The original Debt Campaign was in 2005 subsumed by MAKE POVERTY HISTORY, the legacy of which is not yet clear; local and regional groups may continue or revert to the previous situation. One thing is certain - the Debt Campaign itself will go on until it succeeds.
The campaign aims to get the burden of debt on the world's poorest countries lifted. The debt was acquired long ago and crippling interest is being paid by people who saw no benefit; this is still true,despite the progress made. ( By December 2005 the debt of 18 countries had been cancelled; 10 more were in progress, with further work planned for 2006. We want a clean sweep, but see what you can do, if you keep plugging away!) Peter Linsey is the Executive Secretary of the Chester Group - email address: plinsey@fish.co.uk
One of Jubilee's January 2005 events illustrates the part it played in MAKE POVERTY HISTORY.
Campaign Aims
- 1. Speeding up the HIPC process and reforming Structural Adjustment Programmes.
- 2. The creation of a just and transparent system of providing loans and repayments. ( Jubilee Plus will be able to advise on this and other technical and economic policy matters.
- 3. The inclusion of poor countries such as Bangladesh, Peru, Philippines, Jamaica, Nigeria, Haiti.
- 4. The inclusion of "intermediate" countries which were originally ruled out. Conditions change, and the system ought to be flexible: see item (2) above.
Objectives
- Keep up the pressure on decision makers;
- make public our continued commitment;
- keep debt as the primary focus of the coalition, the single focus having made the campaign effective;
- review the continuation of our campaign in the light of the situation.
Jubilee Debt Campaign Background page