<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">From: <b class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Laura Michéle</b> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:michele@fian.org">michele@fian.org</a>></span><br></div><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d" lang="EN-US">Please find below the press release on an open letter signed by 240 CSOs and 40 networks denouncing the recent WEF-UN strategic partnership agreement. We appreciate your support in publishing and
further disseminating the press release so that we raise awareness and build the necessary public pressure on the issue.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black" lang="EN-US">HOW CAN YOU HELP?<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="m_-1616049120696207657MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US"><span>1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US">Publish the press release below on your website, social media and any other outlet available to you.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="m_-1616049120696207657MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US"><span>2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US">Like and share our posts on this issue: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FIAN.International/posts/10156934813178992?notif_id=1569496431585514¬if_t=page_post_reaction" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US">Facebook</span></a><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US">
and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/FIANista/status/1177176166198849536" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US">Twitter</span></a><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US">.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="m_-1616049120696207657MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US"><span>3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US">Share this email through your networks.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="m_-1616049120696207657MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US"><span>4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US">Endorse the letter address to the Secretary-General of the UN
</span><a href="https://www.cognitoforms.com/MultistakeholderismActionGroup/CorporateCaptureOfGlobalGovernanceTheWorldEconomicForumWEFUNPartnershipAgreementIsADangerousThreatToUN?fbclid=IwAR0jaqd3fdz2Nl3ndlSl-fbR1mlMwMESKTDX5SlwtN-kwY3eLfQAFq71ujM" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US">here</span></a><span style="color:red" lang="EN-US">.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt" lang="EN-US">Press Release<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt" lang="EN-US">26.09.2019<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<h1 style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:25.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";color:#63b345;letter-spacing:-.25pt;font-weight:normal" lang="EN-US">Hundreds of Civil Society Organizations Worldwide Denounce
World Economic Forum´s Takeover of the UN<u></u><u></u></span></h1>
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<i><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro"" lang="EN-US">The call, made in an open letter, denounces attempts to ‘delegitimiz[ing] the United Nations and weaken(ing) the role of states in global decision-making.<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
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<span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";color:#2f2f2f" lang="EN-US">240 civil society organizations and 40 international networks have called on the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General to end the recently signed UN’s </span><a href="https://weforum.ent.box.com/s/dj7x7z2fjxrox49farw5dfxfa1hfqw3h" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#00996e;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm" lang="EN-US">Strategic
Partnership Agreement</span></b></a><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";color:#2f2f2f" lang="EN-US"> with the World Economic Forum (WEF). The call, made in an open letter, condemned the agreement for ‘delegitimiz[ing] the United Nations
and weaken(ing) the role of states in global decision-making.<br>
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Signed in June, the agreement promises to “accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” by deepening institutional coordination and collaboration between the UN and the WEF. Furthermore, the agreement grants transnational corporations
preferential and deferential access to the UN System at the expense of States and public interest actors.<br>
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This “preferential access,” would undermine the mandate of the UN as well as its independence, impartiality, and effectiveness when holding businesses to account. “This agreement between the UN and WEF formalises a disturbing corporate capture of the UN. It
moves the world dangerously towards a privatized and undemocratic global governance” said Gonzalo Berrón of Transnational Institute in presenting the letter.<br>
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Although corporate meddling is not unheard of in the UN system, under the new terms of the UN-WEF partnership, the UN will be permanently associated with transnational corporations. In the long-term, this would allow corporate leaders to become ‘whisper advisors’
to the heads of UN system departments.<br>
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The UN system is already under a significant threat from the US Government and those who question a democratic multilateral world. Additionally, this ongoing corporatization will reduce public support for the UN system in the South and the North, leaving the
system, as a whole, even more vulnerable.<br>
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To prevent a complete downfall, the UN must adopt effective mechanisms that prevent conflicts of interest consistently. Moreover, it should strengthen peoples and communities which are the real human rights holders, while at the same time build a stronger,
independent, and democratic international governance system.<br>
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According to Sofia Monsalve, FIAN International Secretary-General “Any policy on this subject should bear in mind the different roles of private interest and of rights-holders that look after common goods and benefits.”<br>
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In this regard, all the organizations and movements endorsing the letter, pledge to continue fighting against the privatization of democracy in the world.<br>
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Notes:<br>
• The full letter and signatures can be found in </span><a href="https://www.cognitoforms.com/MultistakeholderismActionGroup/CorporateCaptureOfGlobalGovernanceTheWorldEconomicForumWEFUNPartnershipAgreementIsADangerousThreatToUN?fbclid=IwAR0jaqd3fdz2Nl3ndlSl-fbR1mlMwMESKTDX5SlwtN-kwY3eLfQAFq71ujM" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#00996e;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm" lang="EN-US">English</span></b></a><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";color:#2f2f2f" lang="EN-US">, </span><a href="https://www.cognitoforms.com/MultistakeholderismActionGroup/CapturaCorporativaDeLaGobernanzaGlobalElAcuerdoConElForoEcon%C3%B3micoMundialWEFEsUnaPeligrosaAmenazaParaEl" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#00996e;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm" lang="EN-US">Spanish</span></b></a><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";color:#2f2f2f" lang="EN-US"> and </span><a href="https://www.cognitoforms.com/MultistakeholderismActionGroup/LaGouvernanceGlobaleSousLempriseDesEntreprisesLaccordDePartenariatEntreLeForum%C3%89conomiqueMondialFEMEtL" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#00996e;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm" lang="EN-US">French.</span></b></a><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";color:#2f2f2f" lang="EN-US"><br>
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