FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GCAP calls for new approach to trade negotiations that is fair and development-centred

The collapse of the seven-year Doha Development round of trade talks leaves millions of poor people condemned to struggle against a hugely unjust global trading mechanism that favours the rich. Global anti-poverty campaigners in the GCAP alliance are renewing their call for trade agreements to be reached that are fair and just.  

“We have been shouting loudly (44 million last October) for trade justice since 2005.  The development round must put people who live in poverty front and centre of discussions. We wanted solutions that made their lives better and not just secure the livelihoods of the rich,” said Kumi Naidoo, Co-chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), “Given that the present food price crisis is working against the millennium goals and killing people, especially women and children, elderly and the sick, the need for agreement was more urgent than ever.” he added.

The talks floundered in Geneva in July when some rich countries failed to agree ‘safeguards’ that would preserve the right to protect poor local farmers in the event of a drop in prices or a surge in imports. Given that over 150.000 cotton farmers in India committed suicide recent years because of dumped cotton, the position of developing countries was understandable. The fear now is that individual countries may be pushed into worse bilateral trade deals like Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) using aid as part of negotiations tactics, which is not the way forward.

“We urgently need a new approach to trade negotiations so that they are led by developing countries with all governments acting on what citizens movements have been calling for - justice in world trade. We need this to deal with the biggest challenges we face today of poverty, social injustice and environmental degradation such as climate change,” said Adelaide Sosseh, GCAP Co-Chair, Gambia.

GCAP coalitions hold that developing countries must have the right to determine their own trade and investment policies, putting their peoples' interests first. International trade rules and national trade policies should support sustainable livelihoods, promote the rights of women, children and indigenous people, and lead to poverty eradication as well as long term food security.  National governments needed to be reminded of their international human rights obligations, and use their influence to help end poverty and inequality.

For more information:

Ciara O’Sullivan,
GCAP Media Coordinator,
ciara.osullivan@civicus.org,
+34 679 594 809
GCAP’s position on trade http://www.whiteband.org/resources/issues/trade/

Notes to Editors: The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is the world’s largest civil society alliance of social movements, International NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women’s organizations, faith and youth groups, local associations and campaigners working together across more than 100 national coalitions/platforms.   GCAP is calling for action from the world’s leaders to meet their promises to end poverty and inequality. In particular, GCAP demands solutions that address the issues of; public accountability, just governance and the fulfilment of human rights; trade justice; more and better aid; debt cancellation and gender equality and women’s rights.

www.whiteband.org

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