APG Statement on the Stockholm Declaration and the Madrid Agenda

APG Statement on the Stockholm Declaration and the Madrid Agenda

December 13, 2000
The commitment of the G5 donors and Central American governments to the Stockholm Declaration in May of 1999 marked a positive step forward in reconstruction and transformation efforts in Central America. Not only were more resources committed in an environment of greater donor coordination, but decentralization and transparency, the monitoring of human rights, democratic participation, and good governance were prioritized as key elements in the reconstruction and transformation of the region.
The Americas Policy Group of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (APG-CCIC), along with our counterparts in G5 donor countries and Central America, is very concerned about the lack of continuity to the Stockholm principles in the Madrid agenda, as well as the strong emphasis on regional integration, commerce, investment and large regional infrastructure projects. We believe that poverty eradication must be taken up as a central theme in discussions in Madrid and that the Stockholm Declaration must be included and reaffirmed at the Madrid Consultative Group Meeting, thus establishing a framework for all international co-operation with Central America.
We applaud the steps that have been taken to include civil society in the official proceedings at the Consultative Group meeting both as members of official delegations and as observers. We further encourage the "Grupo de Seguimiento" and the Inter-American Development Bank to create space on the agenda for interventions from representatives of civil society from the region and donor countries in order to provide the critical balance to perspectives presented by governments. Given the diversity of Central American civil society, we feel that it is particularly important that Centroamerica Solidaria be given the opportunity to present their perspectives, as well as their proposals on regional transformation, risk prevention and management, and a regional social audit. We also believe that time should be allocated to an assessment of progress and obstacles to the reconstruction process, drawing on the indicators that have recently been developed to illustrate these issues.
We believe that donor governments must follow through on the commitments made in Stockholm and that local governments must play an active role in their countries, creating enabling environments for the active involvement of their citizens. We also believe that civil society representatives in the north and south should be given the opportunity to actively participate in the definition of official international co-operation policies.
Over the past several months, representatives of civil society, north and south, have developed a joint platform for action (attached). The APG-CCIC supports this platform and in solidarity with our civil society partners and the people of Central America, firmly recommits to advancing the following issues and principles: (1) poverty eradication, (2) the reduction of social, environmental, and economic vulnerability, (3) increased transparency and good governance, (4) democratic development and civil society participation, (5) respect for human rights, (6) debt reduction, and (7) coordinated southern-led reconstruction efforts. Building on these principles, our partners have emphasized the importance of promoting a new, inclusive human development paradigm. We further believe in the importance of inter-sector policy coherence, emphasis on a long-term development framework, and ongoing efforts to strengthen local civil society.
Despite the fact that the Madrid agenda does not correspond to our expectations, we believe that in order to advance these issues it is essential that Canadian government and civil society representatives actively participate in the Madrid Consultative Group Meeting. It is imperative that we are there to share information about Canada’s international co-operation efforts in Central America, and to ensure that there is follow-through on the Stockholm commitments.
We have included a copy of the Parallel NGO Forum planned for the days leading up to Madrid. You will note that the issues on the alternative forum agenda overlap with the workshop themes planned for the Consultative Group meeting. This overlap should act as an indication that the members of Centroamerica Solidaria and the NGO5 are clearly committed to engaging the participants of the official Madrid process, and to using the forum provided – flawed though it might be – to continue to advocate for effective adherence to the Stockholm principles in the reconstruction and transformation of Central America.