From Inclusive to Just Development: Bangkok Civil Society Declaration

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1″”From%Inclusive%to%Just%Development%Bangkok%Civil%Society%Declaration%23%August,%2013%”Asia”and”the”Pacific”civil”society”groups”representing”92″organisations”from”21″countries”representing”various”major”groups”and”stakeholders”gathered”in”Bangkok”to”formulate”a”just”and”transformative”development”agenda”towards”post>2015″and”beyond.””Our”world”is”currently”at”a”crossroads.”Facing”multiple”and”interconnected”crises”of”environment,”finance,”food,”energy,”democracy”and”most”of”all”a”crisis”of”deep”inequalities,”we”are”confronted”with”a”challenge”and”an”opportunity.””State”policymaking”over”the”past”three”decades”based”on”a”neoliberal”economic”model”has”led”to”wealth,”power”and”resources”accruing”to”a”minority”of”the”world´s”richest”and”most”powerful”people”and”corporations.”Our”world”is”now”a”plutocracy.”This”model”of”wealth”accumulation”is”directly”responsible”for”the”crises”we”now”confront.””Governments”have”abdicated”their”responsibilities”to”protect”the”rights”of”their”populations”to”development.”State”policies”of”privatisation”of”essential”services,”resources”and”infrastructure;”deregulation”of”economies;”wage”suppression;”political”repression”including”restrictions”on”the”right”to”freedom”of”association;”and”militarization”have”made”the”world”grossly”unequal,”insecure”and”unsustainable.”They”have”contributed”to”increasing”consumption,”financial”speculation,”corporate”concentration,”unregulated”exploitation”of”the”world´s”resources,”and”increased”violations”of”human”rights.”The”effects”of”cross”border”and”internal”conflict”have”significant”implications”for”peace”and”security”in”the”region”affecting”livelihoods”and”leading”to”displacement”of”vulnerable”populations.”Migration”patterns”in”the”region”reflect”the”inequality”of”current”economic”systems,”as”well”as”the”effects”of”political”instability”and”climate”change.”The”burden”of”this”policy>making”and”the”crises”it”has”caused”lies”on”the”shoulders”of”those”least”responsible”and”most”vulnerable:”poor”women”and”men”living”in”the”Asia”and”the”Pacific”region.”Our”governments”have”the”opportunity”to”chart”a”new”course,”a”course”that”the”vast”majority”of”people”in”this”region”want,”a”course”of”global”equity,”of”ecological”sustainability,”of”social”justice,”human”rights”enjoyment”and”dignity”for”all.”We,”your”constituents,”task”you,”in”partnership”with”civil”society,”with”developing”a”transformative”and”redistributive”framework”that”aims”to”reduce”inequalities”of”wealth,”power”and”resources”between”countries,”between”rich”and”poor”and”between”men”and”women.”We”call”on”you”to”commit”to”a”model”of%Development%Justice.%”A”model”of”Development%Justice”should”be”framed”by”five”foundational”shifts”1. Redistributive”Justice””

2″”2. Economic”Justice”3. Social”Justice”4. Environmental”Justice”5. Accountability”to”Peoples”Redistributive%justice”aims”to”redistribute”resources,”wealth,”power”and”opportunities”to”all”human”beings”equitably.”It”compels”us”to”dismantle”the”existing”systems”that”channel”resources”and”wealth”from”developing”countries”to”wealthy”countries,”from”people”to”corporations”and”the”military.””It”recognises”the”people”as”sovereigns”of”our”local”and”global”commons.”Economic%justice”aims”to”develop”economies”that”enable”dignified”lives,”accommodate”for”needs”and”facilitate”capabilities,”employment”and”livelihoods”available”to”all,”and”is”not”based”on”exploitation”of”people”or”natural”resources”or”environmental”destruction.”It”is”a”model”that”makes”economies”work”for”people,”rather”than”compels”people”to”work”for”economies.”Social%Justice”aims”to”eliminate”all”forms”of”discrimination,”marginalization,”exclusion”that”pervade”our”communities.”It”recognises”the”need”to”eliminate”patriarchal”systems”and”fundamentalisms,”challenge”existing”social”structures,”deliver”sexual”and”reproductive”justice”and”guarantee”the”human”rights”of”all”peoples,”particularly”women,”widows,”dalits,”indigenous”peoples,”migrants,”refugees,”children,”youth,”older”persons,”people”living”with”disabilities,”people”living”with”HIV”and”other”illnesses,”sex”workers,”domestic”workers”and”workers”in”the”informal”sector,”survivors”of”trafficking,”and”those”excluded”by”caste,”class,”income,”sexual”orientation,”gender”identity,”ethnicity,”or”social”status.”Environmental%Justice”recognises”the”historical”responsibility”of”countries”and”elites”within”countries”whose”production,”consumption”and”extraction”patterns”have”led”to”human”rights”violations,”global”warming”and”environmental”disasters”and”compels”them”to”alleviate”and”compensate”those”with”the”least”culpability”but”who”suffer”the”most:”farmers,”fishers,”women”and”marginalised”groups”of”the”global”south.”””Accountability”to”peoples”demand”democratic”and”just”governments,”transparency,”and”governance”that”enables”people”to”make”informed”decisions”over”their”own”lives,”communities”and”futures.”It”necessitates”empowering”all”people,”but”particularly”the”most”marginalised,”to”be”part”of”free,”prior”and”informed”decision”making”in”all”stages”of”development”processes”at”the”local,”national,”regional”and”international”levels”and”ensuring”right”of”peoples”to”determine”their”development”priorities.””It”also”requires”guaranteeing”the”right”to”freedom”of”information.””The”new”development”framework”must”be”based”on”the”principle”of”non>regression,”embrace”a”holistic,”rights>based”approach,”and”ensure”that”the”human”rights”principles”of”equality,”equity,”non>discrimination”and”inclusive”participation”and”decision”making”underpin”its”policies”and”practices.”Such”an”approach”ensures”that”the”most”marginalized”can”benefit”from”development”and”growth,”and”become”active”agents”of”change.”

3″”To%achieve%redistributive%justice%and%reduce%economic%inequalities%within%countries,”governments”must:”• Develop”and”implement”laws”and”policies”that”ensure%that%small%farmholders,%small%fishingfolk,%and%indigenous%peoples,%particularly%women,%have%access%to,%control%over%and%ownership%of%land,%fisheries,%property,%productive%resources,%information,%and%appropriate%and%environmentally%sound%technology.%”• End%policies%that%promote%land%grabbing”by”governments,”corporations,”the”military,”and”extractive”industries;”and”implement%redistributive%land%reform”that”puts”ownership”of”land”and”control”over”natural”resources”back”in”the”hands”of”communities,”women”and”other”marginalized”groups,”and”strengthens”agricultural%productivity%and%livelihoods.”• Peacefully%resolve%crossLborder%and%internal%violent%conflicts%which%violate%human%rights%and%affect%human%and%economic%security.%”• Provide%financial%protection%and%subsidies%to%small%farming%communities%to%ensure%that%they%can%participate%on%an%equal%basis%in%agricultural%markets.%%• Develop%specific%nationalLlevel%and%timeLbound%targets%and%indicators%for%reducing%inequalities%of%wealth,%power%and%resources,%and%promote%fair%asset%distribution%between”countries,”between”rich”and”poor,”between”rural”and”urban”areas,”and”between”different”social”groups,”including”men”and”women;”%• Reform%tax%policies”to%eliminate%indirect%taxes,”which”disproportionately”impact”the”poor;”implement%progressive%income%taxes”to”ensure”the”wealthy”contribute”their”fair”share;”implement%progressive%capital%gains%taxes%and%financial%transactions%taxes”to”increase”government”revenue”and”reduce”harmful”financial”speculation;”and”implement”taxes”on”the”inheritance”of”individual”wealth”and”property.”””• Prioritize%public%financing%over%public%private%partnerships%to”fulfill”state”obligations”and”strengthen”public”institutions;”set%minimum%tax%thresholds%and%reLchannel%military%spending%to%finance%social%spending;%set%specific%budget%allocation%targets%to%guarantee%the%maximum%allocation%of%resources%to%protecting%and%promoting%human%rights,”including”the”right”to”health,”education,”food,”and”an”adequate”standard”of”living;”and”increase%accountability%for%how%tax%revenue%is%spent.”To”achieve”economic”justice:””• Enact%living%wage%laws”that”guarantee”that”all”workers,”including”women,”those”in”the”informal”sector,”agricultural”workers,”and”migrant”workers,”earn”enough”to”live”with”dignity;”ensure%that%wages%grow%with%productivity;”and”increase”cooperation%between%countries%on%exchange%rates,%trade%and%fiscal%policies,%and%wages”to”prevent”a”race”to”the”bottom.””

4″”• Implement%policies%to%ensure%that%all%women,%men%and%young%people%have%access%to%decent%work,”including”by”enacting”legal”protections”to”provide”security”in”the”workplace,”social”protection”for”workers”and”their”families,”paid”parental,”breastfeeding,”care”and”sick”leave;”promote”collective”bargaining,”and”organization,”and”the”rights”of”workers”to”participate”in”decision>making”that”affects”their”lives;””• Ensure%trade,%investment,%financial%and%intellectual%policy%rights%policies%that”do”not”impede”countries’”abilities,”fiscal”or”policy”space”to”provide”economic”opportunities”and”services”to”their”people”or”undermine”the”right”to”development.”• Guarantee%universal%social%protection%for%all,%including”income”security”for”the”unemployed”and”those”whose”livelihoods”depend”on”precarious”work,”the”sick,”the”disabled,”pregnant”women,”children”and”the”elderly;””• Guarantee%the%right%to”universal%access%to%quality%public%health%services,%education,%food,%water,%sanitation,%energy”and%justice%and”implement”targeted”policies”and”programs”to”ensure”that”women,”the”poorest”and”most”marginalized,”including”migrants,”refugees”and”stateless”peoples,”are”able”to”access”and”benefit”from”these”services.”””• Move%towards%economies%that%are%owned,%driven%and%planned%by%people%to”meet”their”development”needs”and”guarantee”their”human”rights.””• End%policies%that%promote%the%exploitation%of%migrant%workers%and”the”use”of”remittances”to”finance”national”development”priorities,”and”create”an”enabling”environment”for”migrant”workers”to”enjoy”their”human”rights;”strengthen”cross>border”and”multisectoral”collaboration”between”countries”of”origin”and”destination”to”promote”migrants’”rights,”including”to”social”protection;”and”guarantee”access”to”health,”education,”and”other”social”services”for”migrants,”regardless”of”their”migration”status.””To%achieve%social%and%gender%justice%and%reduce%social%and%gender%inequalities,”governments”must:”• Address%inequalities%from%an%intersectional%approach%and”recognize”how”factors”such”as”age,”race,”ethnicity,”caste,”HIV”status,”disability,”gender,”sexual”orientation,”gender”identity,”poverty,”migration”status,”refugee”status,”area”of”work,”and”geographic”location”can”compound”stigma,”discrimination,”social”exclusion”and”marginalization”and”lead”to”violence”and”other”rights”violations.”%• Eliminate%laws%and%policies%that%perpetuate%discrimination”on”the”basis”of”gender,”sexual”orientation”or”gender”identity;%criminalize”or”marginalize”specific”groups;”reinforce”inequalities;”and”create”barriers”to”services,”particularly”sexual”and”reproductive”health”services,”including”safe”abortion.”””

5″”• Guarantee%women’s%rights%to%inheritance,%land,%and%property%and”implement”policies”to”expand”their”control”over”productive”resources”and”technologies;””• Protect%and%enact%legal%protections%for%sexual%and%reproductive%rights;”guarantee%universal%access%to%comprehensive%sexual%and%reproductive%health%information,%education%and%services%and”eliminate”legal”and”policy”barriers”to”access;”provide%comprehensive%sexuality%education%to%all%children%and%adolescents,”in”and”out”of”school”and”starting”from”the”primary”school”level,”that”challenges”traditional”gender”norms”and”the”acceptability”of”violence”against”women”and”girls;”promotes”gender”equality”and”human”rights,”and”provides”them”with”the”skills”to”have”control”over”all”aspects”of”their”sexuality.”• Guarantee%the%right%to%the%highest%attainable%standard%of%physical%and%mental%health”for”all”people;”implement”policies”and”programs”to”ensure”that”the”most”marginalized”and”excluded”groups”can”exercise”this”right”and”overcome”barriers”to”care;”ensure”universal”access”to”free”health”services”that”are”available,”accessible,”and”of”good”quality”and”provided”through”the”public”sector;”and”provide”universal”access”to”diagnostics”and”treatment”for”non>communicable”and”communicable”diseases,”particularly”for”HIV,”tuberculosis,”hepatitis”C,”and”malaria.”• Combat%rising%fundamentalisms;%eliminate%the%use%of%cultural%and%religious%justifications%for%violations%of%women’s%and%girls’%human%rights;%end%child,%early%and%forced%marriage%and%other%harmful%traditional%and%customary%practices%that%violate%women’s%and%girls’%rights;%and”guarantee”women’s”and”girls’”human”rights”to”equality,”autonomy,”bodily”integrity,”to”decide”whether”and”whom”to”marry,”to”decide”the”number”and”spacing”of”children,”and”the”right”to”live”free”from”violence.”• Enact%laws%and%policies%to%prevent%and%comprehensively%respond%to%all%forms%of%violence%against%women%and%girls%and%ensure%access%to%immediate%critical%services%for%all%survivors%of%sexual%and%genderLbased%violence,%including”screening”and”referral,”post>exposure”prophylaxis”to”prevent”HIV”infection,”emergency”contraception,”safe”and”legal”abortion,”psychosocial”services”and”legal”aid.”• Guarantee%universal%access%to%public%care%services%and%ensure%quality%and%decent%working%conditions%for%care%providers,%in”order”to”contribute”to”a”fairer”redistribution”of”unpaid”care”and”domestic”work”and”address”the”sexual”division”of”labor.””• Limit%and%reduce%the%production%of%weapons%that”increase”inequality”and”violations”of”human”rights.””To%achieve%environmental%justice%and%shift%to%sustainable%consumption%and%production:%• Reclaim%and%secure%peoples’%rights%to%define,%own,%control%and%ensure%the%sustainability%of%the%commons;”promote%responsible%stewardship%of%natural%resources,%such”as”forests,”

6″”rivers,”watershed,”and”coastal”environments;%recognize%and%promote%indigenous%peoples’%resources%and%traditional%knowledge%in”the”sustainable”management”of”natural”resources.%%• Promote%ecological%agriculture%to”guarantee”food”sovereignty”and”prevent”hunger”and”its”consequences.%• Reorient%production,%consumption%and%distribution%systems%to”meet”peoples’”needs”rather”than”to”accumulate”profits.%• Allocate%sufficient%resources%towards%and%promote%scientific%and%traditional%knowledge”for”understanding”the”social”and”environmental”costs”and”impacts”of”human”activities;”popularize”this”information”and”enact”regulatory”measures”on”this”basis.””• Commit%to%carbon%emission%reductions%and%provide%new,%adequate,%predictable,%and%appropriate%climate%finance”that”contributed”by”countries”from”public”resources”on”the”basis”of”historical”responsibility”for”climate”change,”and”address”the”needs”of”those”most”affected,”including”for”adaptation”and”mitigation.””• Promote%energy%conservation%and%efficiency;”phase%out%subsidies%for%the%fossil%fuel%industry”while”guarding”against”adverse”impacts”on”low>income”and”marginalized”groups;””and”promote”community>based”decentralized”renewable”energy”systems”as”the”main”component”of”a”renewable”energy”transition”program.”””• Promote%technologies%for%ecoLefficiency%and%work%toward%elimination%of%waste;%build”infrastructure”and”mechanisms”to”reduce,”recycle”and”reuse”waste;”and”redesign”products”to”ensure”durability”and”optimum”use.””• Ensure%resource%extraction,”such”as”water”use,”fishing,”logging”and”mining,”is%according%to%the%needs%of%communities%and%subject%to%sustainable%management,”while”protecting”the”rights”of”fisherfolk,”small”farmholders,”indigenous”people”and”women.””• Develop%and%operationalize%legal%frameworks%to%protect%livelihoods%of%poor%and%marginalized%people%and%avoid%environmental%disasters,%particularly”as”a”result”of”resource”extraction.””• Prepare%a%new%UN%protocol%to%recognize%State%responsibilities%to%provide%support%to%climateLdisplaced%populations.%”• Develop%international%mechanisms%to%address%loss%and%damage%caused%by%climate%change,%with”special”attention”to”its”gender>differential”impacts.%”• Promote%the%creation%of%decent%jobs”with”the”aim”of”creating”environmentally>sustainable”industries,”promoting”environmental”awareness,”and”protecting”against”environmental”destruction.%”

7″”• To%develop%and%institutionalize%mechanisms%to%monitor%and%mitigate%the%social%and%environmental%impacts%of%development%initiatives.%”To%guarantee%accountability%to%peoples%and%participation%of%civil%society:%• Establish%comprehensive%and%inclusive%mechanisms%for%meaningful%citizen%participation%in%determining,%implementing%and%monitoring%development%goals%and%indicators%at%all%levels;%eliminate”barriers”to”participation,”such”as”cultural”and”language”obstacles;”create”the”conditions”for”and”guarantee”the”involvement”of”women,”youth,”indigenous”communities,”people”with”disabilities,”people”of”diverse”sexual”orientations”and”gender”identities,”grassroots”movements”and”marginalized”groups,”among”others;”and”build”the”capacity”of”decision>makers”to”facilitate”meaningful”citizen”participation.””• Provide%adequate%and%stable%financial%support%and%capacity%development%to%civil%society%organizations%to%enable%effective%and%substantial%public%participation%in%policy%dialogues”and”in”implementing”agreements”and”legislation”at”all”levels.%• Recognize%and%support%the%legitimate%role%of%civil%society%actors%in%in%promoting%human%rights%and”ensure”an”enabling”environment”for”civil”society”organization”development”effectiveness.”%• Institutionalize%mechanisms%for%civil%society%participation%in%policymaking%processes%and%in%policy%dialogue%forums%at%the%local,%national,%transboundary,%regional%and%global%levels,%while”respecting”their”right”to”self>organize;”guarantee”adequate”and”stable”financial,”institutional”and”political”support”from”governments”and”the”UN”system”to”ensure”operational”effectiveness,”sustainability”and”national”ownership.”• Guarantee%and%institutionalize%the%right%to%freedom%of%information.”• Ensure%a%fully%transparent%and%inclusive%monitoring%process%for%implementation%of%the%PostL2015%Development%Agenda%that%makes%information%freely%available%to%all%stakeholders%at%all%operational%levels%(local,%national,%regional,%and%global);%include”process”indicators”to”improve”qualitative”evaluations;”and”guarantee”the”consideration”of”reports”from”beneficiaries,”in”particular”from”the”most”socially”marginalized,”on”how”development”programmes”impact”their”lives.%• Develop%mechanisms%to%monitor%and%regulate%the%growing%influence%of%the%corporate%sector%in%development,%including%in%publicLprivate%partnerships;%increase%accountability%of%corporations%and%the%private%sector,%including”through”mechanisms”that”would”bind”corporations”to”respect”human”rights”and”other”international”laws”(not”just”on”a”voluntary”basis),”including”in”their”cross>border”activities;”reinstate%the%UN%Center%for%Transnational%Corporations”to”ensure”that”binding”commitments”are”implemented”and”agreed”to”by”states”in”charge”of”regulating”these”corporations;”and”establish%independent%commissions%

8″”or%other%bodies%for%accountability,%that%have%mechanisms%for%redress”to”hold”corporations”accountable”for”human”rights”and”environmental”violations.%%To%reduce%economic%inequalities%and%injustice%between%countries”and%finance%the%postL2015%agenda:”• Respect%existing%commitments%and%pledge%new%and%additional%funds%for%financing%the%postL2015%development%agenda;”identify”means”of”implementation”to”accompany”every”goal;”and”develop”a”separate”comprehensive”commitment”to”guarantee”means”of”implementation”for”the”entire”framework.””• Monitor%and%enforce%commitments%of%donor%governments%to%provide%a%minimum%of%0.7%percent%of%GDP%to%official%development%assistance%(ODA);%eliminate%conditionalities%on”ODA;%and%track%and%monitor%ODA%spending%to”ensure”accountability”and”transparency.%%• Develop%innovative%means%of%financing%for%development,%including%by%abolishing%havens%for%transnational%corporations;%debt%cancellation,%debt%swapping%and%debt%servicing;%pollution%taxes;%and%global%financial%transaction%taxes.%%• Provide%special%considerations%to%address%the%development%challenges%of%least%developed%countries,%small%island%developing%states%and%other%fragile%and%conflictLaffected%countries,%including%preferential%trade%status%so”that”they”can”compete”in”the”global”market”and”raise”domestic”revenues.””• Eliminate%trade%regulations%that%force%countries%to%reduce%subsidies%or%increase%taxes%on%basic%necessities%such”as”food”staples”and”medicine”to”domestically”finance”development”schemes.”• Remove%barriers%to%access%of%developing%countries%to%relevant%technologies%and”know>how”that”are”barred”by”intellectual”property”rights”regulations;”and%ensure%that%intellectual%property%rights%are%not%used%to%consolidate%and%strengthen%corporate%control%over”productive”capacities”in”developing”countries.”• Establish%an%international%technology%facilitation%mechanism%to%coordinate%and%enable%the%development%and%transfer%of%environmentally%sound%technologies%to%developing%countries%and%communities;%build%the%capacity%of%countries%to%coordinate,%assess%and%ensure”that”transfer”of”technology”is”based”on”and”appropriate”to”their”needs;”and”include”clauses”for”technology”transfer”and”ownership”to”the”receiving”country”in”all”direct”financial”investment.%%