In the eve of Rio2012, civil society organizations all over the world are warning against the “growing influence of major corporations and business lobby groups within the UN”. Those concerns became also apparent in the thirteenth session of the UNCTAD in Doha, where the rich countries were trying to minimize the role of that agency, whose reports have consistently criticized the politics of deregulation, liberalization and privatization that benefit the private sector.

UNCTAD XVIII closing ceremony. (Photo: UNCTAD)

In the thirteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII), civil society representatives “witnessed outrageous attempts by developed countries to change the policy basis and mandate” of that UN agency, that reflected their corporations and investors’ interests “rather than maintaining historical policy commitments to assist developing countries”, according the statement issued by the organizations on Thursday.

Kate McInturff. (Photo: Feminist Legal Studies)

The uncertain fate of women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa region was one of the most relevant concerns at the 12th International Forum of the Association for Women’s Rights In Development (AWID), held last week in Istanbul. After the Forum, Canadian activist Kate McInturff called on feminists “working at the international level” and those “working at the community level” to break the isolation between both groups, and to engage themselves “in a meaningful dialogue”.

(Photo: World Bank Out of Climate Finance)

Some 115 non-governmental organizations have urged governments to “sunset” the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds and instead, redirect their reserves to the new Green Climate Fund established within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to make it fully functional as soon as possible, reported journalist Kanaga Raja, of the South-North Development Monitor (SUNS).

Gyekye Tanoh, of the Third World Network-Africa.

Civil society groups taking part in UNCTAD XIII that is been held in Doha called on the UN and its member countries to pursue a "fundamental shift" in economic and development paradigms in order to address the multiple global crises, reported the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).