In its 5th General Assembly entitled “Claiming democracy: accountability for social and economic justice” held in Manila, Philippines from 12–15 July, Social Watch concluded that “the current growth-led economic model is economically inefficient, socially unjust, environmentally damaging and politically unsustainable”. Thus, it pledged to “challenge the prevailing economic paradigm based on GDP growth worldwide” and reaffirmed its commitment to support and pursue global change based on human rights, justice and equality.

Over 100 delegates from 60 countries worldwide attended the meeting in order to discuss the new challenges brought about by the global crises and civil society responses to them. Social Watch argued for a fundamental change in global economic management, arguing that the global response to the financial crisis has been based on prevailing relations between the powerful private sector and the less powerful public sector.

The Social Watch Strategy Plan covering advocacy and capacity building programs for 2012-2014 was adopted, and the newly Coordinating Committee in charge of implementing that strategy until the next Global Assembly in 2013 was elected. The strategy document reads “Social Watch recognises the interlinkages between the financial crisis, climate crisis, food crisis, fuel crisis, economic crisis, social and political crisis. These crises do not appear in isolation but are manifestations of a growth model that has led to overconsumption, extreme inequality and has perpetuated unacceptable levels of poverty”. Thus macroeconomic order must be changed so to redistribute wealth and power to all corners of society, with particular regard for the most vulnerable, the organisation argued.

Moreover Social Watch notes the dramatic changes to the global environment - new economic and political powers have emerged, there has been a renewed impetus for democracy and dignity following the wave of upheavals and revolutions in the Arab region and elsewhere, and the global economy is still volatile following the 2008 financial crisis. These changes to the world system have allowed for a new international framework to emerge, one that is not currently reflected in formal international decision making bodies. As such, “Global governance is increasingly based on informal power and this challenges multilateralism, excluding the voice of many countries and people worldwide” states the strategy. Social Watch therefore argues international bodies must reflect these global changes in their decision making and operational set-up.

In the same vein, Social Watch intends to support “more inclusive forms of governance, where it is necessary”, and, in that sense, “to contribute and support the struggle for dignity and democracy in the Arab region and elsewhere”. Moreover, as a legitimate decision making body, Social Watch has called for decision making processes to be governed within the UN, instead of informally as is currently the case. In particular “on the intergovernmental processes and events that are relevant to the main objectives of the network, among them the bodies related to gender, economy, and Human Rights and other related bodies, and the follow-up processes on Financing for Development, the UN Conference on the Financial and Economic Crisis and the Rio process on Sustainable Development.”

Source:

• Social Watch