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A view from the United Nations

April 2008

GCAP , CIVICUS, ATD Fourth World address UN meeting on the MDGs
By Vicente García-Delgado, CIVICUS´ UN Representative 

Release Date: 23 April 2008 - e-CIVICUS 385 

The Global Call to Action against Poverty ( GCAP ), CIVICUS and ATD Fourth World Movement (ATD) were recognized as representatives of global civil society to address the UN General Assembly Thematic Debate on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) held in New York on April 1-2, 2008 . The three civil society interventions complemented one another by expressing concerns related to the attainment of the MDGs from diverse civil society perspectives.

Speaking for GCAP , Dennis Howlett, coordinator of the Canadian “Make Poverty History” campaign and a member of GCAP ’s International Facilitation Group, referred to GCAP ’s 2007 mobilization which mobilised 43 million people in 127 countries.   By “Standing up and Speaking out against poverty and inequality and in support of the MDGs they helped put the issues on the global political agenda. GCAP coalitions also mobilized hundreds of thousands of citizens in rich countries to press their politicians, and G8 leaders in particular, to keep their promises and do more to make poverty history. And in the poorer countries in the South, GCAP national coalitions have generated citizen pressure demanding the allocation of resources needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and held held leaders accountable for their delivery of the goals.

While recognizing the progress made toward reducing extreme poverty, the increase in debt relief and improvements on education, Mr Howlett pointed out the unevenness and failings in other areas, such as reducing child mortality, while Sub-Saharan Africa is falling even further behind.  He offered some reasons for the failure to make progress, such as conditionalities on debt relief, a global decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA), and the fact that many Southern governments have yet to give poverty reduction the priority it deserves. Other important reasons include, the stalling Doha Development Round and climate change. He warned that the MDGs were at risk of back-sliding, Mr Howlett encouraged developed countries to build on the achievements made so far. The world has the resources to meet and exceed the MDGs and “there is no excuse” for not doing so.

Vicente García-Delgado, CIVICUS’ UN Representative, referred to the work CIVICUS has been carrying out since 2000 in support of the MDGs, including, convening the GCAP movement and developing the CIVICUS toolkits on MDG campaigning for NGOs. He noted that large sectors of civil society had initially felt reluctant to fully embrace the MDGs, which were viewed as a step back after years of promises to eradicate poverty, and not just one-half. The early reluctance turned into support, partly upon assurances by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, that the MDGs represent what is “politically possible”.  Annan also warned there is now renewed disaffection as the achievement of the MDGs remains in doubt. He referred to increasing frustration amongst civil society, and many people who are the intended beneficiaries of the MDGs in particular.  

Mr García-Delgado next expressed deep concern that the links between the MDGs, sustainable development and climate change have not yet been fully recognized, and that it is not possible to solve any of these challenges without simultaneously resolving the others. Concluding his remarks, he said it was time for governments to recognize that at this point in human history, their own national interests are aligned with the communal interests of the entire world.  

ATD Fourth World, represented by Ms Vicki Soanes, emphasized the need to focus on the bottom billion poorest people and, taking it a step further, on the need to focus on the poorest of the poor, whose extreme poverty and exclusion have rendered them invisible. ATD has been working in close partnership with people living in extreme poverty both in the South and the North for the last 50 years. ATD members, many of whom are living in extreme poverty, have demonstrated through their actions that they can help find solutions, and they have much to contribute in terms of policy formulation. Their voices must be heard. As the international community works toward the achievement of the MDGs, the poorest of the poor must not be forgotten; in fact, she said, they must be included from the outset. Ms Soanes noted that a number of studies have found that very poor people are at risk of being left worse-off if not included from the start. The challenge is how to ensure that the poor are seen as true partners in the fight against poverty, rather than merely as recipients of aid. She emphasized the need to move from an aid and charity model to a human rights model, the recognition that people living in extreme poverty have a right to be free from want. Finally, Ms Soanes explained that the NGO Sub-committee on the eradication of poverty of the Committee for social development strongly supports the upcoming Second Decade on the Eradication of Poverty, which represents an excellent opportunity for the poor participate and  become something more than just  a catch phrase. She warned that without their participation and their voices, the fight against poverty will not be won for all men, women and children.  

To learn more about the Thematic Debate on the MDGs go to: www.un.org/ga/president/62/ThematicDebates/mdgthematicdebate.shtml.

In solidarity,

Vicente García-Delgado, Esq, CIVICUS’ UN Representative  

Please send your comments to CIVICUSUN@aol.com or editor@civicus.org

Below you will find all previous columns of Vicente García-Delgado, CIVICUS UN Representative (New York): 

• Rebuttal to “Climate change is not as big a problem” article appearing on last week’s e-CIVICUS 384

• The global food crisis: Are the rich abandoning the poor?

• Climate Justice: Fighting climate adaptation apartheid

• Taking into account the full range of consequences --UN DPI/NGO COnference calls to action on Climate Change

• NGO Accountability: One size does not fit all

• Global Challenges call for Globalising Democracy

• October 24, UN Day-Cause for celebration; reasons for concern

• Digital Divide or Digital Solidarity: Bridging the gap between the information-rich and the information-starved

• The UN: Limping along

• The last thing the world needs: Dismantling the UN

• The world needs a more democratic United Nations

• UN Management Reform hits a nerve: roadblock or power grab?

• A UN Secretary-General for “We the Peoples”: Civil society calls for a more democratic selection process

• Charting new ways of participation: Is it time for a Parliamentary Assembly at the UN?

• Changing the tone: General Assembly President Jan Eliasson reaches out to Civil Society

• Changing the tone: General Assembly President Jan Eliasson reaches out to Civil Society

• Argentina: Thriving without the IMF

• The Big Letdown: UN Summit shortchanges the poor

• The World Summit : UN Reform will mean little unless poverty eradication tops the agenda

• Millions roar but the G8 whispers - Let the Millennium+5 Summit make up the difference

• “Global Justice - Northern citizens have a special responsibility to make it happen”

• Letting the United Nations be all that it can

• “Appointment with History: The world looks up to John Bolton to help achieve the MDGs”

• “We are rolling!: Civil society’s call for poverty eradication impacts the World Economic Forum and the Group of Seven”

• No more excuses!: The Tsunami must not be allowed to wash away the Millennium Development Goals

• A Call To Action 2005: Global Civil Society mobilizes to demand an end to poverty and the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals

• TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: Should civil society and the Global Compact live under the same UN roof?

• The UN Global Compact: A big red herring disguised in UN blue?

• Happening now: A global revolution of consciousness

• Lasting security for all: Shifting from state security to security of the people

• The UN – Permanently relevant or temporarily relevant?