Asem leaders told: Counter crises effects with people-centered policies

VIENTIANE, Laos—The people’s pauperization and environmental destruction caused by the still-raging global financial crisis must be countered with people-centered policies and practices, international civil society groups told state leaders of Asia and Europe Tuesday.

The 51 governments that are now members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) must “work with citizens to develop and implement policies that will lead to a just, equal and sustainable world, and more accountable and democratic institutions.”

In the Declaration of the Ninth Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF9) crafted and finalized during the civil society forum on Oct. 16-19, citizens’ groups said governments from the two continents must frame these policies on the principles of “respect for gender equality, environment, and human rights.”

The Declaration was submitted in behalf of the AEPF by the Lao government, which coordinated both the AEPF and the Asem.

The AEPF is traditionally held simultaneously with the Asem, but the lack of infrastructure to accommodate participants to both fora in Laos has forced the holding of the AEPF a couple of weeks earlier than the Asem. While both fora are non-binding, strategic high-level policies are traditionally initiated here.

More than 1,200 people—representatives of major people’s movements, prominent scholars, progressive policy-makers across Asia and Europe—from about countries in Asia and 15 countries in Europe, and around 400 Laotians from mass and non-government organizations attended the AEPF9.

People’s calls

Citizens from Asia and Europe reached “a strong consensus…(that) the deregulation of markets, increasing power of multinational corporations, unaccountable multilateral institutions, and trade liberalization (have) failed…to meet the needs and rights of all citizens. “

They criticized the practice of bailing out banks even as budgets for essential social services have been substantially cut in painful austerity measures.

“Despite existing laws, regulations, standards and mechanisms, our governments have failed to prioritize human rights, environmental security, and labor rights over the profits of companies,” the AEPF9 Declaration said.

“The consequences of this corporate domination are experienced in the lives of millions of women, men and children across Asia and Europe,” it added.

The international civil society said “democratic accountability” has been hollowed out, “as elites make decisions and implement policies with little or no scrutiny from citizens, creating the conditions for poverty, inequality, environmental devastation, and growing social unrest.”

“Our governments and the citizens of Asia and Europe have the responsibility to transform our social, economic and political futures so that we can all live in peace, security and dignity. We all need to take responsibility to work together to create and implement the radical and creative solutions needed for people-centred recovery and change,” the AEPF9 Declaration said.

AEPF has been held biennially since 1996 as a parallel event to the Asem Summit of Asian and European heads of states. Of all the super powers, only the United States is not part of Asem. The rest – China, EU, Russia, Japan, and India – are Asem members.