November 28, 2008

Radical changes and tangible commitments from world leaders are needed if an equitable and sustainable global economic system is to be built, says an ecumenical delegation attending a UN conference on financing for development starting tomorrow in Qatar.

The United Nation's International Conference on Financing for Development taking place from 29 November to 2 December in Doha, Qatar will review the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus adopted by UN member states in Mexico in 2002. That consensus identified policies and actions to mobilize resources for sustainable development, poverty eradication and gender equality.

The follow-up conference in Doha "provides a historic opportunity for world leaders to take responsibility and enact transformations towards building an equitable and sustainable global economic system that meets the economic, social and cultural rights of all, women and men, and nurtures the environment," says a statement by a World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation attending the conference.

For that to happen, the statement continues, "Now more than ever, radical changes and tangible commitments are needed." However, "like the Monterrey Consensus before it, the Doha Outcome Document is in danger of falling drastically short of generating effective and timely responses to the global crises of our times."

Considering that the international financial system "is not merely inefficient" but "based on injustice," the statement urges the UN to "take leadership in redesigning an international financial architecture that establishes a global system of regulation as well as enlarges the space for developing country governments to enhance social protection in crisis periods."

"The WCC continues to call for a lasting solution to the debt problem for poor and middle-income countries beginning with the unconditional cancellation of the illegitimate debts being claimed from poor countries," the statement continues.

Addressing the global food crisis, the statement identifies "its roots in neo-liberal reforms in trade and investment regimes" promoted by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization. Therefore it calls for "the removal of structural inequalities in the global trade system and the establishment of mutuality, transparency and civil society (not least women's) participation in future negotiations."

Regarding the "ecological debt," the statement urges the UN "to conceive a just and sustainable" financial framework with regard to climate change. This framework should redistribute "the financial outlays for mitigation and adaptation among and within countries in proportion to their contribution to climate change and according to their capacity to pay."

"Rich, industrialized countries have [ ... ] an ethical and moral obligation to pay for the ecological damages they have inflicted on poor countries through their disproportionate appropriation of natural resources and unsustainable lifestyles," the statement continues.

Members of the WCC delegation at the conference are:

• Rev. Malcolm Damon (South Africa), executive director of the Economic Justice Network of the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCCISA)

• Mr Solomuzi Mabuza (South Africa), honorary president of the Pietermaritzburg Young Men's Christian Association.

• Ms Felina Mendres (Philippines), a leader with the National Federation of Peasant Women (AMIHAN).

The WCC delegation in partnership with the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and with Jubilee South is co-organizing two workshops or side-events at the conference: "Global financial, food and climate crises" and "Climate change and global finance: issues and advocacy initiatives."

Full text of the statement "The Time for Justice is Now" http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=6445.

UN International Conference on Financing for Development: http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/doha/.

WCC campaign on climate change: http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3416.

WCC programme on Poverty, wealth and ecology: http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3117.

World Council of Churches