A new CSOs letter calling IMF Managing Director to respond to the concerns of the UN Human Rights Council and Stop Surcharges policy

Over 300 civil society organizations from around the world are sending today a new letter to the International Monetary Fund Executive Board of Directors to call upon Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to respond to the concerns of the UN Human Rights Council and put an end to the human rights-damaging Surcharge policy.


The CSOs Letter:

“To International Monetary Fund Executive Board of Directors 

 

Re: IMF Managing Director’s response to the UN Human Rights Council Letter of Allegation concerning surcharge policy 

 

As the world celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, countries are struggling to uphold those very rights in the face of multiple devastating global crises. We, the undersigned, are writing to call upon the IMF Executive Board to instruct the Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, to respond to the allegation letter regarding the IMF’s surcharge policy sent to her on 26 August 2022 under the communications procedure of the Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council. 

The letter, which was sent by seven UN human rights mandate holders and two UN Human Rights Working Groups, including the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, detailed numerous concerns about the impact of the IMF’s surcharge policy on the human rights of citizens subject to it.  

The present correspondence follows a series of letters and statements, each gaining additional support, culminating on 22nd November 2022 in a letter signed by 350 civil society organisations echoing the grave concerns expressed by the UN human rights experts. It also called for the Executive Board to end the counter-productive, harmful and unnecessary policy and to instruct the Managing Director to respond to the legitimate and well-founded concerns raised by the letter of allegation.  

The lack of response to the letter and disregard for the human rights system is galling and must be immediately addressed. The unwillingness on the part of the Managing Director to explain the policy’s rationale and address the concerns raised by several UN human rights experts and Working Groups – concerns also documented and elaborated upon by other scholars and civil society organisations – makes a mockery of her 4 February 2022 statement in reply to the Independent Expert on debt and human rights that “IMF staff recognizes the importance of respect and support for human rights. In the discharge of its mandate the IMF contributes directly to the necessary preconditions for achieving human rights.” 

If the above statement were true, surely the institution’s leader would be eager to put forth the case for the surcharge policy by demonstrating that the concerns raised by the Human Rights Council (and many others) are misguided or unsubstantiated. The unwillingness to respond substantively to the numerous and serious concerns raised by the UN mandate holders, among others, leads one to conclude that the Managing Director is unable to justify the policy and address the concerns about its human rights and other negative implications because there is indeed no justification for it. 

On the 75th anniversary of the foundational text of the international human rights system, the Executive Board has an opportunity to uphold, rather than undermine, the fundamental and inviolable rights enshrined in the Declaration. It should immediately call upon the Managing Director to respond to the concerns of the UN Human Rights Council and put an end to the human rights-damaging surcharge policy. “


Read the letter in English & Spanish & Arabic

 

Join the Social media storm using this Toolkit and the campaign hashtag #StopIMFSurcharges


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List of Signers

 

Organisation / Organization/المنظمة Country / País/البلد
Global Policy Forum (international)
Universidade Metodista de Angola Angola
AJUDECA ANGOLA
Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research Argentina
Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento Argentina
Universidad Nacional de Córdoba Argentina
Ex funcionario de las Naciones Unidas Argentina
FLACSO/CONICET Argentina
Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales del Sur (UNS-CONICET) Argentina
Grupo de Estudios en Finanzas Internacionales (GEFI) / Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR) Argentina
Researcher, CONICET Argentina
Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento Argentina
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) Argentina
Partido Socialista Auténtico Federación Corrientes Argentina
CONICET ARGENTINA
Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (ACIJ Argentina) Argentina
Universidad Nacional de Rosario Argentina
UFOP Argentina
Biosophia NGO Armenia
ActionAid Australia Australia
Aid/Watch Australia
Co-ordination Office of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference for International Development and Mission (KOO) Austria
Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights(BIHR) Bangladesh
BNSK-Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra (Bangladesh Women Workers Association) Bangladesh
JusticeMakers Bangladesh Bangladesh
UNDRR ONEA&GETI community and IFRC Bangladesh
Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) Barbados
entraide et fraternité Belgique
ATTAC Belgium
Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) Belgium
CNCD-11.11.11 Belgium
Reacción Climática Bolivia
Red Latinoamericana por Justicia Económica y Social – LATINDADD Bolivia
UNICAMP Brasil
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
ALTSEAN-Burma Burma
Initiative Citoyenne pour l’Environnement et le Développement Durable-ICED Burundi
Africa Development Interchange Network (ADIN) Cameroon
University of Ottawa Canada
Barranquilla+20 Colombia
Asociación Costa Rica Íntegra Costa Rica
CROSOL Croatia
Ekumenická akademie (Ecumenical Academy) Czech Republic
Zukunftskonvent Germany Deutschland
erlassjahr.de Deutschland
ACCIÓN ECOLÓGICA ECUADOR
Independiente Ecuador
DesBorde EC Ecuador
Centro de Derechos Económicos y Sociales — CDES Ecuador
Acción Jurídica Popular Ecuador
La Raíz – Pensamiento Crítico (Ec) Ecuador
Voces Ecuador
Universidad de Guayaquil Ecuador
Gatef Egypt
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) Egypt
FUNSALPRODESE El Salvador
Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation Estonia
Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) Fiji
Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality Fiji
Plateforme Française Dette et Développement France
CCFD – Terre Solidaire France
Adéquations France
urgewald e.V. Germany
WEED – World Economy, Ecology and Development Germany
NAD Germany
Freie Universität Berlin, De. of Economics Germany
Apostolic Ministerial International Network Ghana
AbibiNsroma Foundation ANF Ghana
Centre for muslim youth in peace and development Ghana
Fight Inequality Alliance Global
Center for Economic and Social Rights Global
Society for International Development Global
Movimiento Tzuk Kim pop Guatemala
Tiniguena Guinea Bissau
ONG EDER (Environnement, Developpement et Energies Renouvelables) Guinée
FOSDEH Honduras
National Society of Conservationists – Friends of the Earth Hungary Hungary
Centre for Financial Accountability India
Association For Promotion Sustainable Development India
Focus on the Global South India
debtWATCH Indonesia Indonesia
Yayasan Perlindungan Insani Indonesia Indonesia
350.org International
Independent advocate Jamaica
UNISC International Japan
Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies Jordan
PHM Kenya Kenya
Womankind Worlwide Kenya
Focus of Disabled Persons Kenya
Jamaa Resource Initiatives Kenya
Good Health Community Programmes Kenya
Friends of the Disabled Association Lebanon
Green Advocates International (Liberia) Liberia
Third World Network (TWN) Malaysia
International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific Malaysia
APPUI SOLIDAIRE POUR LE ENFORCEMENT DE L AIDE AU DEVELOPPEMENT MALI
Espace de Solidarité et de Coopération de l’Oriental Maroc
Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia Mexico
Red Mexicana de Acción frente al Libre Comercio (RMALC) México
UNAM/Latindadd México
ufe mongolia
Rivers without Boundaries Coalition Mongolia Mongolia
Psychological Responsiveness NGO MONGOLIA
Oyu Tolgoi Watch Mongolia
MWLA Mongolia
Centre de Développement de la Région de Tensift Morocco
Arab Watch Coalition Morocco
National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal Nepal
Rural Reconstruction Nepal Nepal
Women Empowerment Against Poverty of Nepal (WEAPoN) Nepal
South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) Nepal
Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) Nepal
South Asia Tax and Fiscal Justice Network (SATaFJA) Nepal
National Labour Academy Nepal
Both ENDS Netherlands
Transnational Institute Netherlands
WECF International Netherlands
CEDECAM/LATINDADD Nicaragua
RENICC Nicaragua
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE NIGERIA
Gender-Based Violence As A Public Health Issue Nigeria
Foundation for the Conservation of the Earth, FOCONE Nigeria
Changemaker Norway Norway
Debt Justice Norway Norway
CADTM Pakistan Pakistan
Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED) Pakistan
RDPI Pakistan
Shirakat – Partnership for Development Pakistan
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum Pakistan
Crofter Foundation Pakistan
Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee Pakistan
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum Pakistan
Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Cambio Climático Perú
Carmelitas Misioneras Perú
Movimiento Laudato Si Perú
Forum Solidaridad Perú – FSP Perú.
Unlad Kabayan Philippines
Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) Philippines
Oikos – Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Portugal
Observatoire d’Etudes et d’Appui à la Responsabilité Sociale et Environnementale, OEARSE en sigle RD CONGO
Jubilee Scotland Scotland
Greater Purpose for Development Sierra Leone
Ecology Africa Foundation South Africa
University of Pretoria South Africa
groundWork South Africa
Natural Justice South Africa
Labour and Social Studies Group South Africa
Observatori del Deute en la Globalitzacio Spain
URJC Spain
Research and Development (R&D R+D) Switzerland
Global Social Justice Switzerland
International Federation of Social Workers Switzerland
agens Switzerland
Climate Watch Thailand Thailand
Wemos The Netherlands
Association Tunisienne de Droit du Développement/Arab Watch Coalition Tunisia
Forum Tunisien pour les Droits Économiques et Sociaux Tunisie
Association Tunisienne de Droit du Développement et Arab Watch Coalition Tunisie
ISER – Initiative for Social and Economic Rights Uganda
Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC) Uganda
Friends with Environment in Development Uganda
London School of Economics UK
University of Hertfordshire Business School UK
Open University UK
SOAS, University of London UK
Women’s Budget Group UK
Edinburgh uni UK
womens budget group, and national pensioners convention UK
The Open University Uk
London School of Economics and Political Science UK
Open University UK
The Open University, UK UK
SOAS University of London UK
The Open University, U.K. United Kingdom
School of Law, University of Warwick United Kingdom
University of Kent, UK United Kingdom
SOAS University of London United Kingdom
University of Sussex United Kingdom
Individual United Kingdom
Open University, UK United Kingdom
Soas, University of London United Kingdom
University of York United Kingdom
SOAS, University of London United Kingdom
Women’s Budget Group United Kingdom
University of Oxford United Kingdon
Servicios Ecumenicos para Reconciliacion y Reconstruccion United States
Bank Information Center United States
Rice University United States
Gender Action United States
New Rules for Global Finance United States
Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) United States
Sisters of Charity Federation United States
Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-onlus United States
Justice is Global USA
Stop TB USA USA
Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver USA
Friends of the Earth US USA
VIVAT International USA
Yemen Organization for Promoting Integrity Yemen
Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights Yemen
I am representing myself Zimbabwe
Training and Research Support Centre Zimbabwe
«Green Armenia» Environmental Educational NGO Армения
منظمه شؤون المراه والطفل العراق
منظمه شؤون المراه والطفل العراق
Wedyan Association For Society Development اليمن
Tunisiaالجمعية التةنسية للحوكمة المحلية تونس
Selezioni Inc United States
International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW AP) Malaysia
Zurgaan buudal ngo mongolia
Khovd gol NGO Mongolia
Otwatch Mongolia
Economistas sin Fronteras Spain
Extinction Rebellion Auderghem Belgique
Programa Gobernanza sobre el Cambio Climatico Costa Rica
keine Germany
UBA Argentinien
Cátedra Economía Política Fac. Derecho Universidad Nacional de Rosario – ARGENTINA Argentina
Centre for Economic Strategy Ukraine
Global Justice Now United Kingdom
University of Greenwich UK/Ukraine
Social Movement Ukraine
Institute of Analysis and Advocacy Ukraine
NGO “Ekoltava” Ukraine
11.11.11 Belgium
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary _ Loreto Generalate Global
Freedom from Debt Coalition Philippines
Psychological Responsiveness NGO Mongolia
Organizata Politike Albania
Private Germany
Privat Deutschland
CADTM France France
Bretton Woods Project United Kingdom
ActionAid International United Kingdom
Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development Philippines
Democratic Socialists of America, International Committee United States
Self United States
APPUI SOLIDAIRE POUR LE RENFORCEMENT DE L AIDE AU DEVELOPPEMENT MALI
The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation Sverige
Jubilee Debt Campaign UK United Kingdom
AFRODAD Zimbabwe
Society for International Development Global
Apostolic Ministerial International Network Ghana
وسط رؤية Amid Vision تونس
ALTSEAN-Burma Burma
Alci Maroc
Association LaSiesta pour la protection de l’environnement Maroc
Association femme militante Maroc
Espace de solidarité et de coopération de l’oriental Maroc
Red de Justicia Fiscal de America Latina y El Caribe América Latina y El Caribe
Fundacion SES Argentina
Individual Argentina
جمعية الشباب لأجل الشباب Maroc
Association intermédiaires pour le développement durable Maroc
Tunisia Tunisie
Ondjango Feminista Angola
None Ecuador
Aci المغرب
جيل ضد التهميش Tunisie
Mouvement pour la démocratie paritaire Marocain
State Bank of Pakistan Pakistan
GOSCOP Angola
ATCP (Association Tunisienne des Contrôleurs Publics) Tunisie
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum Pakistan
KRuHA – people’s coalition for the right to water Indonesia
Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN) Argentina
ENVIRONICS TRUST India
Individual World
مترجمة حرة Individual مصرية
Aswan Egypt
Réseau International des Droits Humains – Europe Belgium
Citoyen indépendant Tunisie
ACEP Portugal
Centre de Développement de la Région de Tensift Morocco
WomanHealth Philippines Philippines
NGO Forum on the ADB Regional (Asia)
Win Without War USA
The Society for Children Orphaned By AIDS Inc. (SOCOBA) United States
Migrant Forum in Asia Philippines
Masr 360 مصر
ATED Maroc
Sociedad de Economía Crítica – EEF Argentina
South Feminist Futures Zimbabwe
CORE Nigeria
Plateforme nationale des Citoyens Unis pour le Développement (PCUD) Guinée
Organisation Guinéenne des Droits et Devoirs du Citoyen (OGDDC) Guinée
DSA US
Peace Action United States
Finance in Motion Germany
OlX Egypt EGYPT
وسط رؤية Amid Vision تونس
Centre de développement de la région de Tensift Maroc
Press Freedom Advocacy Association Iraq
NGO ASRAD -MALI MALI
NGO Biosophia Armenia
keine Germany
Partido Socialista Auténtico Federación Corrientes Argentina
Plateforme nationale des Citoyens Unis pour le Développement (PCUD) Guinée
Democratic Socialists of America – International Committee USA
Organisation Guinéenne des Droits et Devoirs du Citoyen (OGDDC) Guinée
IIESS UNS-CONICET Argentina
منظمة وسط رؤية Amid Vision Organisation تونس
CONICET Argentina
Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) Nepal
Gatef organization Egypt
NGO ASRAD MALI
Psychological Responsiveness NGO Mongolia
Association Tunisienne de Droit de Développement Tunisie
individual United States
individual Egypt
Gatef organization Egypt
Zukunftskonvent Germany Deutschland
Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) Nepal
NGO ASRAD-MALI MALI
Wedyan Association For Society Development اليمن
Wedyan Association For Society Development Yemen
THE ROADMAP FOR PEACEFUL JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES Nigeria
THE ROADMAP FOR PEACEFUL JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES United States
University of Leeds United Kingdom
Community Resource Centre Thailand
International Trade Union Confederation Belgium
IBON International Global South
Financial Justice Ireland Ireland
The Norwegian Solidarity Comitee for Latin-America (LAG) Norway
Project on Organizing, Development, Education, and Research (PODER) Mexico
Centre for Muslim Youth In Peace And Development Ghana
Financial Justice Ireland Ireland
PFAA Iraq
Climate Finance Group for Latin America and the Caribbean Ecuador
Gatef organization Egypt
EDER (Environnement, Développement et Énergies renouvelables) Guinée
Delaware Division of public Health Community United States
Center for Economic and Social Rights Global
Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN) Argentina
Génération contre la marginalisation Tunisie
Institute of Business Administration, Karachi Pakistan
NGO ASRAD MALI
University of Oxford United Kingdom
Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC) Uganda
Association Tunisienne de Droit de Développement Tunisie
Alternative Law Collective (ALC) Pakistan
EuroMed Rights Danmark/ Euro-Mediterranean region
TUDE & FUWA INTERNATIONAL VENTURES Nigeria
Climate Finance Group for Latin America and the Caribbean (GFLAC) Mexico
Women Empowerment Against Poverty of Nepal (WEAPoN Nepal
Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) Nepal
Masr 360 مصر
Sociedad de Economía Crítica – EEF Argentina
DSA US
Peace Action United States
Finance in Motion Germany
Win Without War USA
The Society for Children Orphaned By AIDS Inc. (SOCOBA) United States
Migrant Forum in Asia Philippines
ATED Maroc
South Feminist Futures Zimbabwe
CORE Nigeria
Plateforme nationale des Citoyens Unis pour le Développement (PCUD) Guinée
Press Freedom Advocacy Association Iraq
NGO ASRAD -MALI MALI
Organisation Guinéenne des Droits et Devoirs du Citoyen (OGDDC) Guinée
Global Debt for Climate Movement

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