolution was possible thanks to the work of unions and civil society allies to pressure all levels of governmen   Many countries will also need debt relief, as they assumed massive debts during the Cold War and decolonisation, such that they now pay more in interest to northern banks than they do for many public services. Northern banks and investors continue to resist this demand for debt relief.   Along with supporting unions to resist privatisation, we are helping some of the most downtrodden workers to organise into unions and defend themselves. These are the sanitation workers who empty the pit latrines full of human excrement, often with no tools other than a bucket and shovel, and with no personal protective equipment.   Although they are fulfilling a fundamental social need to keep our cities and towns safe, they are discriminated, ostracised and denied their human rights. We are working with the Dutch labour federation FNV, the ILO and many unions to bring our strength to sanitation workers.   http://publicservices.international/resources/news/world-water-day-unions-unite-for-public-water-rights-and-sanitation-justice?id=15720&lang=en http://publicservices.international/resources/news/its-time-for-public-service-workers-to-fight-back?id=15793&lang=en http://publicservices.international/resources/news/thousands-of-protesters-march-in-new-york-against-trumps-public-service-cuts-?id=15697&lang=en http://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/economy-and-ecology/an-ocean-of-gold-but-no-water-to-drink-8172/ http://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Water/annual-reports/a-76-159-friendly-version.pdf http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-water-and-sanitation/annual-reports http://www.ipsnews.net/2025/03/aid-cuts-will-shatter-global-water-sanitation-progress/ http://www.iied.org/making-water-use-fair-for-everybody http://reliefweb.int/report/world/water-driven-hunger-how-climate-crisis-fuels-africas-food-emergency   Sep. 2024   The fight for democracy in global institutions - International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)   Millions of workers have already mobilised for policy change and in the run-up to political elections. They have organised to expand worker power or took militant strike action on the job. Around the world, they are fighting for a vision of “democracy in which workers set the course in our communities, workplaces, countries, and international institutions together.”   This far-reaching campaign now places its focus on high-level global institutions, where government delegations negotiate key standards, treaties, and goals that effectively shape the world of work and thereby all of human society.   When governments gather in New York, USA, for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Summit of the Future (SOTF), in Washington, USA, for the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), and in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the annual Conference of the Parties (COP 29), they find democratic trade unions demanding a New Social Contract which constitutes the labour movement’s plan “for a world where the economy serves humanity, rights are protected and the planet is preserved for future generations.”   But there is another force, one that is unelected and seeks to dominate global affairs. It pushes a competing vision for the world that maintains inequalities and impunity for bad-faith actors, finances far-right political operatives, and values private profit over public and planetary good. That force is corporate power.   In consultation with social allies, global union federations, and researchers, the ITUC is scrutinising publicly available research to identify key players in the corporate world that profit by undermining democracy at all levels.   Corporate underminers of democracy is the ITUC’s list of emblematic companies that benefit financially by continuing to violate trade union and human rights, monopolise media and technology, exacerbate climate catastrophe, and privatise public services. They represent a wider corporate world that protects and expands its own profits by undermining democracy.   These companies deploy complex lobbying operations to undermine popular will and disrupt existing or nascent global policy that could hold them accountable. They are invariably led by ultra-wealthy individuals that support and finance far-right politicians and parties to further their own interests. When the far-right wins power, it discredits and defunds democratic global institutions; reduces taxes on the wealthy and on corporations; undercuts living wages; favours bilateral aid financing over multilateralism; and cracks down on human, trade union, and democratic rights, as evidenced by the ITUC’s Global Rights Index..   * The ITUC represents 191 million workers in 169 countries and territories and has 340 national affiliates.   http://www.ituc-csi.org/corporate-underminers-of-democracy-en http://www.thenation.com/article/archive/democracy-unions-workers-inequality/ Visit the related web page
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