In the run up to the December 2005 Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Hong Kong, trade negotiators are under intense pressure by their respective governments to achieve a “successful” outcome in the negotiations for the Doha Development Round, which includes expansion of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
As WTO leaders have tried to ensure by stealthily hatching the July Framework in 2004, services liberalization agreements should be accelerated and national polices must be made with greater flexibility, such that more markets are pried open to global trade not just in manufactured goods but in services as well.
In truth, there is more than just the acceleration of services liberalization in GATS. Contrary to how it is packaged, GATS is not the trade agreement that it is but one-sided investment tool that gives global corporations increasingly unhampered access to markets and human services, and grants them as much if not even greater rights than citizens to exploit such access. The WTO and the European Commission have said as much, respectively flaunting GATS as the first multilateral agreement on investments and principally as an instrument of business.
Practically all sectors, from water delivery and transportation to health and education are considered services under GATS. Any barrier to global capital in these sectors, including national safeguards against inhuman working conditions or environmental degradation will be steadily demolished. In fact, the very sovereign rights of nations to protect the interests of citizens and uphold their welfare, above all, have no place under the GATS framework.
Other agents of global corporate domination — the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund — have long imposed policy conditionalities of liberalization, deregulation and privatization upon South countries, with disastrous and fatal outcomes for entire populations and economies of the developing world. Governments have been pressured to deregulate and privatize public services, like water, power and health, depriving millions of the basic requirements for a decent life. Poor farmers, workers, women and children severely suffer the adverse impacts of surrendering control of public services to private corporations.
GATS-WTO further limits developing countries’ chances of development and survival. Water resources and services, recognized as crucial to development, are particularly in danger of commodification and privatization. European water giants have already been making large investments in many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The interests of firms like Suez, Vivendi and Thames Water are clearly behind the European Union’s push for the inclusion of water services in the coverage of GATS.
Experiences across South countries show that the basic rights of people, especially the poor and the marginalized, are being progressively eroded by governments surrendering such critical services sectors as health, water, power, housing and education to private big business. Many countries in the South have suffered outbreaks of cholera and other gastro-intestinal diseases because safe water and basic health care are increasingly being made accessible only to those with the capacity to pay.
GATS proponents deceitfully argue that governments can choose to keep certain sectors closed and that privatization of basic social services is not a GATS requirement. But GATS has very clear bias for private business and non-transparent WTO mechanisms favor developed nations, and processes allow them to apply intense pressure on developing countries.
The undersigned manifest our strong opposition to the GATS and the WTO.
From now to December, we will mobilize in various countries and express our protests in various ways.
Signed:
GLOBAL
Jubilee South
ASIA/PACIFIC -Regional
Jubilee South – APMDD
Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives
Focus on the Global South- India, Thailand, Philippines
Via Campesina – Asia
Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development
Asian Migrants Center
Migrant Forum in Asia
NGO Forum on ADB
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Dev’t
Documentation for Action Groups in Asia
International Gender and Trade Network – Asia
ISIS International – Manila
South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication
AFRICA – Regional
Africa Jubilee South
AFRODAD
LATIN AMERICA & THE CARRIBEAN – Regional
Jubileo Sur Americas
Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI)
EUROPE
Europe Solidaire Sans Frontieres (ESSF)
Women in Development Europe
ARGENTINA
Dialogo 2000
AUSTRIA
Center for Encounter and Active Non-Violence
AZERBAIJAN
Center for Civic Initiatives
BANGLADESH
Community Development Library
Lokoj Institute
Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labor Federation
Bangladesh Sramajibi Kendra
Karmojibi Nari
Bangladesh Jatiya Sromik Jote
Jatiya Krishok Jote
BanglaPraxis
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication
VOICE
WARBE
Coastal Development Partnership
Alliance of Food Sovereignty Campaigns
Jagrata Juba Shangha (JJS)
BELGIUM
11.11.11 Coalition
CADTM- Committee for the Abolition of the Third World Debt
Africa-Europe Faith & Justice Network
International Young Christian Workers (IYCW)
BRAZIL
Jubileo Sul – Brazil
CANADA
KAIROS : Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
CAMBODIA
Womyn’s Agenda for Change
Partnership for Development in Kampuchea
CAMEROON
Centre for Promotion of Social and Economic Alternatives
CHAD
Association Tchadienne por la Non-Violence (AINV)
COLOMBIA
Mesa de Trabajo Mujeres y Economia
Asociacion Nacional de Empleados de la Republica
Marcha Mundial De Mujeres
COTE D’ IVOIRE
Forum National Su La Dette Et La Pauvrete’
CUBA
CIEM – Center for World Economy Studies
ECUADOR
Accion Ecologica
Alianza De Los Pueblos Del Sur Acreedores De Deuda Ecologica/ SPEDCA
Comite Trabajadores Petroindustrial
Comite de Empresa Trabajadores Electrica Loja
CETAPE – Por La Unificacion Sindical
EL SALVADOR
Red Sinti Techan ( Maiz del Pueblo)
FINLAND
Network Institute for Global Democratisation- NIGD
FRANCE
Attac
GHANA
Centre for Budget Advocacy of ISODEC
HAITI
PAPDA
HONDURAS
Bloque Popular
HONG KONG
HKPA- Hong Kong People’s Alliance on WTO
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions,
Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee
Justice & Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese
Filipino Domestic Helpers General Union
Zt Teng
Global Network
Union of Hong Kong Post Office Employees
Government Mod 1 Staff General Union
Association Of Government Technical And Survey Officers
Association of Government Cartographic Staff
Government Employees Solidarity Union
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Foremen Grade Staff General Union
Hong Kong & Kowloon Life Guard’s Union
INDIA
Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti
National Confederation of Officers Associations of Central Public Sector
Undertakings
India Social Action Forum
People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulation
The Association of Karnataka Farmers
Centre for Organization, Research and Education
River Basin Movement
Rural Volunteers Centre-Assam
All Assam Krishak Mukti Sangram Samitee
Bhumi Putra Bhumi Adhikar Suraksha Mancha-Assam
Intercultural Resources and Lokayan
Centre for Organisation Research & Education
Delhi Forum
INDONESIA
Koalisi Anti-Utang
International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development
KRUHA – People’s Coalition for the Rights to Water
WALHI
Working Group on Power Sector Restructuring
Transportation and Delivery Workers Federation
Migrant CARE
Institute for Global Justice
NADI
IRELAND
Presentation Justice Network
ITALY
Redazione A Sud
JAPAN
Anti WTO / ATTAC
Jubilee Kyushu on World Debt and Poverty
Peace Boat
KENYA
Solidarity African Network Action
KOREA
Korean People’s Action Against FTAs and WTO (KOPA)
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Federation of Korean Trade Unions
Korean Public Services Union
Korean Government Employees’ Union
Korean Labour Social Network on Energy
People’s Health Coalitions for Equitable Society
Korean Catholic Farmers Movement
Korean Education Solidarity
Altogether
International Center for Labor Solidarity (ICLS)
MALAYSIA
Monitoring Sustainability of Globalization
Friends of the Earth
MALDIVES
Society for Health Education
MEXICO
DECA Equipo Pueblo
MOZAMBIQUE
Economic Justice Coalition
NEPAL
Rural Reconstruction Nepal
All Nepal Women’s Association
General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions
Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies
Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists
NETHERLANDS
Dutch GATS Platform
Transnational Institute- TNI
NEW ZEALAND
ARENA- Action Research and Education Network of Aotearoa
NICARAGUA
Centro De Informacion Y Servicios De Asesoria En Salud – CISAS
NORWAY
The IGNIS Foundation
PAKISTAN
Muttehida Labour Federation
People’s Rights Movement
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
Anjuman Asia Awam (Association of Peoples of Asia Pakistan Chapter)
Labor Party Pakistan
PANAMA
Pastoral Social-Laita
PARAGUAY
Foro Popular Por La Energia
PHILIPPINES
Freedom from Debt Coalition
Stop the New Round Coalition
JPICC- Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines
BMP- Filipino Workers Solidarity
Railway Workers Union
SANLAKAS
KALAYAAN – Movement for People’s Freedom
BISIG
Kilusan Para Sa Pambansang Demokrasya
Partido ng Manggagawa
Makabayan – Pilipinas
MAKALAYA
Confederation of Independent Unions
KPP- Philippine Housing Rights Coalition
Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao
WomanHealth Philippines
Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement
Kanlungan Center Foundation, Inc.
Welga ng Kababaihan
Tambuyog Development Center
Medical Mission Sisters
Alliance of Progressive Labor
PUERTO RICO
Puertoriquena Contra Al Alca
SENEGAL
African Forum on Alternatives
African Women Millennium Initiative on Poverty and Human Rights
SOUTH AFRICA
SEATINI
Alternative Information and Development Center (AIDC)
SRI LANKA
Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform
National Fisheries Solidarity
United Federation of Labor
Lawyers for Human Rights and Development
Center for Environmental Justice
Sri Lanka Working Group on Trade & IFIs
Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union
TAIWAN
Workers’ Democracy Association
TANZANIA
Tanzania Gender Networking Program
Tanzania Association of NGOs (TANGO)
THAILAND
PSI Thai Affiliates Council
Assembly of the Poor
Labour Union of Metropolitan Waterworks Authority
Labour Union of Provincial Waterworks Authority
Labour Union of Electricity Generating Authority
NHA Union
Public Health
Communication Worker’s Union
Farmer’s Federations Association for Development
MEAWU
Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women
People’s Coalition Party
UNITED KINGDOM
World Development Movement
Christian Aid
Jubilee Scotland
USA
Jubilee USA Network
Center for Economic Justice.
Development Gap
50 Years is Enough!
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative, Washington DC
Africa Action
Gender Action
ZIMBABWE
Ecumenical Support Services
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development
Southern Africa Peoples’ Solidarity Network
* Also adopted by the participants of the Conference on WTO, Development and Migration, July 2005
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