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CSO Reflection on MDGs Validation Workshop

On May 21st this year, CSOs withdrew their formal participation of the sector in the MDG Country Report for South Africa, process due to a lack of consultation and involvement in the report process. This resolution referred to as the Newtown Declaration meant that the attending CSOs neither validated nor commented on the various presentations made and only noted the process. CSOs present were concerned about the proceedings at the validation workshop bearing in mind its functional purpose and expected outcomes. Issues noted included the lack of access to the draft report by stakeholders and Sectoral Working Groups (SWGs). This disempowered the SWGs and the already scant stakeholder participation as the only members of the SWGs are drawn from government or quasi government departments and agencies. Thus Statistics SA held a validation workshop WITHOUT making drafts of the actual document that was being validated available to those who had to validate it.

MDG 2010 Review - Opportunities for Engagement - THE GCAP E-LETTER - APRIL 13 2010 - Edition #52

 

Pakistani Women Claim Land Rights

The government of Punjab-Pakistan has accepted the right to land for tenants and women peasants, and announced the process of preparing the papers for transfer of title deeds with in ten days. Our long march organized by AMP, WPS, AWAZ, GCAP-Pakistan's member Organizations and other CSOs on 9th of March 2010 for the right of land to tenants and women peasants in Punjab.

Pakistani Women Secure Land Rights

The government of Punjab-Pakistan has accepted the right to land for tenants and women peasants, and announced the process of preparing the papers for transfer to land ownership with in ten days. This is immediately following our long march organized by AMP, WPS, AWAZ, GCAP-Pakistan's member Organizations and other CSOs on 9th of March 2010 for the right of land to tenants and women peasants in Punjab.

Government Planners Listen to the People of India

In a historic turn out of events comprising focus group discussions in hundred villages, state and regional consultations in 15 different parts of the country and a national consultation attended by representatives of civil society from 29 states and UTs in India, the People's Mid-Term Appraisal (PMTA) of 11th Five Year Plan witnessed several agreements by the Planning Commission Members to the aspirations of the people through an interface between civil society, common masses and policy makers; organised by Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA) and several other progressive outfits.

Stand Up and Take Action Works!

This year Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty and Inequality mobilised an incredible 173,045,325 million people during over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries. In addition to the increase in numbers and the breaking of a new Guinness World record for the largest mobilization of human beings in recorded history, Stand Up 2009 was characterised by even stronger political messages than other years, as the 2015 deadline for the fulfillment of the MDGs looms and the devastating combined affects of the climate, financial, food and gender crises have begun to manifest in increased poverty and inequality.

In 2009, the national government of Scotland adopts a climate change bill committing to reducing emissions to 42% of 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% by 2050.

The 2009 climate bill passed in Scotland is the first ever to state CO2 emission reductions at the level of 42% reduction of 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% reduction of 1990 levels by 2050. The bill also sets annual targets for CO2 emission reductions, and explicitly calls for local emission reduction, instead of carbon credit trading.

Universal Child Allowance announced in Argentina

Argentina President announces a decree launching a Universal Child Allowance for Social Security. It is estimated the allowance will reach approximately five million children and young adults.

GCAP South Africa Welcomes Child Support Grant Announcement

South Africa coalition members and supporters have welcomed the recent announcement by government that age limit on the current the child support grant will be extended to cover children up to their 18th birthday.

Unemployment Fund to begin in Palestine

 

Aid success in Switzerland

 

The Canadian government passed the Better Aid bill, improving the quality of Canadian foreign development aid.

The better aid bill was passed by the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa in 2008, putting a stop to untransparent aid practices that allow things like military spending to be counted as ‘aid’. The bill promotes accountability, stating that the government has to report annually on the status of the Canadian Aid Programme as well as reporting what the Canadian representatives are saying at the World Bank and IMF meetings.

The Russian parliament removed the requirement for permanently disabled people to undergo an annual assessment in order to access government benefits.

Prior to 2008, people with permanent disabilities in Russia had to undergo a lengthy and humiliating annual assessment in order to access work permit and government benefits. In April of 2008, the government set concrete criteria for determining people to be disabled, and allows some categories of individuals to access government benefits indefinitely. The change in the legal requirements includes vocabulary taken directly from GCAP Russia recommendations to the government.

Between 2005 and 2008, Argentina, South Africa, Costa Rica, India, Palestine, Philippines and Russia all introduced new (or improved) laws and increased public spending related to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Following heightened levels of public attention raised through the research and advocacy of the international effort “Stand Up and Take Action” from 2005 to 2008, the national governments of Argentina, South Africa, Costa Rica, India, Palestine, Philippines and Russia all introduced improved laws, and increased budget transparency and public spending on social security, education and health. The changes took place over time in these countries, from local to national levels and with global linkages, and specifically on the dates of the successful law and policies changes (see attached outcomes document for background). Public mobilizations related to the issues that the laws addressed throughout the period grew from 23 million to 116.9 million participants in 31 countries.

Between 2005 and 2008, a number of national governments, including those of Georgia, Nepal and Bangladesh have created new programmes and/or laws for the achievement of gender justice.

Georgia, Nepal, and Bangladesh have taken specific actions to meet the targets for women’s empowerment as outlined in the Millennium Declaration and with specific reference to strengthening programmes for maternal health, increasing investment in education for girls, introducing laws to curb violence against women, and introducing legal measures for the greater political representation of women. In Georgia, regional maternity health centres have been established and a law against domestic violence approved. In Nepal, the interim national constitution that was adopted by Parliament in 2006 includes provisions for one-third representation of women in Parliament and a commitment by the state for the protection of women’s reproductive and maternal health. Similarly, in 2007-2008 the caretaker government in Bangladesh adopted a law to ensure fifty per cent representation of women in Parliament and increase investment in education with a special focus on universalizing girls’ education.

In the 2007-2008 budget, the Prime Minister of India emphasizes focus on health and education ,education, and the subsequent 5 year plan, reiterates a 6% GDP investment in education and 2% GDP investment in health.

On 1 Feb 2008, the Prime Minister received the 200,001st signature collected through the Nine is Mine campaign from a group of 20 children representing different socio-economic groups and states in India. Later in the month, the Union Budget 2007-08 witnessed an increase by 34% for the education budget and 22% in the health budget. The Prime Minister while talking to the media about the Union Budget 2007-08 emphasized the focus on health and education sectors in the budget and the government’s commitment to investing in social infrastructure. The commitment for the 6% GDP investment in education and 2% GDP investment in health has now (2009) been integrated in India’s Eleventh Five Year Plan.

Philippino Government Concedes 36 Pesos is Not Enough