Bangladesh: ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER, LAWYER & BLOGGER MR. SHAHANUR ISLAM

Bangladesh: ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER, LAWYER & BLOGGER MR. SHAHANUR ISLAM

BANGLADESH: Continuous legal harassment against Bangladeshi lawyer, human rights defender and blogger Mr. Shahanur Islam

Dear Friends,

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights urges your prompt and urgent intervention on the continuous legal harassment against Bangladeshi lawyer, human rights defender and blogger Mr. Shahanur Islam, who is implicated with a false and fabricated criminal charge due to his constant battle against gross human rights violations as well as fighting to ensure constitutional recognition of LGBT rights in Bangladesh.

BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:

Name & Identity of the Victim : Mr. Shahanur Islam @ Saikot @ Dulal, Secretary General and Honorary Executive Director of Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR). He is an enrolled as an Advocate under the Bangladesh Bar Council as well as is a member of district Bar Association Naogaon and Dhaka. He is also an International Member of Amnesty International and administrator of the online LGBT Bengali portal বৈচিত্র্য.বাংলা

In the course of his professional duties, he deals with many legal cases against perpetrators at court. He has also conducted many fact-finding missions on human rights violations as well as issued local and international urgent appeals requesting attention to concerned authorities. Due to his vital role for the protection and promotion of human rights and criminal justice in Bangladesh, he was the recipient of the Asia JusticeMakers Fellowship-2010, awarded by International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), Switzerland

Name & Identity of the Perpetrators : i) Md. Jahurul Islam, Member, District Council, Naogaon, President, Jubodal (youth wing of Bangladesh Nationalish Party (BNP), Biashbari Union Council Branch, Badalgachhi Upazila, Naogaon;

ii) SM Jobayer Hossain, Sub-Inspector of Police, Badalgachhi Police Station, Naogaon;

iii) Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Assistnt Sub-Inspector of Police, Badalgachhi Police Station, Naogaon;

iv) Jalal Uddin, Officer in Charge, Badalgachhi Police Station, Naogaon.

Date & time of the Incident : December 21, 2017 around at 6:00 am

Number and date of General Diary : Badalgachhi Police Station GD # 886, December 23, 2017

Number and date of the case : Badalgachhi Police Station Non-Government Register Prosecution # 1, January 29, 2018

Section : 427 & 506 under Penal Code of Bangladesh

Date of Issue Warrant of Arrest by Court : February 14, 2018

CASE DETAILS:

On December 23, 2017, Md. Jahurul Islam, Member of District Council, Naogaon as well as President of Jubodal (youth wing of Bangladesh Nationalish Party (BNP), Biashbari Union Branch, Badalgachhi Upazila, Naogaon intentionally made a false and fabricated allegation against Mr. Shahanur Islam @ Saikot @ Md. Dulal Hossain and others two member of his family. In his allegation Md. Jahurul Islam stated that on December 21, 2017 around at 6:00am Mr. Shahanur Islam and his other two family members intimidated him with death threats using deadly weapon after committing mischief and thereby causing damage to his crops, for an amount of 5000.00 taka.

After receiving the allegation, Badalgachhi Police Station, Naogaon registered a General Diary being Badalgachhi Police Station GD number 886, dated on December 23, 2017 against Mr. Shahanur Islam @ Saikot @ Md. Dulal Hossain and others two members of his family with a charge of mischief causing damage and criminal intimation to Md. Jahurul Islam.

Then on January 2, 2018, SM Jobayer Hossain, Sub-Inspector of Police, Badalgachhi Police Station, Naogaon prayed to the concern Senior Judicial Magistrate to investigate the issue. After obtaining permission, Mr. Hossain submitted the prosecution report being Non -Government Registered Prosecution Number 1/2018 against Mr. Shahanur Islam and his other two family members under section 427 & 506 of the Penal Code to the concerned court on January 29, 2018 through interconnecting and conspiracy with each of the perpetrators.

Then on February 4, 2018 the concerned court took the allegation in cognizance and issued the summons against Mr. Shahanur Islam and his two family members to present before the court on February 14, 2018 and asked the Badalgachhi Police Station to ensure the execution of Summon to Mr. Shahanur Islam and his others two family members.

Then on February 12, 2018, Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Assistnt Sub-Inspector of Police, Badalgachhi Police Station, Naogaon executed the summons forging the signature of Mr. Shahanur Islam and his other two family members through interconnecting and conspiracy with each of the perpetrators and submitted the report of Summons execution to the concerned court.

Then on February 13, 2018, the concerned court issued the Warrant of Arrest against Mr. Shahanur Islam and his other two family members. Then on February 22, 2018 Mr. Shahnur Islam voluntarily surrendered before the concerned court and the learned court granted him bail.

It is to be noted that Mr. Shahanur Islam was flying back from Dubai to Dhaka by Emirates Airlines Flight number EK 0582 at the date and time of the alleged offence.

BIHR FINDINGS:

This is not an isolated instance of such kind of legal harassment on lawyers, human rights defenders and bloggers in Bangladesh. It is a very common phenomenon for professionals like lawyers, human rights defenders and bloggers of Bangladesh to face attacks, harassment, ill treatment, death threats from members of political parties, terrorist threats and attacks from law-enforcement agencies and security forces. It is well known that Bangladesh has cultivated one of the leading cultures of impunity to alleged perpetrators of human rights abuses. Instead of improving the country’s human rights record the government of Bangladesh has paved the way to attack the rights of citizens through various means of violations.

RECOMENDATIONS:

1. BIHR strongly urges the authorities to take the issue of legal harassment made against Mr Islam seriously and to fully and immediately investigate this recent incident of legal harassment made against Mr. Shahanur Islam, the result of which must be made public, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the penal sanctions provided by the law;
2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity, safety and well-being of Mr. Shahanur Islam;
3. Put an end to all acts of harassment against Mr. Shahanur Islam as well as against all human rights defenders in Bangladesh;
4. Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments ratified by Bangladesh.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write letters to the relevant authorities to investigate this alleged incident of violence ensuring the security of the Mr. Shahanur Islam and his family. We trust that you will take immediate action regarding this serious matter and look forward to your favorable response.

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid

Preident of People’s Republic of Bangladesh

President’s Office

Bangabhaban, Dhaka

BANGLADESH

Tel: +880 2 9568041-50

Fax: +88-02-9585502 (Secretary)

Email: president@bangabhaban.gov.bd

2. Mrs. Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Office of the Prime Minister

Tejgaon, Dhaka

BANGLADESH

Fax: +880 2 811 3244 / 3243 / 1015 / 1490

Tel: +880 2 882 816 079 / 988 8677

E-mail: pm@pmo.gov.bd or ps1topm@pmo.gov.bd or psecy@pmo.gov.bd

3. Mr.Justice Mahmud Hossain

Chief Justice of Bangladesh

Supreme Court of Bangladesh

Dhaka 1000

BANGLADESH

Fax: +880 2 956 5058 /+880 2 7161344

Tel: +880 2 956 2792

E-mail: chief@bdcom.com or supremec@bdcom.com

4. Mr. Anisul Huq

Minister

Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs

Bangladesh Secretariat ,Dhaka-1000

BANGLADESH

Tel: +880 2 7160627 (O)

Fax: +880 2 7168557 (O)

Email: info@minlaw.gov.bd

5. Mr. Asaduzzaman Khan

Minister

Ministry of Home Affairs

Bangladesh Secretariat,Dhaka-1000

BANGLADESH

Tel: +880 2 7169069 (O)

Fax: +880 2 7160405, 880 2 7164788 (O)

E-mail: minister@mha.gov.bd

6. Kazi Reazul Hoque

Chairman

National Human Rights Commission

10th Floor, Gulfeshan Plaza

BTMC Bhaban (8th Floor)

7-9 Kazi Nazrul Islam Ave, Kawran Bazar,

Dhaka-1215

BANGLADESH

Phone PABX # 88-02-55013726-28

FAX # 88-02-55013725;

E-mail: info@nhrc.org.bd

7. Dr. Mohammad Javed Patwary

Inspector General of Police (IGP)

Bangladesh Police

Police Headquarters

6,Phoenix Road,

Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000

BANGLADESH

Fax: +880 2 956 3362 / 956 3363

Tel: +880 2 956 2054 / +880 2 717 6451 / +880 2 717 6677

E-mail: ig@police.gov.bd

We trust that you will take immediate action regarding this serious matter.

Thank You

Urgent Appeal Desk

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR)

27, Bijoy Nagar, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Cell: +88 017 20308080, email: bihr.bd@gmail.com

www.bihrbd.blogspot.com

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/shahanur-islam

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/bengali/death-threats-11152017155010.html

http://www.ibj.org/programs/justicemakers/fellows/2010-asia-justicemakers-fellows/shahanur-islam-2/

Joint letter of Human Rights Organizations to the UN Secretary-General

 Dear Secretary-General

Since the last days of 2017, the world has witnessed massive and courageous protests by Iranian people throughout the country against the regime ruling Iran and for the liberation and establishment of a democratically elected government.  The world community has supported the demands of the people of Iran for freedom and has condemned the suppressive measures taken by the Iranian regime against its citizens.

Reports indicate that the Revolutionary Guards and the security forces have killed at least 50 people and arrested more than 8,000 people. On January 9, 2018 in a statement, Amnesty International reported that at least five of those who were arrested following an anti-government rally have died in detention centers.

On January 5, 2018 the UN Human Rights experts in Geneva, in a statement, expressed their extreme concern regarding the Iranian regime's approach to demonstrators. “The Government’s instruction to the Revolutionary Guards to hit hard against the protesters, and the judiciary’s threats of harsh punishment, are unacceptable." the experts said.

The “Supreme leader” of the regime, Ali Khamenei, and Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iranian regime, blamed the opposition inside Iran, PMOI/MEK for organizing the demonstrations, and threatened to act severely against them. The Minister of Intelligence threatened with a quick response to the organizers of the uprising.

In 1989, in a short period of time the Iranian regime executed 30,000 political prisoners, based on a religious decree of Khomeini, the regime’s Supreme leader at the time. The authorities in charge of that massacre are still in power in Iran enjoying impunity and involved in the killings of protesters on the streets.

While declaring our support for the demonstrations and the legitimate demands of the brave people in Iran, we urge you to condemn violations of human rights and suppression of the demonstrators in Iran through a Secretary-General’s statement. We also urge you to use your good offices at the United Nations for effective measures to release those arrested during the recent demonstrations, and imposing sanctions on officials and organs involved in killing people in Iran, and exporting terrorism and extremism abroad.

***************************************

Sharif Mostofa Helal, Founder Chairman

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder Secretary General

JusticeMakers Bangladesh, email: jmbangladesh@gmail.com

Advocate Mohamaad Alamgir, Founder President

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder Secretary General

Lawyers for Lawyers Bangladesh, email: ad.mohammadalamgir@gmail.com

Advocate Nazmul Haque Shah Chowdhury, President

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Secretary General

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights, email: bihr.bd@gmail.com, www.bihrbd.blogspot.com

Joint Statement: Appeal to the Egyptian Government - Respect the rights of Egyptian lawyers

 

Joint Statement

JusticeMakers Bangladesh, Lawyers for Lawyers Bangladesh Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights

DAY OF THE ENDANGERED LAWYER – 24 January 2018

Solidarity with Egyptian lawyers

Appeal to the Egyptian Government - Respect the rights of Egyptian lawyers

Egypt is going through the most serious human rights crisis in its history. Every day security forces arbitrarily displace 3 or 4 people (AI Secretary General, 18 Dec. 2016).

In 2018 the focus of all activities concerning the Day of The Endangered Lawyers will entirely focus on Egypt. Today in Egypt, human rights activists, lawyers, and journalists, all have to live with their phone calls being tapped, and with intimidation and threats from the authorities. After the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi the human rights situation has deteriorated dramatically. The government has restricted severely freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. The authorities have taken harsh actions against dissidents, ten thousands have been arbitrarily arrested, and many of them tortured during custody. Security forces that killed demonstrators have not been held accountable. After harsh unfair trials, hundreds of people have received prison or even death sentences. Victims of this persecution include not only alleged members and supporters of the Muslim brotherhood but also any other opponents to the present government, in particular alleged members of left organizations and human rights activists.

DEMANDS:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release and compensate all detained lawyers and other human rights activists; 

2. Immediately drop all charges against these lawyers and other human rights activists, as these prosecutions are clearly aimed at hindering their peaceful human rights activities and put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level against them, and more generally all human rights defenders in Egypt; 

3. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of these lawyers as well as all human rights defenders in Egypt;

4. Comply with all the provisions of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba, 27 August to 7 September 1990, in particular with 

• Art. 16. Governments shall ensure that lawyers ( a ) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; ( b ) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and ( c ) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics. 

• Art.18. Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients' causes as a result of discharging their functions. 

5. Comply with all the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly, in particular with: 

• its Article 1, which provides that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of Human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”; 

• its Article 5(a) : “For the purpose of promoting and protecting Human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels (a) To meet or assemble peacefully” 

• its Article 6(a), which foresees that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to participate in peaceful activities against violations of Human rights and fundamental freedoms” ; its Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration” ; 

6. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Egypt. 

7. Egypt should abide by its March 2015 pledge at the conclusion of its Universal Periodic Review before the United Nations Human Rights Council to “respect the free exercise of the associations defending human rights.” This should include allowing groups to register under a new associations law that parliament should draft following consultation with independent groups, and which should abide by article 75 of the constitution, which protects groups from interference by the government. The law should comply with international standards on freedom of association. 

The Human Rights Council and its member states should condemn the current crackdown in Egypt and demand concrete measures to improve respect for fundamental human rights.

It also requests the European Union to exert pressure upon the Egyptian government by economic sanctions, in particular the discontinuation of arms supply, in order to make it respect human rights. Under no circumstances must there be a refugee agreement similar to that with Turkey because neither Turkey nor Egypt are safe third countries.

=============================================================

Sharif Mostofa Helal, Chairman

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Secretary General

JusticeMakers Bangladesh, email: jmbangladesh@gmail.com

www.justicemakersbd.blogspot.com, https://web.facebook.com/JusticeMakersBangladesh/

Advocate Mohamaad Alamgir, President

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Secretary General

Lawyers for Lawyers Bangladesh, email: ad.mohammadalamgit@gmail.com

https://web.facebook.com/Lawyers-for-Lawyers-Bangladesh-262200420628030/

Advocate Nazmul Haque Shah Chowdhury, President

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Secretary General

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights, email: bihr.bd@gmail.com

www.bihrbd.blogspot.com, https://web.facebook.com/BIHR.BD

সমকামী অধিকার কর্মীকে হত্যার হুমকি

 সমকামীদের অধিকার আদায়ের কর্মী জুলহাস মান্নানের হত্যাকাণ্ডের দেড় বছরের মাথায় এসে

সমকামীদের আরেক কর্মীকে হত্যার হুমকি দিয়েছে সন্দেহভাজন জঙ্গি গোষ্ঠীর সদস্যরা।

গত বৃহস্পতিবার রাত ১২টার দিকে অ্যাডভোকেট শাহানুর ইসলাম সৈকত নামের ওই সমকামী অধিকার কর্মীকে দুই দফায় মোবাইল ফোনে কল করে হত্যার হুমকি দেয় অপরিচিত ব্যক্তিরা।

সৈকত নওগাঁ জেলায় আইন পেশায় ‍যুক্ত। তিনি সমকামীদের মানবাধিকারকর্মী, ব্লগার ও সুইজারল্যান্ডভিত্তিক জাস্টিসমেকার্সের ফেলো (২০১০)।

এর আগে গত অক্টোবরের ১৯ ও ২৩ তারিখে তাঁকে দুবার হত্যার হুমকি দিয়ে ফোন করা হয়। এ ছাড়া ফেসবুকেও একাধিকবার তাঁকে জীবননাশের হুমকি দেওয়া হয়। এরপর তিনি পুলিশের কাছে নিরাপত্তা চেয়ে ২৭ অক্টোবর থানায় সাধারণ ডায়েরি করেন। তবে এখনো এ ঘটনায় জড়িত কাউকে শনাক্ত করতে পারেননি বলে জানিয়েছেন পুলিশ কর্মকর্তারা।

বর্তমানে সৈকত শঙ্কায় রয়েছেন। তিনি বলেন, জঙ্গি গোষ্ঠীরা তাঁকে মোবাইল ফোনে ও ফেসবুকে হুমকি দিচ্ছে।

সমকামী অধিকার কর্মী শাহানুর ইসলাম সৈকত। বেনারনিউজ

ডায়েরিতে সৈকত জানান, ২৩ অক্টোবর বিকেলে যুক্তরাজ্যের কান্ট্রি কোডযুক্ত একটি নম্বর থেকে তাঁর ব্যক্তিগত মোবাইলে ফোন করে এক ব্যক্তি তাঁকে গালমন্দ করে সমকামীদের অধিকারের পক্ষে লেখালেখি বন্ধ করতে বলে। অন্যথায় চিরতরে লেখালেখি বন্ধ করার জন্য পরপারে পাঠিয়ে দেওয়া হবে বলে হুমকি দেয়।

এর আগে ১৯ অক্টোবর সিঙ্গাপুরের কান্ট্রি কোডযুক্ত আরেকটি নম্বর থেকে ফোন করে একই ধরনের হুমকি দেওয়া হয় বলেও সৈকত ডায়রিতে উল্লেখ করেন।

সৈকত তাঁর ডায়রিতে দুটি ফোন নম্বরই উল্লেখ করেছেন।

এছাড়া গত বৃহস্পতিবার রাত ১১টার পরে বাংলাদেশি দুটি নম্বর থেকে তাঁকে হত্যার হুমকি দেওয়া হয় বলে বেনারকে জানান সৈকত। তবে সর্বশেষ ঘটনাটি তিনি পুলিশকে জানাননি।

“আমাকে আবারও জঘন্য ভাষায় গালাগালি করে বলে, আমি নাকি নাস্তিক এবং আমাকে আবারও হত্যার হুমকি দেওয়া হয়েছে। জঙ্গিরা ছাড়া এ কাজ আর কেউ করতে পারে না। আমি খুব ভয়ে আছি। এবারের বিষয়টি পুলিশকে জানাইনি। তাদের জানিয়ে কী হবে? তারা তো ধরবে না,” বেনারকে বলেন সৈকত।

‘প্রযুক্তির অভাবে ধরা যাচ্ছে না’

হুমকিদাতাদের কাউকে শনাক্ত করতে না পারার বিষয়ে নওগাঁ সদর সার্কেলের এএসপি হিমেল রায় বলেন, “অ্যাডভোকেট সাহেব জিডি করেছেন। উনাকে যে নম্বর থেকে হুমকি দেওয়া হয়েছে সেগুলো বাংলাদেশের নয়। এগুলো চিহ্নিত করার প্রযুক্তি জেলা পর্যায়ের পুলিশের কাছে নেই। ঢাকায় আমাদের সাইবার ল্যাব ও ফরেনসিক ল্যাব আছে। ঘটনাটি সেখানে পাঠিয়ে তদন্ত করে বের করার চেষ্টা আছে।”

২০১৬ সালের ২৫ মার্চ জঙ্গি গোষ্ঠী আনসার-আল-ইসলাম বা আনসারুল্লাহ বাংলা টিমের জঙ্গিদের হাতে ঢাকার কলাবাগানের নিজ বাসভবনে মার্কিন দূতাবাসের কর্মকর্তা ও সমকামীদের মানবাধিকার বিষয়ক ম্যাগাজিন রূপবানের সম্পাদক জুলহাস মান্নান ও তার বন্ধু মাহবুব রাব্বী তনয় নৃশংস খুনের শিকার হন। হত্যার আগে তাদের মোবাইল ফোন ও ফেসবুকে হুমকি দেওয়া হয়েছিল।

আনসারুল্লাহ বাংলা টিমের সদস্যরা হত্যাকাণ্ডটি ঘটিয়েছে বলে পুলিশ নিশ্চিত হলেও তারা এর তদন্তকাজ এখনো শেষ করতে পারেনি।

সমকামী ও অন্যান্য যৌন সংখ্যালঘুদের নিয়ে কাজ করা একটি বেসরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠানের একজন সিনিয়র কর্মকর্তা নাম প্রকাশ না করার শর্তে বেনারকে বলেন, জুলহাস মান্নান ও তনয় হত্যার বিচার না হওয়ায় জঙ্গিরা আশকারা পেয়ে গেছে। এখন তাদের লক্ষ্য সমকামীদের অধিকার নিয়ে কথা বলা বাকি ব্যক্তিদের হত্যা করা।

“পুলিশের কাছে গেলে তারা উল্টো আমাদের নিয়ে বাজে মন্তব্য করে। যে কারণে যৌন সংখ্যালঘুরা পুলিশের কাছে যেতে নিরাপদ বোধ করেন না,” জানান ওই কর্মকর্তা।

https://www.benarnews.org/bengali/news/lgbt-11152017125508.html

JMBT Joint Letter: THE IMF'S APPROACH TOWARDS SOCIAL PROTECTION, CHALLENGED BY CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION

The IMF’s approach towards social protection "has been principally oriented around the desire to reduce social protection coverage and contain expenditure, rather than ensuring adequate levels of protection for all". The Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) expressed its deep concerns about these IMF policies and sent a statement to Ms. Christine Lagarde (Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund - IMF) and the Executive Directors of the IMF in order to draw their attention on the issue and in the hope to influence a reconsideration of their position.

Download here the pdf version of the Statement.

25^th of October 2017

Dear Ms. Lagarde,
Dear Executive Directors,

Following the recent publication of the Independent Evaluation Office’s (IEO) evaluation report on ‘The IMF and Social Protection,’ the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPFs) – a global network of over 90 civil society and trade union organisations, representing millions of people worldwide – wishes to express its concerns on the findings of the evaluation report and  the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) approach towards social protection more widely, as it diverges strongly from the internationally-agreed agenda on social protection.

The objective of universal, rights-based, social protection is enshrined in numerous international laws and agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Art 25a), ILO Convention 102 on Social Security and Recommendation 202 on Social Protection Floors, and most recently the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Target 1.3). It is also an agreed objective of the Global Partnership on Universal Social Protection, bringing together the World Bank, ILO, OECD, African Union, IADB, and numerous other international organisations, national governments, lending institutions and civil society organisations to promote the expansion of social protection to all.

Therefore, we are particularly concerned with the report’s affirmation that the IMF’s approach towards social protection has been principally oriented around the desire to reduce social protection coverage and contain expenditure, rather than ensuring adequate levels of protection for all. As regards old-age pensions, for instance, the report explains that the IMF has not been interested in ‘social issues such as the extent of pension coverage in the population or the adequacy of the pension replacement rate’ but rather in ‘macro-critical issues associated with existing pension systems, such as fiscal sustainability and the short-term expenditure burden’. Similarly, the report states that the IMF’s approach towards reforming social protection to strictly target social safety nets to the poorest has been motivated by a desire to ‘provide value for money and be affordable’.

In keeping with the normative framework established in ILO Recommendation 202 (2012) on social protection floors, we affirm that the key objective of social protection is the universal provision of economic and social security through basic guarantees on income and essential social services throughout the life course. While we consider long-term budgetary sustainability to be important in order to safeguard social protection systems for future generations,  a definition of affordability based solely on considerations of fiscal cost and expenditure burdens will only compromise the adequate financing of social protection systems and their effective functioning. Therefore,policies aimed at macroeconomic growth and stability should be consistent with this framework, thereby safeguarding individuals from the myriad risks inherent in market economies.

We also would like to stress that the IMF’s focus on budgetary cost-savings appears to overlook the fact thatadequate, comprehensive and universally accessible social protection has been proven to have important economic benefits. During the financial and economic crisis 2008/2009 evidence showed that social protection served as an important economic stabiliser to create and maintain sustainable market economies through aggregate demand. Moreover, numerous studies confirm the importance of social protection in supporting educational attainment and skill development, and promoting access to quality employment and reducing informal work. Nevertheless, the IMF’s appears to view social protection as merely a cost that must be contained and not an investment in human capital, economic growth and sustainable development.

While the IEO report leaves out any evaluation of whether the IMF’s approach to social protection reform has had any negative impacts on beneficiaries or on national development overall, several studies have highlighted the negative social impacts of the IMF’s policies. The targeting mechanisms promoted by the IMF, usually by proxy means test (PMT), have been shown to typically exclude 50 per cent or more of those that should be eligible by virtue of income level, according to research published by the ILO and Development Pathways[1]. The evidence base clearly shows that PMTs are unfit for purpose where the goal is universal social protection coverage. A recent report[2] from the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and Public Debt has moreover highlighted how IMF programme conditionalities on social protection have contributed to increased poverty and financial insecurity, greater income inequality, higher levels of informality and increased gender inequalities. The reforms have also at times been associated with greater civil and political unrest, as recently demonstrated in Romania and Greece. An approach to social protection that leaves a high proportion of low-income people without any assistance, and which contributes to such negative social and political impacts, must be immediately reconsidered.

We also note with concern that the report affirms that over 70 per cent of the surveyed IMF staff working on social protection reported having minimal to no interaction with the ILO, despite the existence of binding ILO standards in this area as well as the more developed technical expertise of the ILO in this field. While the recommendations of the report suggest that the IMF engage actively in inter-institutional cooperation on social protection and find ways to work constructively with development partners, it also does not specifically call for work with the ILO, who has the principal mandate for addressing this issue. We stress that such joint cooperation would be important going forward.

With regard to the development of a clear strategic framework on social protection, setting out the scope and objectives of the IMF’s involvement, we wish to stress that such a strategic framework must be clearly aligned with the wider international agenda on social protection and the SDGs specifically. As the IMF is committed, within the scope of its mandate, to the global partnership for sustainable development and declares officially that it supports its member countries in the pursuit of the SDGs, it appears unreasonable to embark on a social protection strategy that is counter-productive to the attainment of the SDGs and poverty reduction in general. Moreover, as concerns the financing of social protection, we would encourage the IMF to deepen its role in the eradication of tax fraud and evasion at the national and international levels, and to recommend to member countries abetter implementation of taxation policies, and the introduction of new sources of revenue.

With regard to the recommendation that the IMF provide tailored advice for particular country situations, especially for countries where social protection is judged to be a macro-critical priority, we wish to emphasise again that any advice given by the IMF on social protection must be aligned and clearly coordinated with those international institutions that have greater expertise on social protection and hold a direct mandate to address these issues, in particular the ILO. Furthermore, we stress that the expertise and participation of civil society organizations and trade unions in social protection reforms at the country level is crucial for the success and acceptance of such reforms.

In short, the Global Coalition urges the International Monetary Fund to consider the concerns raised here in developing the IMF strategy on social protection, and to respect the primary mandate of the ILO and other relevant international actors on social protection.

We welcome the IEO report’s recommendation for the IMF’s Executive Board to review its work in this area as an important opportunity for the IMF to change its current approach on social protection and to ensure henceforth that IMF programmes are coherent with the internationally-agreed objective of universal, rights-based social protection, as enshrined in the SDGs and laid-out by the ILO Recommendation 202.

Given the on the ground expertise of our members, we would like to express our availability to assist in the IMF’s development of a new social protection strategy.

Sincerely,

Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors

List of member organisations:

Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) and Global Network Asia
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
Development Research and Training (DRT)
Friends of the Disabled Association (FDA)
Global Social Justice
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary
International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA)
International Presentation Association
JusticeMakers Bangladesh
National Union of Organizations on Intellectual Disability
Phenix Center for Economic & Informatics Studies
Social Watch
Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII)
VIVAT International
World Solidarity – Wereldsolidariteit – Solidarité Mondiale
Dullah Omar Institute, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
International Movement ATD Fourth World
Passionists International
Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR)
Asia-Europe People’s Forum – Secretariat for Asia
International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW)
Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries
Social Justice in Global Development
South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE)
WIEGO
11.11.11
ActionAid International
Advocacy etc.
Consultancy and Training for NGOs
Africa Platform for Social Protection (APSP)
Amel Association International
Association Points Cœur
B.I.R.S.A. Mines Monitoring Centre
Brot für die Welt
Cambodian Women Movement Organisation (CWMO) and Global Network Cambodia
Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC)
Chipembere Community Development Organization
Church of Sweden
CNCD-11.11.11
Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) and Global Network Cambodia
Concern Worldwide
Concern Worldwide UK
Congregation of The Mission
Corporación Solidaridad y Desarrollo – SODEM
Daughters of Charity
Democracy and Workers Rights Centre (DWRC) and Global Network Arab Countries
Development Initiatives
Dominican Leadership Conference
European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN)
Franciscans International
Free Trade Union Development Center
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)
Gambia Future Hands On Disable People
General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU)
HelpAge International
International Alliance of Women (IAW)
International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)
International Disability Alliance (IDA)
International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
International Kolping Society (IKS)
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
Labour and Economic Development Research Institute (LEDRIZ) and Global Network Zimbabwe
Labour and Education Foundation (LEF) and Global Network Pakistan
Labour Education and Research Network (LEARN) and Global Network Asia
Labour Research Service and Global Network Africa
Labour Resource and Research Institute (LARRI) Global Network Namibia
Lanka Net
Loretto Community
Marianists International
Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS)
National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE)
Network for Transformative Social Protection (NTSP)-Asia
NGO Forum for Health
Oxfam
Platform for Social Protection
Programa Laboral de Desarrollo (PLADES) and Global Network Latin America
Proyecto de Derechos Econónimos, Sociales y Culturales (PRODESC)
Psychological Research & Development Council-India (PRDC India)
Salesian Missions
Samadeepa Development Center
Save the Children
Service and Research Institute on Family and Children (SERFAC)
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Solidar
The Grail
Trade Union Right Centre (TURC)
Trickle Up
UK Child Poverty Action Group
UNANIMA International
Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail
Workers Education Association Zambia WEAZ and Global Network Zambia
World Federalist Movement
Youth For Action

Individual members:

Daniel Horn (UK)
Michael Cichon (Germany)

Notes:

[1]  ILO and Development Pathways (2017) Exclusion by design: an assessment of the effectiveness of the proxy means test poverty targeting methodology

[2]  UN Human Rights Council (2017) Report of the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights

TAGS: 

• SOCIAL WATCH NEWS
 
• SOC