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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
What are the NGO Treaties?
The Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) produced many documents during UNCED, such as declarations and statements from the different sectors including Women and Youth. One of these efforts resulted in the NGOs Treaties, 39 alternative treaties challenging the existing models and practices of development.
Although some treaties are sector specific, each treaty reflects views from the North and South as well as all sectors of civil society. Some of the issues covered in the treaties are: over-consumption, population, ecological refugees, the debt burden and militarism - all issues that were avoided in the official UNCED process or addressed superficially.
The NGO treaties are documents which were drafted during the Global Forum in Rio as an alternative to the agreements being drafted by the governments. They are a reflection of what civil society wants as a response to the issues being debated at UNCED. The treaties went much further by addressing issues that were not even mentioned in Agenda 21. They were coordinated and drafted by people from different sectors, North/South, representing many different organizations. Each treaty presents a specific environmental or socio-economic issue, followed by principles, a plan of action, and commitments that people can adapt in their search for solutions. People chose those treaties that they wanted to support and "signed" onto them.
The treaties are open documents, you can still sign on and participate! They are documents aimed at strengthening cooperation among groups. If there is an issue that you are interested in working on, a relevant treaty can serve as a tool to organize support and action.
The treaties are based on ideas that stress the importance of respect for others, that challenge the present development model, and that recognize the need for changing values, and empowering people.
The following is the Youth Treaty that was drafted in Rio by youth from around the world and many different organizations: