www.asianfarmers.org

Chairperson Sudaporn Sittisathapornkul, together with other AFA leaders, joined other representatives from civil society organizations of women and men migrant workers from the formal, informal and labor sectors, small-scale farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples, agricultural workers, consumers, academe and non-government organizations from the ASEAN region in the “Regional Conference on the Impact of Financial and Economic Crisis on Vulnerable Sectors of the Region: Civil Society Voices and ASEAN” held in Jakarta, Indonesia on July 28-29, 2009.

AFA Vice Chairperson Muzakkir made a presentation entitled “Impact of Financial Crisis on Small-scale Men and Women Farmers in SEA Countries,” while AFA Chairperson Sudaporn Sittisathapornkul gave the closing remarks.

AFA Treasurer Vicente Fabe delivered the report on the workshop on agriculture, while AFA Secretary General Esther Penunia facilitated the first workshop and helped in drafting the conference statement.

At the end of the event, the CSO Conference Recommendations and Jakarta Action Plans were crafted.

The Jakarta Action Plans had four parts: for the agriculture sector; for the labor and migration sector; for strengthening regional economic coordination; and for democratizing CSO participation in the improvement and implementation of the roadmap for an ASEAN community 2009-2015.

The CSO Conference Recommendations to effectively address the impact of the global financial crisis on the vulnerable sectors in the Asian region were presented to ASEAN and other intergovernmental bodies.

AFA co-organized the conference with AsiaDHRRA, UNIAPRO/ASETUC, ASEAN, Oxfam HK and GTZ.

Conference statement, action plans, presentation materials, final participants list, photos and other related readings are available at: http://financialcrisisasia.blogspot.com

Click here for to download the powerpoint presentation

(Final Draft, August 6, 2009)

We, representatives from civil society organizations of women and men migrant workers from the formal, informal and labor sectors, small-scale farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples, agricultural workers, consumers, academe and non-government organizations from the ASEAN region, gathered at the “Regional Conference on the Impact of Financial and Economic Crisis on Vulnerable Sectors of the Region: Civil Society Voices and ASEAN” held in Jakarta,Indonesia on July 28-29, 2009 wish to register the following recommendations to ASEAN and other intergovernmental bodies:

1. We acknowledge that the global economic and financial crisis is a recurrent event that creates havoc on the livelihoods and welfare of many communities, especially the most vulnerable sectors. The crisis has been addressed through partial reforms, stimulus packages and bail outs. To prevent or mitigate future crises, we need a thorough re-examination of the global financial system and the formulation of the corresponding systemic, institutional reforms. We need to put in place a new global financial architecture that is fair and transparent, that has a development agenda and that is responsive to shocks. Reforms will include sound regulation of capital and financial markets including the need to control excessive flows and high risk leverage and regulate various financial products( e.g. sub-prime loans and credit cards). There, too, should be proper and timely disclosure of information on the advantages/disadvantages of financial products. A charter for the responsible sale of financial products should be developed.

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Regional Conference on the Impact of Financial Crisis on Vulnerable Sectors:
Civil Society Voices and ASEAN
July 28-29 2009, Jakarta
(Final Draft)

Action Plans which participants agreed to work on together:

I. Agricultural Sector
1. Priority Policy Agenda
1. Create and strengthen mechanisms for dialogue and consultation between CSOs and government, at the national and regional levels, towards the ASEAN Summit.
2. Address food security issues through the development of mechanisms for fair trade system.
3. Farmers, fishers and CSOs are able to present their positions /views / recommendations to the new cabinet of Indonesia.

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