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NGOs, Financing for Development - Social and Economic Policy - Global Policy Forum Statement by the International Federation of Human Rights to
April 30, 1999
the Ad Hoc Work Group on Financing for DevelopmentPresented on behalf of the International Federation of Human Rights/ Federation Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH) at a dialogue between Ad Hoc Working Group on Financing for Development and NGOs
I would like to thank Ambassadors Sharma and Sucharipa for organizing this consultation. We look forward to continuing opportunities for non-governmental organizations to participate in this important process.
There are five points I would like to put forward for consideration.
First, the financing for development conference should be a global conference, with the highest-level governmental participation and the broadest possible NGO involvement. This means that it must take place outside of New York City, since in our view the facilities at headquarters are inadequate for this purpose. We would urge member states to come forward with offers to host this conference.
Second, we ask for a very substantial opportunity for NGO participation in the preparatory process of this conference. We look for opportunities for dialogue and discussion between NGOs and delegations at every stage and we hope that the planning process will always keep NGOs in mind.
Thirdly, we ask that the conference discussions on "New and Innovative Sources of Finance for Development" will include in its discussions the important proposals on global taxes and fees. By this I mean the Tobin Tax, carbon emissions taxes, fees for use of the global commons and other similar proposals. No financing discussion would be complete without a serious consideration of these ideas. We believe that the revenues from these sources can make a major contribution towards the financing of sustainable human development in the years to come.
Fourthly, we emphasize that now is the time to consider greater global regulation of finance. In recent years, the trend has been in the other direction - de-regulation. As we know, this has contributed to the crises in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. To avoid even more devastating crises in the future, there must be serious thought given to new regulatory regimes - for examples, regulation of short-term investments and money-flows. Regulation is required to protect ordinary people from the harmful effects of financial speculation.
In conclusion, we want to lay special emphasis on the importance of social and economic rights to the work of the conference. This must be a cross-cutting theme of central importance , without which the conference cannot be a success. Rights cannot be ignored just because matters of high-finance are discussed! Social and economic rights must be woven into the fabric of the conference from the very beginning.
Thank you.
Other Statements by NGOs to the Ad Hoc Working Group
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