Social Watch Global Assembly 2011

Members of the new Coordinating
Committee of Social Watch.
(Photo: Social Watch)

Source: Social Watch

Leonor Briones, of Philippines, and Tanya Dawkins, of the United States, were elected as co-chairs of the Coordinating Committee of Social Watch on 16 July, after the network’s Global Assembly, held in Manila last week. The 15 members of this body were chosen in a gender balanced way and represent Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and the Arab region.

Photo: Social Watch

Source: Social Watch

In its 5th Global Assembly held in Manila last week, Social Watch concluded that “the current growth-led economic model is economically inefficient, socially unjust, environmentally damaging and politically unsustainable”. Thus, it pledged to “challenge the prevailing economic paradigm based on GDP growth worldwide” and to further its contribution to “the development of alternative indicators”.

ILO Director-General, Juan
Somavia. (Photo: ILO)

Source: Social Watch

“The current growth model that has evolved since the early 1980s has become economically inefficient, socially unstable, environmentally damaging and politically unsustainable. So it must be changed. But getting there will probably lead to increased social conflict,” said Juan Somavia, ILO Director General, in his message to the Social Watch Global Assembly in Manila.

The Social Watch Global
Assembly finished on Friday.
(Photo: SW)

Source: Social Watch

International advocates of social and economic justice attending the 5th Social Watch Global Assembly in Manila urged governments to ratify the implementation of Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers following its adoption by the United Nations International Labor Organization (ILO) in June.

Co-chairs of Social Watch Tanya Dawkins
and Emily Sikazwe, SW Philipines lead
convenor Leonor Briones and convenor
Marivic Raquiza, SW coordinator Roberto Bissio
and vice president of the Philippines
Jejomar Binay. (Photo: Social Watch)

Sources: Manila BulletinGMA News.

Philippine government has no reason to apologize for the persistent diaspora of workers, said Vice President Jejomar Binay in the opening session of the 5th Social Watch Global Assembly on Tuesday in Manila, according to Manila Bulletin newspaper.

Roberto Bissio (Photo:
Social Watch/Agustín Fernandez)

Source:InterAksion, news portal of TV5:

The principles of accountability are universal and  “the ‘naming and shaming’ mechanisms are essentially the same", but the means for attaining those principals vary from country to country, said Roberto Bissio, Social Watch coordinator, on Tuesday, the first day of the network's Global Assembly that is taking place in Manila, Philippines. 

Bissio explained, in short, that when "a situation of injustice or rights violation is detected, information is gathered, a demand is articulated, solutions are proposed and the authorities are engaged to solve the problem or remove the obstacles." 

Jejomar Binay. (Photo:
Pilippine VP Office)

Sources: The Philippine StarThe Daily Tribune.

Leading Philippine newspapers and other media are paying attention to the Social Watch 2011 Global Assembly that will begin tomorrow in Manila. The participation of Vice President Jejomar Binay in the first session, where he will deliver the inaugural speech, was stressed by The Philippine Star, The Daily Tribune and InterAksion, news portal of TV5.

The Coordinating Committee
elected in Accra, 2009.
(Photo: Social Watch)

Source: Social Watch.

Social Watch will define its strategy for the next years in its Global Assembly, which will bring together next week in Manila, Philippines, the diverse membership of the network. Representatives designated by national coalitions from over 70 countries of all continents will participate: women groups, human rights activists, unionists and campaigners for social justice. During three days, they will be discussing the new challenges brought about by the global crises and the civil society responses to it. 

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