The UNCTAD is the UN's most important organisation which was established in 1964 to support developing countries and in the context of the LDCs, it was instrumental in identifying and setting up the LDC Group as the most vulnerable group of countries. UNCTAD's core mandate is to serve as the focal point for trade and development and is the single universal forum in this regard for its 194 member states.
Currently, the thirteenth quadrennial session of the UNCTAD (UNCTAD XIII) is taking place in Doha under the theme "Development-centred globalisation: Towards inclusive and sustainable growth and development", which commenced on 21 April and will end on 26 April. The conference will conclude with an outcome document that will set the scope and mandate of UNCTAD's work for the next four years.
UNCTAD's crucial work in the field of development has been towards offering alternative views to those of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and especially in the context of the global financial and economic crises, it has been critical of the finance-driven globalisation pushed by the Washington Consensus that is synonymous with the principles of market fundamentalism and neoliberalism. And, it is in this very context, that the current official negotiations is being dominated by efforts by the developed countries (the JUSSCKANZ group) - Japan, US, Switzerland, Canada, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand including the European Union and Israel - to crush UNCTAD's mandate to continue to analyse and offer pro-development policy advice on global macroeconomic issues, including the role of global finance in development. The key dominant agenda is, therefore, defending of the UNCTAD's crucial mandate by the developing countries against the strong pressure of the developed countries to stifle it.
Click here for the Civil Society Statement on the UNCTAD XIII outcome
Click here for the UNCTAD Press Release on the UNCTAD XIII outcome
Click here for the Official Outcome Document- "Doha Mandate"
Click here for the official political declaration - "Doha Manar"
Click here for the full version of the Civil Society Declaration to UNCTAD XIII.
Click here for the Executive Summary of the UNCTAD XIII Civil Society Forum Declaration
Click here for the Civil Society Forum Statement of 22 April addressed to Governments and Negotiators at the UNCTAD XIII
Click here for the Draft Outcome Document as of 16 April that is being currently negotiated
SAAPE absolutely denounces the threats, intimidation and harassment towards human rights defenders and journalists by the Government of Sri Lanka
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 07:25
28 MARCH 2012, KATHMANDU, NEPAL
The South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), a regional civil society network encompassing all eight countries of South Asia, absolutely denounces the threats, intimidation and harassment directed to Sri Lankan human rights defenders and journalists by the Government of Sri Lanka, against the background of the recent resolution on Sri Lanka adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council on 23 March 2012 in Geneva.
SAAPE members Nimalka Fernando, Sunila Abeysekera and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu have been particularly attacked by the hate campaigns sponsored by the government and its crony media on the basis of their active involvement with regard to the aforementioned 19th session of the Human Rights Council. All three human rights defenders and journalists have a long-standing credible history in the field of promoting and protecting human rights, exposing as well as opposing the culture of impunity and the lack of accountability and justice by the state to her innocent citizens. On this note, SAAPE also extends its solidarity and support to the statement jointly issued by these three members on 23 March defending their cause in continuing to uphold their commitment to their democratic ideals and goals.
JOINT STATEMENT: Sunila Abeysekara, Nimalka Fernando and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
Friday, 23 March 2012 00:00
23rd March 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka
As the three Sri Lankan human rights defenders who have come most under attack by the state media in Sri Lanka in the past week, because of our active involvement with the on-going session of the UN Human rights Council in Geneva, we feel compelled to issue this statement of clarification.
We do not deny that we are critical of the conduct of the government of Sri Lanka, and the institutions and agencies under its control, whenever disregard for the human rights obligations imposed on the government by virtue of its being signatory to almost all international human rights conventions comes to our attention.
SAAPE strongly condemns the threat to life of Herman Kumara, President, National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), Sri Lanka
Monday, 05 March 2012 04:43
4 MARCH 2012, KATHMANDU, NEPAL
The South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), a regional civil society network encompassing all eight countries of South Asia, strongly condemns the imminent threat to life of Mr. Herman Kumara, the President of our member organisation National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Kumara is a senior human rights defender, engaged in defending the rights of Sri Lankan fisher folks, who are currently agitating against the steep fuel price hike that has unjustifiably hit them the hardest. In this context, he has been alleged of instigating the fisher folk constituency into steering the ongoing agitation against the Government of Sri Lanka, and has been thus intimidated with attempts of abduction and even life threats. Although NAFSO has already filed an official complaint with the Pannala Police station, no credible actions have been taken to investigate this genuine complaint.
SAAPE resolutely stands up for human rights, democracy and the rule of law and hence, urgently calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure the full protection of her citizen Mr. Herman Kumara, as duly enshrined in the Constitution of the country. We also request the international community to extend all possible support to uphold and defend the rights of human rights defenders including all Sri Lankan citizens.
