Make Poverty History

The CSP supports the Make Poverty History campaign. The CSP is a signatory to the Make Poverty History campaign, a coalition of more than 350 organisations dedicated to a massive, concerted effort to tackle world poverty. Find out more about the campaign on this page:

 

Trade Justice Movement statement on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong - 18 December 2005

No end to poverty as rich countries refuse to deliver trade justice.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong (13-18 December) could have been a turning point in making poverty history. Rich countries had the capability to correct some of the gross imbalances in world trade at a strategically important moment in the so-called Doha 'development round' of trade talks. But the potential for justice for the world's poorest people was squandered.

The WTO meeting failed to deliver the trade justice deal needed in 2005 to make poverty history. The intransigence of rich countries means the agreement reached is far from just for the poor of the world.

The positions taken by the major developed countries in Hong Kong favoured the rich over the interests of the world's poor.

Outrageously, the developed countries, particularly the European Union (EU) and the United States (US), tried to use the WTO meeting to aggressively push forward their agenda to open the markets in developing countries for the interests of their corporations. This shameful abuse of power showed no respect for poor countries' right to decide their own trade policies to help lift millions of people out of poverty and stop environmental damage.

Rich countries did not end the dumping of their agricultural products in developing countries. The EU and US have retained domestic agricultural subsidies that damage poor and vulnerable farmers in developing countries. Given this, the agreed date for ending export subsidies of 2013 amounts to a symbolic gesture. Until the dumping of all subsidised crops and products on to poor countries' markets is ended, small-scale farmers face worsening poverty.

In one area trade justice campaigners have been calling for, special measures to protect vulnerable farmers in poor countries from liberalisation, there was some useful progress.

Despite standing together, the demands and concerns of developing countries have been repeatedly sidelined. In Hong Kong, strong-arm tactics and pressures were used to obtain agreement to the market-opening proposals of the developed countries.

The conduct of the EU negotiators was in such direct contrast to their stated commitment to development, that the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (of which MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY is the UK arm) demanded Europe's trade commissioner Peter Mandelson remove the white band he wore in Hong Kong. EU decision-makers have been quick to echo the words of trade justice campaigners when responding to the demands of the general public in 2005 but they have not changed their policies and practices. The eyes of the growing global movement for trade justice will remain focused on the decision-makers who were in Hong Kong. Trade justice is crucial to make poverty history. Campaigners, encouraged by the solidarity shown across developing countries, will continue to stand alongside people across the globe in calling for an end to unfair trade.

As the WTO reconvenes at its headquarters in Geneva, we will continue to press the UK Government to act on all issues we are calling for - not just agriculture - in order to deliver trade justice as negotiations continue. It is equally vital that the UK Government take the necessary action within the EU to deliver a fair deal in these talks. We are not satisfied with empty rhetoric and political posturing. We need to see that they have a concrete understanding of the issues and the actions they must take to deliver trade justice. The end of the Hong Kong WTO meeting marks the start of a renewed call from millions of people around the world as part of a bigger and stronger global campaign for trade justice.

The responsibility for the WTO failing to deliver trade justice in Hong Kong rests with rich countries. In Hong Kong, rich country governments did not show willingness to deliver trade justice. They have to take responsibility for the fact that the WTO, once again, failed to make the necessary changes to the unequal world trading system.

In 2005 G8 and other rich country leaders made several statements of principle against forced liberalisation and economic policy conditions attached to aid and debt relief. For developing countries to be able to protect and cultivate their economies, these words needed to be turned into action in Hong Kong. The need for such action is even more urgent as negotiations on the rest of the WTO round continue.

The continuation of injustices in trade will perpetuate poverty for generations. The progress in 2005 through increased aid and cancellation of some debt will not make poverty history without trade justice being delivered and no longer delayed.

For further verdicts and reports on the WTO from Trade Justice Movement member organisations see the website: www.tjm.org.uk.

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The demands of the campaign

For the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in Hong Kong (13-18 December 2005), MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY and the Trade Justice Movement called on the UK Government and its partners in the European Union (EU) to:

  • Stop pushing poor countries to open their economies through world trade talks and respect poor countries' right to decide on trade policies to help end poverty and protect their environment.

 

In particular, the UK Government was called upon to use its influence within the EU to:

  • Allow developing countries to shape trade policies that protect vulnerable farm sectors and promote national industries
  • Allow countries to choose the best policies for poor people and the environment in services such as water, health and education

 

Throughout 2005, MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY and the Trade Justice Movement demanded an end to the export and other subsidies that result in dumping, damaging the livelihoods of poor rural communities around the world.

Outcomes at the WTO Hong Kong meeting on the demands of the campaign

The right for developing countries to choose the best policies for poor people and the environment in services such as water, health and education

The services negotiations were one of the most contentious of the WTO meeting. Developing countries came under immense pressure to open up their markets to the developed countries' multinational companies.

Despite their repeated rejection by developing countries, proposals put forward by developed countries continued to reappear in the declaration undemocratically. This result will threaten essential services throughout the world as poor countries will be pushed into negotiations that could see essential services such as water, health and education opened up to foreign competition. The outcome could also now impact drastically on the freedom of governments to choose pro-poor public policies.

The right to protect vulnerable farmers and promote national industries

The WTO meeting introduced the most extreme method of cutting the tariffs that stop industrial goods flooding into poor countries and destroying the sustainable development of their local businesses. This unfair competition from the established multinationals of rich countries raises the threat of massive job losses and lost revenue to poor country governments. What emerged in Hong Kong was the spectre of de-industrialisation rather than development.

There was some progress at the WTO in deciding the ways that farmers in poor countries might gain special protection. However, while useful, much remains unresolved and the threat to rural livelihoods in poor countries remains from liberalisation and products being dumped into their markets.

Ending the export and other subsidies that result in dumping

The EU and the US have retained the right to keep their domestic agricultural subsidies that damage poor and vulnerable farmers in developing countries. This means the dumping of agricultural products will still go on. In this light, a 2013 end date for the export subsidies is too late to be much more than a symbolic gesture. Until all dumping of subsidised crops and products on to poor countries' markets is ended, poor farmers will be pushed further into poverty.

The strength of the campaign for trade justice

Campaigners in the UK and global civil society demanded throughout 2005 that rich countries fundamentally change their approach to trade talks for trade justice to be delivered and a genuine pro-poor trade deal to be reached.

2005 has been a unique year in the global fight for poverty eradication. Trade justice has the potential to play the leading role in making poverty history. Changes in international trade policy could dramatically improve the lives of millions of the world's poorest women, men and children.

Over 35 million people worldwide took action this year to demand changes in international trade through the groups and alliances worldwide that are working together in the Global Call to Action Against Poverty alliance that includes MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY.

Campaigners across the world called for trade justice - for trade rules and policies that ensure the right of developing countries to pursue their own development agendas, putting their people's interests first.

Ahead of the December 2005 WTO meeting Nelson Mandela said: "In Hong Kong there is a chance to make decisions that will lift billions of people out of poverty. Trade can be part of the solution to poverty but at the moment it's part of the problem. Hong Kong is a chance that must not be missed. The whole world will be watching."

The world was watching. But rich countries did not make the decisions that would start to lift millions of people out of poverty. Instead they chose unjust trade policies.

The global campaign for trade justice continues into 2006, galvanized by both the need to win against such resistant opposition and the strength of the campaign so many more millions joined in 2005. Political leaders will see increased pressure on them to not act undemocratically against the interests of the world's poorest people but to finally deliver trade justice. We will not give up until this victory is won.

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UK Government

In 2005 the UK Government changed the language it uses on trade justice. This included positive public statements on reducing European agricultural subsidies, a changed policy position on conditionality (the strings attached to financing) and new important statements on stopping forced liberalisation. The Trade Justice Movement and MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY urgently called for these statements, particularly that of no forced liberalisation, to be put into action at the WTO ahead of and at the Hong Kong meeting.

In April Prime Minister Tony Blair signed the Africa Commission report which states: 'Forcing poor countries to liberalise through trade agreements is the wrong approach to achieving growth and poverty reduction in Africa, and elsewhere.' Labour's 2005 election manifesto stated: "We do not believe that poor countries should be forced to liberalise." However, these words have been frequently contradicted by the actions of the UK Government and the EU in trade negotiations at the WTO.

In services negotiations, the UK Government verbally committed itself to opposing mandatory approaches. Yet the EU continued to demand mandatory targets for the liberalisation of trade in services at the WTO in direct opposition to the explicit call of developing countries that this was unacceptable. This was just one example, amongst many, of how the promise of a 'development round' turned into a betrayal by rich countries of the needs of poor countries.

Did the UK Government do anything to stop the forced liberalisation agenda of the EU on industrial goods and services in Hong Kong? There is certainly no evidence that it did. The UK did support the right of developing countries to protect key farm products. This was a direct result of pressure from MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY and the Trade Justice Movement.

The Government's promise to the UK electorate on no forced liberalisation was undermined by the EU's favouring of corporate interests at the expense of both the millions of people living in poverty around the world and of the environment.

The UK Government's commitment to making poverty history through trade justice and no forced liberalisation will tested immediately in 2006 as trade talks move back to the WTO headquarters in Geneva.

Message to supporters - 8 July 2005

Never before have so many people stood in solidarity with the poor. While there is a great deal more G8 leaders should have done in Gleneagles, today they responded to our roar for justice by making significant commitments to increase aid, cancel some of the debts of some of the world's poorest countries, and saying they will apply fewer conditions to them. These commitments will give hope to millions, and they're down to you.

Are you wearing a white band? Remembering the thousands of emails you've sent? Did you rally along with quarter of a million people in Edinburgh last weekend? Then you helped deliver the pressure that made 2005 the year the world accelerated on the road towards justice.

Today's announcement marks a turning point in the human story, but it falls far short of the plan that would truly make poverty history. To do that, and secure a place in history, world leaders must go a lot further at the UN Millennium Development Goals summit and world trade talks. Millions of people are trapped in the prison of poverty. Today the G8 chose not to do all that we have asked them that could set those people free. The people of the world are already on the road to justice. They expect their leaders to be with them. Today's announcement has shown that the G8 need to run much faster to catch up.

Detailed statement in response to G8 communique - 8 July 2005

Make Poverty History has become an unprecedented movement of passion, energy and solidarity. Never before have so many people in the world come together, fully united in demanding action to end poverty, with a roar for justice that they felt was impossible to ignore. Today the G8 have chosen not to do all that campaigners insist is necessary to free people trapped in the prison of poverty. Important steps have been taken - steps that will bring hope to millions.

But more action is urgently needed if they are to play their role in bringing about real change for the world's poorest people and consigning extreme poverty to the history books.

To secure a deserved place in history, the G8 must go a lot further and secure real change by working with other world leaders at the UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals and talks around the World Trade Organisation. The people of the world are already on the road to justice. They expect their leaders to be with them. Today's announcement has shown that the G8 need to run much faster to catch up.

Trade

The G8 have not met the challenge of trade justice as clearly set out by Make Poverty History. There is language in the communique on letting African countries set their own trade policies. Yet at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) they continue to force open developing country markets.

What we have asked for is action not words.

G8 leaders decided not to set a date for ending the export subsidies that destroy livelihoods of poor countries around the world. By forcing free trade on poor countries, dumping agricultural products and not regulating multinational companies they have chosen not to take the necessary decisions to make poverty history.

The challenge of trade justice remains. The governments of the G8 must now urgently take these steps at the WTO and in other trade negotiations as well as through the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Rich countries are the obstacles to trade justice. This must stop if trade is to benefit the poor rather than keep them in poverty.

Debt

The G8 has done no more than confirm the proposed deal by the G8 Finance Ministers, cancelling some of the debt owed by some countries. The principle of cancelling 100 per cent of the debt owed to multilateral institutions is a positive step, and a tribute to the unceasing efforts of Make Poverty History campaigners and campaigners worldwide; but this debt deal is a small step compared to the giant leap that was called for.

While an important contribution, the G8 debt deal will provide less than $1billion this year - the equivalent of no more than one dollar per person in the countries that are due to benefit. It is an inadequate response to the global debt crisis, which needs an estimated $10 billion a year of debt cancellation to eradicate extreme poverty.

Major issues on debt remain unresolved - the damaging economic policy conditions attached to debt relief, the many indebted countries not on the list, debts not covered by the deal.

So there is much more work to be done - the deal is yet to be ratified and then it needs to be delivered. Our campaigners expect more and will be continuing to seek significant improvements and advances during the rest of the year.

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Aid

While this aid increase is a step forward, it is far from the historic deal that millions around the world have been demanding.

There is no doubt that this aid increase will save lives and Make Poverty History campaigners can be really proud of the role they have played in securing it. But this aid will still arrive five years too late and falls far short of the scale of aid that is needed to end poverty in the world's poorest countries. In real terms, much of the pledged funds are a restatement of recent aid announcements.

For most of the 50 million children who will die of poverty over the next five years, the G8 leaders have offered too little, too late. By 2010, we will still see the awful inequity whereby a child dies every 3.5 seconds, just because they are poor.

The G8's promise of US$48 billion boost to aid in five years is mostly made up of money already pledged. MPH calculates that only around US$20 billion is new money. Some of this money is also likely to be raised through borrowing from future aid budgets, rather than new contributions.

Make Poverty History welcomes the G8's recognition that poor countries should be free to decide their own economic policies. These words must now be turned into actions by putting an end to the damaging conditions that the World Bank and IMF push on impoverished countries.

If the G8 are really serious about reducing poverty, they should be doing much more to improve the quality of their aid, including untying aid from donors' goods and services and ensuring that aid is focused on the poorest.

On both areas, they have offered warm words, but little in terms of concrete commitments.

HIV/AIDS

G8 leaders have produced one of the summit's successes by responding courageously to the scale of the AIDS emergency. In pledging AIDS treatment to everyone who requires it by 2010, the G8 have started to restore hope to the 40 million people currently living - and dying - with HIV.

However, insufficient new aid will undermine the target's delivery. The additional aid announced today is not sufficient or fast enough to truly make AIDS history.

Positive people will now be looking to donors to deliver full AIDS funding at the Global Fund Replenishment conference this September. Without adequate financing, this bold and visionary target could become another of the broken promises that litter the history of the pandemic.

UK Government

In the last 20 years the G8 has repeatedly failed to take the action it could to eradicate poverty. This has been an unprecedented year in which millions of people have campaigned to make poverty history and the UK government have responded by placing Africa on the agenda as a priority for the G8.

They have worked hard with European Union and G8 colleagues to deliver significant steps towards debt cancellation and more and better aid. Throughout this summit, the UK government have demonstrated leadership on these vital issues.

The G8 choosing not to deliver all that campaigners feel is necessary will disappoint the millions of campaigners in the UK but we will judge the UK government by its contribution to the delivery of all our campaign demands for trade justice not free trade, more and better aid and debt cancellation for all developing countries.

Climate Change

The G8 has missed the opportunity to make progress on climate change, the impacts of which are already affecting poor countries and will seriously undermine efforts to eliminate poverty in the long term. We now look to the UK's Presidency of the EU for effective action to rectify this lack of progress.

The UK's priorities for its Presidency can be seen on the EU2005 website www.eu2005.gov.uk.

CSP at the G8

There was a CSP presence in Scotland for the G8 summit at Gleneagles as the Make Poverty History campaign organised a march and rally to coincide with the summit. Four members accompanied Senior Negotiating Officer for Scotland, Patricia McNally, with the CSP banner at the event, although several other CSP members from different parts of the country made themselves known to the dedicated banner bearers throughout the day. Patricia says there were probably a quarter of a million people at the march, of all ages. Members there were surprised - but impressed - to see the CSP banner there as well.

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