{"id":34678,"date":"2022-02-08T18:28:59","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T18:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conectas.org\/?post_type=noticia&p=34678"},"modified":"2022-02-11T15:06:43","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T15:06:43","slug":"guide-shows-how-civil-society-can-influence-the-oecd-accession-process","status":"publish","type":"noticia","link":"https:\/\/conectas.org\/en\/noticias\/guide-shows-how-civil-society-can-influence-the-oecd-accession-process\/","title":"Guide shows how civil society can influence the OECD accession process","content":"

Civil society organizations have launched a guide showing the possible ways for organizations to influence the process for countries to accede to the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), by giving visibility to the human rights and social and environmental rights agendas. The guide can be downloaded at this <\/span>link<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201cCivil society guide to influencing the OECD accession process\u201d was produced by OECD Watch, Conectas and FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights). The guide will be launched shortly after the <\/span>OECD announces that it will start discussions for the accession<\/span><\/a> of Brazil and another five countries. <\/span><\/p>\n

OECD accession process<\/b><\/h2>\n

The document separates the process into three parts: pre-accession, accession and post-accession. It also highlights the key leverage moments in each stage. The first part consists of a political debate about whether a candidate country will be invited to start the accession process. These debates occur behind closed doors and are highly political, which is why civil society has little influence in this stage of the process. <\/span><\/p>\n

The second part \u2013 accession \u2013 is the stage in which Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia have recently embarked. At this point, civil society can participate by sending letters to policy-makers, holding press events and requesting permission from the OECD to attend and be part of any accession launch event.<\/span><\/p>\n

At this stage, committees begin a technical review of compliance by candidate countries with OECD instruments, standards and values. The committees frequently ask States to make major reforms to be considered ready for accession.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, in the post-accession stage, if any committee establishes post-entry requirements for the candidate country, the new member must observe them and report back to the committee. Civil society can participate in this stage by tracking the State\u2019s progress on these requirements and also by suggesting measures that the new member should take to bring itself into alignment.<\/span><\/p>\n

The guide can help civil society understand the OECD accession process and influence the OECD member states and committees to demand reforms that strengthen the protection of the environment and human rights in candidate countries. <\/span><\/p>\n

The OECD is an intergovernmental organization focused on promoting free trade and open markets around the world. It is currently formed by 36 countries. The organization assists in the development of its member countries and promotes actions aimed at financial stability and the improvement of social indicators.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, the OECD has attached great value to the \u201cpreservation of nature and the like\u201d by its member states, which suggests a possible change in the accession process that has traditionally been focused on the mere liberalization of investment markets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Candidate countries wishing to join the OECD must prove themselves \u201cwilling, prepared and able to adopt OECD practices, policies and standards\u201d across a wide range of governance areas. <\/span><\/p>\n

Social and environmental commitments <\/b><\/h2>\n

Although entry into the OECD has been one of the main platforms of the Bolsonaro government\u2019s foreign policy, the country has not complied with a number of requests made by the organization, including problems on the environmental, social and climate agenda. In July 2021, the <\/span>OECD\u2019s own Environmental Policy Committee published a report<\/span><\/a>, translated into Portuguese by Conectas, which shows the extent of Brazil\u2019s alignment with some of its legal instruments. Following the announcement of the start of the accession process, this report could serve as a basis for the assessment of Brazil\u2019s candidacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more:<\/b><\/p>\n