Høringssvar af Jonas Nøddekær (Folkekirkens Nødhjælp)
De ikke-statslige organisationer (NGOerne) er under voksende pres i u-landene, hvor deres frie råderum til at arbejde hegnes ind; ikke desto mindre tager Danidas udkast til en ny politk for NGOernes indsats og rolle fremover ikke højde herfor.
Sådan skriver Folkekirkens Nødhjælps udviklingschef bl.a. i sit svar til Danida om udspillet til en ny civilsamfundspolitik, som netop har været til offentlig høring.
Svaret er på engelsk og vi citerer nedenfor fra den store humanitære organisations bekymringer for fremtiden på dette ømtålelige område (hvor eksempelvis NGOen IBIS er smidt ud af Bolivia pr. 26. marts i år efter årtiers virke, red.).
We are of the opinion that the (Danida) Policy underestimates the seriousness of the shrinking space available to civil society.
We note that the title on page 8 ”Space for civil society actors –shrinking or growing” is indicative of the rather ambivalent approach Danida has had to whether in fact we are seeing a shrinking space.
Reports emerging from the UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders show that the space has visibly shrunk during her mandate period etc. It furthermore underestimates the impact of some of the worst legislation on human rights and advocacy organisations.
There is no recognition that actually civil society organisations working on these issues are now doing this under very risky and dangerous conditions.
A commitment to protecting those who do this should be much more clearly highlighted in the strategy, hedder det.
Religion og udvikling
Folkekirkens Nødhjælp anfører, at det ikke først og fremmest er religiøse modsætninger, der præger udviklingssamarbejdet, men snarere forskelle mellem religiøse og verdslige (sekulære) holdninger og værdier, når de vestlige givere arriverer i et givet u-land
Det hedder herom:
DanChurchAid observes that the issue of Religion and Development has not been unfolded so far in the policy.
We therefore recommend that the issue is taken up in section 3. on ‘Current Global Challenges and Opportunities/Engaging with faith-based communities’.
In recent years the issue of ‘Religion and Development’ has attracted increasing attention. The basic tension is not one between different religions as much as one between religious and secular identities and sets of values.
This reality is often overlooked when we from western, secular societies enter into partnership with developing countries where most often there is no identity without religion.
The risk is to therefore isolate religious communities and institutions instead of engaging with them and secure their participation in and contribution to civil society.
The short conclusion is that religion can both be part of the problem and part of the solution. But not ignored.
And that the best way to counter religious fanaticism is to support democratic and moderate religious actors by actively facilitating that they have access to play a relevant role in development efforts.
It follows from the above that analysis of the religious context would be recommendable in this policy’s section 2.3, first ‘bullet point’.
Mere om Nødhjælpen på http://www.noedhjaelp.dk
Mere om Jonas Nøddekær i telegrammet
http://www.u-landsnyt.dk/navnenyt/nyt-job/ny-udviklingschef-i-n-dhj-lpen
Høringssvaret i øvrigt
Areas of priority: 1
DCA (FKN) recommends that the policy clearly states that new collaborative partnerships among governments, business, social partners and civil society in ODA (udviklingsbistanden) should serve the overall objective of eradicating poverty and inequalities (Engaging with the private sector pp. 9-10):.
In the Danish MFA’s (udenrigsministeriets) response to the proposed EU Communication on “Strengthening the Role of the Private Sector in Achieving Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in Developing Countries” in February 2014, it is underlined that:
“The overall objective (…) for working for and with the private sector in development cooperation must be to eradicate poverty.” DCA recommends including this wording in the policy.
The role of civil society is not only to promote a green growth agenda and CSR, but indeed also to act as a watchdog ensuring that business enterprises do not violate international human rights law and labour standards.
The CSR responsibilities of business enterprises not only extends to improve an enabling environment, but also to avoid infringing on the human rights of others and to address adverse human rights impact with which they are involved (exercising due diligence).
DCA recommends that the internationally agreed language of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, should be reflected in the policy. The corporate responsibility to protect human rights should also be underlined in chapter 6.5. 2.
We strongly recommended that the use of the word ”partnership” is explained /defined and used more stringently in the Policy.
In the current policy, Partnership is used interchangeable to describe relations between civil society organizations but also relations that include private sector and local authorities (duty bearers).
The preconditions highlighted on page 15, seems to be only relevant where civil society organizations are partners.
Other issues:
Perspective of rights and equality
We recommend strengthening section 2.3. Principles of engagement with an analysis of the enabling environment from a human rights perspective i.e. right to association, assembly, information, protection of human rights defenders.
The policy makes a distinction between invited and claimed spaces with an apparent preference for supporting invited spaces. If we are also to ensure an enabling and safe environment for social movements and peaceful social protests we need to protect the environment for claimed spaces.
We therefore need a clearer commitment that Denmark will also protect the space for peaceful social protests for those claiming space, particularly when invited space is closed or ineffective.
On page 16 second paragraph it is stated that Denmark will work through “non-financial support to improve an enabling environment”.
Why only non-financial support? Why not also financial support to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Association and Assembly.
It is recommended that the policy include a commitment from Denmark to influence the outcomes of the UPR (Udviklingspolitiske Råd) discussions by Danida raising issues around the space for civil society.
Incl. mentioning of support to UN special procedures such as the Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Association and Assembly, Human Rights Defenders, and Freedom of Expression.
It is also found that the Policy as whole is completely gender blind even in section 2.2 that directly describes the target groups.
We therefore recommend that the policy, in keeping with an HRBA (Human Rights Based Approach) approach to civil society, also have a separate chapter that looks at the importance also of supporting civil society organisations made up of the marginalised and discriminated i.e, not least in relation to those advocating for gender and sexual minority rights
Partnerships
We also note a discrepancy in the Policy around the Five principles for addressing Capacity Development on page 16 where it is stated:
1. Strategic Perspective: “Apply a strategic development perspective, not only an aid effectiveness perspective” against 3. Focus on tangible results: “Capacity Development dialogue is driven by a focus on results in terms of effectiveness and efficiency”.
Private Sector Section 6.5.: Collaboration between Civil Society and the Private Sector (pp. 25-26):
With regard to promoting a (green) growth agenda in developing countries, DCA suggests a clearer definition of what this means and implies.
As an instrument to achieve the goals of Danish ODA, such initiatives must serve the purpose of eradicating poverty and must be based in a rights-based approach to development.
With regard to the definition of “green growth”, the MFA’s response to the EU Communication on PSD, Denmark underlines a very important point on food security/the right to food, which DCA would like to see reflected in the definition of what should constitute the basis of a green economy in the policy:
“The work on sustainable agriculture, food security and resilience must be core elements of the EU’s efforts to promote green growth and transition. EU’s effort to ensure that access to food is not undermined by increased economic growth or energy security is important.”
It is also important to ensure that the policy highlight the need for policy coherence on the issues of private sector collaboration.
Coherence (sammenhæng) between the Resource Allocation Model (the standards) and the Civil Society Policy
It is important there are close links between the Policy for Danish Support to Civil Society and the already agreed Resource Allocation Model and the standards. So this mean issues and themes in the RAM model correspond and are explained/defined in the Policy
Other comments:
It is not clear how this policy will relate to situations where civil society (in Denmark and Global South) respond to humanitarian crisis (beyond fragile states).
