Global Civil Society letter to UNCTAD Secretary General on Investment Issues
To:
Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Member States of UNCTAD
We the undersigned civil society organizations, representing constituencies from various regions of the world, write in concern about the implications of investment protection treaties on the prospects for sustainable development in our countries and regions.
Experience of both developing and developed countries has shown that the international investment protection regime, codified in a growing number of bilateral investment treaties (BITS) and investment chapters in free trade agreements, creates major impediments to sustainable development and the role of the state in protecting the public interest.
These challenges emerge out of both the imbalanced substantive provisions that these treaties set in place, as well as the problematic and expansive role of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). These tribunals, usually comprised of three private attorneys, are authorized to rule against public interest policies on the basis of broad foreign investor rights that surpass those afforded to domestic firms. The tribunals often order “compensation” to foreign corporations for the “expected future profits” that they believe were impeded by the challenged policies. There is no outside appeal. Many of these attorneys rotate between acting as tribunal "judges" and as the lawyers launching cases against the government on behalf of the corporations.
We have, in various fora, documented and highlighted many cases that reveal how the system encroaches on policy, regulatory and fiscal space. Through the dispute process, states’ regulatory efforts in the areas of health, environment and climate change, financial stability, water, labor rights, and agriculture among other areas have been challenged, with billions of dollars of taxpayer money already awarded to corporations, and with many billions more still pending. These awards, alongside the excessive legal costs incurred by states in defending such cases, have created an increasing burden on the taxpayers of our countries. UNCTAD’s monitoring of ISDS cases has made a significant contribution to the understanding of these problems. We have also been highlighting the severe implications of new trends fuelling ISDS, including third party funding and speculation over arbitral awards.
Our concerns take on a renewed importance given the ongoing negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the post-2015 development framework. Indeed, transforming the approach toward investment rules is essential for improving the policy space in developing countries and providing the enabling environment for the pursuit of development-oriented national objectives. When geared towards the achievement of national development goals and in the right policy context, investment can be an important tool of development; yet as UNCTAD’s TDR concludes “results do not support the hypothesis that BITs foster bilateral FDI.”
We have welcomed the steps taken by several governments reviewing their policies on investment protection treaties, and seeking to find alternatives that do not unduly restrict the space of host governments to regulate in the public interest.
We welcome the additional light that UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Report (2014) has shed onto the growing restrictions on policy space resulting from the investment protection rules. The TDR rightly highlights the need for change including through terminating or renegotiating investment treaties, and seeking alternatives in domestic laws and judicial systems.
We also welcome the ongoing efforts taken by the International Investment Agreements (IIAs) Team in UNCTAD’s Investment Division to support the formulation of investment policies and treaties that truly promote development.
We urge that the primary role of the Investment Division should be to provide the invaluable service to developing countries of increasing their knowledge of the impediments resulting from the unbalanced provisions of international investment treaties and in pursuing alternatives.
We urge greater coherence in the work of UNCTAD’s various divisions on these issues, through aligning their work with the long-established development perspective established over more than 30 years in UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Report.
Sincerely,
| International Organizations and Networks | ||
| 1 | ActionAid International | ActionAid International is an international organisation, working with over 15 million people in 45 countries for a world free from poverty and injustice. |
| 2. | Association for Women’s Rights in Development | The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international, feminist, membership organization committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women's human rights. |
| 3 | Compassion in World Farming | Compassion in World Farming leads a growing worldwide movement of people concerned about how factory farming mistreats animals, wastes precious resources and utterly fails to meet the needs of the planet’s inhabitants. |
| 4. | Dignity International | Dignity International advocates with, connects, and supports the empowerment of deprived and struggling communities in claiming their human rights, and creating social justice around the world. |
| 5 | Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) | FoEI is the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, uniting 73 national member groups and some 5,000 local activist groups on every continent. With over 2 million members and supporters around the world, FoEI campaigns on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues. |
| 6 | IBON International | IBON initiates and implements international programs, develops and hosts international networks, initiates and participates in international advocacy campaigns, and establishes regional and country offices. IBON strengthens links between local campaigns and advocacies to international initiatives. |
| 7. | International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) | The IUF is currently composed of 385 trade unions in 123 countries representing a combined representational membership of over 12 million workers (including a financial membership of 2.6 million). It is based in Geneva, Switzerland. |
| 8. | International Women’s Anthropology Conference (IWAC) | An international network of women involved in anthropology and related fields whose research and activities center on issues of concern to women. |
| 9 | LDC Watch | LDC Watch is a global alliance of national, regional and international civil society organisations (CSOs), networks and movements based in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). |
| 10 | Medical Mission Sisters | Medical Mission Sisters were founded in 1925 in Washington, D.C. Our Community started with just four members, from three different countries. Over time, hundreds more women from around the world joined us in our mission of healing presence to those in need. |
| 11. | OpenMedia International | OpenMedia International brings the global pro-Internet community together, empowering people to participate in Internet governance through fresh and engaging citizens campaigns. We provide the Internet freedom movement with a platform to pressure leaders everywhere when bureaucrats and lobbyists threaten our digital future. |
| 12 | Oxfam International | Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organizations working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries. |
| 13. | Pax Romana ICMICA | The International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs was created in 1947 and now has members in more than 54 countries from every continent, as well as several contact groups and individual members. |
| 14 | People's Health Movement | The PHM is a global network bringing together grassroots health activists, civil society organizations and academic institutions from around the world, particularly from low and middle income countries (L&MIC) with a presence in around 70 countries. |
| 15 | Public Services International (PSI) | Public Services International (PSI) is a global trade union federation dedicated to promoting quality public services in every part of the world. PSI brings together more than 20 million workers, represented by 650 unions in 150 countries and territories. |
| 16. | RIPESS - Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy | RIPESS is an intercontinental network that connects social and solidarity economy networks throughout the world. As a network of networks, it brings together continental networks, which in turn bring together national and sectoral networks. |
| 17 | Social Watch Network | Social Watch is an international network of citizens’ organizations in the struggle to eradicate poverty and the causes of poverty, to end all forms of discrimination and racism, to ensure an equitable distribution of wealth and the realization of human rights. |
| 18 | Society for International Development (SID) | The Society for International Development (SID) is a global network of individuals and institutions concerned with development, which is participative, pluralistic and sustainable, with a network of individual and institutional members and local chapters in more than 50 countries worldwide. |
| 19 | Third World Network | Third World Network (TWN) is an independent non-profit international network of organisations and individuals involved in issues relating to development, developing countries and North-South affairs. |
| 20 | Transnational Institute | The Transnational Institute (TNI) of Policy Studies carries out radical informed analysis on critical global issues builds alliances with social movements develops proposals for a more sustainable, just and democratic world. |
| Regional Organizations and Networks | ||
| 21. | Campaign2015+ International | Africa |
| 22. | Global Network for Community Development | Africa |
| 23. | Africa Development Interchange Network (ADIN) | Africa |
| 24. | ARCADE | Africa |
| 25. | Association Panafricaine d'Alphabétisation et d'Education des Adultes (PAALAE) | Africa |
| 26. | Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) | Africa |
| 27. | Economic News Africa | Africa |
| 28. | Third World Network Africa | Africa |
| 29. | Southern and Eastern African Trade, Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) | Africa |
| 30. | Asia Pacific Research Network | Asia |
| 31. | Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC)/RIPESS Asia | Asia |
| 32. | Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) | Europe |
| 33. | Delegation of PODEMOS in the European Parliament | Europe |
| 34. | European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) | Europe |
| 35. | European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) | Europe |
| 36. | Food & Water Europe | Europe |
| 37. | Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) | Europe |
| 38. | European Federation for Transport and Environment | Europe |
| 39. | Asociación Latinoamericana de Medicina Social (ALAMES) | Latin America |
| 40. | Consejo Sindical Unitario de América Central y El Caribe (CSU) | Latin America |
| 41. | Friends of the Earth Latin America and Caribbean (ATALC) | Latin America |
| 42. | Mesa de Coordinación Latinoamericana de Comercio Justo | Latin America |
| 43. | Movimiento Mesoamericano contra el Modelo extractivo Minero (M4) | Latin America |
| 44. | Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo (PIDHDD Regional) | Latin America |
| 45. | Red de Educación Popular Entre Mujeres de América Latina y el Caribe (REPEMLAC) | Latin America |
| 46. | Trabajadores del Estado y los Servicios Públicos | Latin America |
| 47. | Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) | Middle East |
| 48. | The Gulf Economic Association | Middle East |
| 49. | International Brotherhood of Teamsters | North America |
| 50. | Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) | Pacific |
| National Organizations and Networks | ||
| 51. | Social Watch Afghanistan | Afghanistan |
| 52. | Federación Argentina de Empleados de Comercio y Servicios (FAECYS) | Argentina |
| 53. | Foro Ciudadano de Participación por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos (FOCO) | Argentina |
| 54. | Center for the Development of Civil Society (CDCS) | Armenia |
| 55. | Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET) | Australia |
| 56. | National Tertiary Education Union, Australia | Australia |
| 57. | New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) | Australia |
| 58. | Bahrain Transparency Society | Bahrain |
| 59. | Bangladesh Krishok Federation | Bangladesh |
| 60. | Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD) | Bangladesh |
| 61. | 11.11.11- Coalition of the Flemish North-South Movement | Belgium |
| 62. | Centre d’Action Laïque de la Province de Liège | Belgium |
| 63. | Centre National de Coopération au Développement (CNCD-11.11.11) | Belgium |
| 64. | Centre Tricontinental (CETRI) | Belgium |
| 65. | CGSP wallonne (General Confederation for Public Services) | Belgium |
| 66. | Fédération des Résistances | Belgium |
| 67. | Le Monde Selon les Femmes | Belgium |
| 68. | Peuple et Culture Wallonie | Belgium |
| 69. | Dynamique des Organisations de la Société Civile d'Afrique Francophone | Benin |
| 70. | Groupe de Recherche et d'Action pour la Promotion de l'Agriculture et du Développement (GRAPAD) | Benin |
| 71. | Le Programme Globethics.net Francophone Africa (GEFA) | Benin |
| 72. | Le Réseau des Journalistes Économiques du Bénin (REJEB) | Benin |
| 73. | Plateforme des Acteurs de la Société Civile au Bénin (PASCiB) | Benin |
| 74. | Social Watch Bénin | Benin |
| 75. | Fundacion Solón | Bolivia |
| 76. | Instituto Justiça Fiscal | Brazil |
| 77. | Rede Brasileira Pela Integração dos Povos (REBRIP) | Brazil |
| 78. | Graine de Joie | Burkina Faso |
| 79. | Save the Earth Cambodia | Cambodia |
| 80. | Association of Canadian Financial Officers | Canada |
| 81. | Council of Canadians | Canada |
| 82. | Group of 78 | Canada |
| 83. | Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad | Colombia |
| 84. | Corporación Cactus | Colombia |
| 85. | Friends of the Earth Costa Rica (COECOCEIBA) | Costa Rica |
| 86. | GCAP Czech Republic | Czech Republic |
| 87. | Social Watch Czech Republic | Czech Republic |
| 88. | Service de Renforcement et d'Appui aux Communautés de Bases et aux OSC SEARCOB en Sigle, Délégation Nationale OSCAF | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| 89. | Social Watch DR Congo | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| 90. | Confederación Nacional de Unidad Sindical (CNUS) | Dominican Republic |
| 91. | La Fundación Etnica Integral | Dominican Republic |
| 92. | ALBA Movimientos | Ecuador |
| 93. | Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos “Segundo Montes Mozo S.J.” (CSMM) | Ecuador |
| 94. | Fundación de Estudios, Acción y Participación Social (FEDAEPS) | Ecuador |
| 95. | Red Latinoamericana de Mujeres Transformando la Economía (REMTE) | Ecuador |
| 96. | Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) | Egypt |
| 97. | The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights | Egypt |
| 98. | Service Centre for Development Cooperation (KEPA) | Finland |
| 99. | Sherpa | France |
| 100. | Worldview | Gambia |
| 101. | Berlin Center for Research and Documentation Chile-Latin America (FDCL) | Germany |
| 102. | Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) | Germany |
| 103. | PowerShift e.V. | Germany |
| 104. | World Economy, Ecology & Development (WEED) | Germany |
| 105. | EKPIZO | Greece |
| 106. | CEIBA | Guatemala |
| 107. | Coordinación de ONG y Cooperativas de Guatemala (CONGCOOP) | Guatemala |
| 108. | Les femmes entrepreneures et femmes d'affaire de la CEDEAO section Guinée (FEFA) | Guinea |
| 109. | Plateforme Haïtienne de Plaidoyer pour un Développement Alternatif (PAPDA) | Haiti |
| 110. | Hungarian Social Watch Coalition | Hungary |
| 111. | ActionAid India | India |
| 112. | Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Vruthidarula Union (APVVU) | India |
| 113. | Asha Parivar | India |
| 114. | Bharatiya Krishak Samaj (BKS) | India |
| 115. | Citizen News Service (CNS) | India |
| 116. | Consumers' Association from Kerala | India |
| 117. | Social Watch India | India |
| 118. | Madhyam | India |
| 119. | Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (West Bengal Agricultural Workers Union) | India |
| 120. | Vote For Health Campaign | India |
| 121. | Asosiasi Perempuan Indonesia untuk Keadilan (APIK) | Indonesia |
| 122. | Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) | Indonesia |
| 123. | Institute Keadilan Global (Institute for Global Justice) | Indonesia |
| 124. | Migrant CARE Indonesia | Indonesia |
| 125. | Iraqi Al-Amal Association | Iraq |
| 126. | Presentation Justice Network | Ireland |
| 127. | Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL) | Italy |
| 128. | Mediterranean Institute | Italy |
| 129. | Campaign for Social & Economic Justice | Jamaica |
| 130. | Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies | Jordan |
| 131. | Dockworkers Union | Kenya |
| 132. | Kenya Debt Relief Network (KENDREN) | Kenya |
| 133. | Seed Institute Kenya | Kenya |
| 134. | Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI), KENYA | Kenya |
| 135. | Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) | Korea |
| 136. | Humanitarian Group for Social Development (HGSD) | Lebanon |
| 137. | NGO Platform of Saida (Tajamoh) | Lebanon |
| 138. | Rassemblement des Femmes Democrates Libanaises (RFDL) | Lebanon |
| 139. | Consumers Association of Penang | Malaysia |
| 140. | Malaysian AIDS Council | Malaysia |
| 141. | Sahabat Alam Malaysia | Malaysia |
| 142. | Coalition Malienne des Acteurs Non Etatiques sur l’ Accords de Partenariat Economique (CMANE-AC) | Mali |
| 143. | Fondation pour le Développement au Sahel (FDS) | Mali |
| 144. | Social Watch Malta | Malta |
| 145. | L'association de l'Espace Culturel-Nouakchott | Mauritania |
| 146. | NTIC et Citoyennete/Maurifemme | Mauritania |
| 147. | ONG GLOBE | Mauritania |
| 148. | Point Focal de la Société Civile de Mauritanie | Mauritania |
| 149. | Réseau pour la Promotion de la Citoyenneté | Mauritania |
| 150. | Mauritius Trades Union Congress (MTUC) | Mauritius |
| 151. | Migration and Sustainable Development Alliance (MSDA) | Mauritius |
| 152. | Centro de Estudios Sociales y Culturales Antonio de Montesinos A.C. (CAM) | Mexico |
| 153. | Centro de Promoción y Educación Profesional Vasco de Quiroga, A.C. | Mexico |
| 154. | Grupo Tacuba | Mexico |
| 155. | Mujeres para el Diálogo A.C. (MpD) | Mexico |
| 156. | Otros Mundos, A.C. | Mexico |
| 157. | Red Nacional Género y Economía (REDGE) | Mexico |
| 158. | Siembra A.C | Mexico |
| 159. | Democracy Education Center (DEMO) | Mongolia |
| 160. | Espace Associatif | Morocco |
| 161. | Le Réseau Marocain pour la Défense des Biens Publics | Morocco |
| 162. | JOINT - National Coalition of NGOs | Mozambique |
| 163. | All Nepal Peasants Federation (ANPFa) | Nepal |
| 164. | Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) | Nepal |
| 165. | Both ENDS | Netherlands |
| 166. | SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) | Netherlands |
| 167. | Vrijschrift | Netherlands |
| 168. | Wemos Foundation | Netherlands |
| 169. | L'Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l'Environnement (ANSEN) | Niger |
| 170. | Réseau des Organisations de Développment et Associations de Défense des Droits de l'Homme et de la Démocratie (RODADDHD) | Niger |
| 171. | CAFSO-WRAG for Development Nigeria | Nigeria |
| 172. | Centre for Human Rights and Climate Change Research | Nigeria |
| 173. | Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth | Nigeria |
| 174. | Labour, Health and Human Rights Development Centre | Nigeria |
| 175. | l'Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l'Environnement (ANSEN) | Nigeria |
| 176. | Southwest Freedom of Information Act Network Nigeria | Nigeria |
| 177. | Ogoni Solidarity Forum | Nigeria |
| 178. | Association pour la Taxation des Transactions financière et l'Aide aux Citoyens (ATTAC) Norway | Norway |
| 179. | Norwegian Trade Campaign | Norway |
| 180. | The Development Fund | Norway |
| 181. | The Omani Economic Association | Oman |
| 182. | Civil Society Support Program (CSSP) | Pakistan |
| 183. | Dharti Development Foundation Sindh | Pakistan |
| 184. | Institute for Development Initiatives (IDI) | Pakistan |
| 185. | Palestinian Non-Governmental Organization Network (PNGO) | Palestine |
| 186. | Centro de la Mujer Panameña | Panama |
| 187. | DECIDAMOS, Campaña por la Expresión ciudadana | Paraguay |
| 188. | Central Unitaria de Trabajadores del Perú (CUT) | Peru |
| 189. | La Red Peruana por una Globalización con Equidad (RedGE) | Peru |
| 190. | Programa Laboral de Desarrollo (PLADES) | Peru |
| 191. | Red Peruana de Comercio Justo y Consumo Ético | Peru |
| 192. | Ecological Society of the Philippines | Philippines |
| 193. | Migrant Ministry and Program for Victims of Human Trafficking, The United Methodist Church | Philippines |
| 194. | People's Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS) | Philippines |
| 195. | Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement | Philippines |
| 196. | Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) | Philippines |
| 197. | Social Watch Philippines | Philippines |
| 198. | Southwest Philippines Annual Conference Board of Church and Society Mindoro | Philippines |
| 199. | Oikos – Cooperação e Desenvolvimento | Portugal |
| 200. | Plataforma Não ao Tratado Transatlântico | Portugal |
| 201. | GREENACT | Senegal |
| 202. | L'Association Nationale des Handicapés Moteurs du Sénégal (ANHMS) | Senegal |
| 203. | Le Mouvement Citoyen Wa Gokh Bi Thiaroye Pikine | Senegal |
| 204. | L'office Africain pour le développement et la coopération (OFADEC) | Senegal |
| 205. | Ongd AFRICANDO | Senegal |
| 206. | Cooperative and Policy Alternative Center | South Africa |
| 207. | South Durban Community Environmental Alliance | South Africa |
| 208. | Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) | South Sudan |
| 209. | Association pour la Taxation des Transactions financière et l'Aide aux Citoyens (ATTAC) Spain | Spain |
| 210. | Ecologistas en Acción | Spain |
| 211. | Unión Universal Desarrollo Solidario | Spain |
| 212. | The Gender Studies Centre | Sudan |
| 213. | Alliance Sud | Switzerland |
| 214. | Health Innovation in Practice (HIP) | Switzerland |
| 215. | Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima (MVIWATA Farmers’ Union) | Tanzania |
| 216. | Social Agenda Working Group (Social Watch) | Thailand |
| 217. | FOSCAO - Togo | Togo |
| 218. | Groupe d’Action et de Recherche en Environnement et Développement | Togo |
| 219. | Humanitaire Plus | Togo |
| 220. | La ligue des consommateurs du Togo (LCT) | Togo |
| 221. | Ligue Togolaise des Drots de l'Homme (LTDH) | Togo |
| 222. | OSCAF | Togo |
| 223. | POSCAO | Togo |
| 224. | Syndicat Democratique Des Mines | Togo |
| 225. | WELFARE Togo | Togo |
| 226. | Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA) | Uganda |
| 227. | Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda | Uganda |
| 228. | Jubilee Debt Campaign | UK |
| 229. | Traidcraft | UK |
| 230. | War on Want | UK |
| 231. | Friends of the Earth Uruguay (REDES) | Uruguay |
| 232. | Mujer y Salud en Uruguay (MYSU) | Uruguay |
| 233. | Third World Institute | Uruguay |
| 234. | American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) | USA |
| 235. | Center of Concern | USA |
| 236. | Citizens Trade Campaign (CTC) | USA |
| 237. | Consumer Action | USA |
| 238. | Food & Water Watch | USA |
| 239. | Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) | USA |
| 240. | Friends of the Earth (FOE) U.S. | USA |
| 241. | Global Exchange | USA |
| 242. | Global-Local Links Project | USA |
| 243. | Global Policy Forum | USA |
| 244. | Health GAP (Global Access Project) | USA |
| 245. | Holy Cross International Justice Office | USA |
| 246. | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy | USA |
| 247. | Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project | USA |
| 248. | Just Foreign Policy | USA |
| 249. | Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) | USA |
| 250. | Moana Nui Action Alliance | USA |
| 251. | National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) | USA |
| 252. | Network for Justice in Global Investment | USA |
| 253. | Public Citizen | USA |
| 254. | Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) | USA |
| 255. | Sierra Club | USA |
| 256. | Small Planet Institute | USA |
| 257. | The Democracy Center | USA |
| 258. | United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries | USA |
| 259. | Family Youth Bridge Training Center | Vanuatu |
| 260. | Vanuatu Environment Advocacy Network | Vanuatu |
| 261. | Al-Jawf Women Organization For Development (ALJWOFD) | Yemen |
| 262. | Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF) | Zambia |