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Introduction:
The roadmap for achieving sustainable development was adopted ten years ago at the Rio Summit (1992) where heads of state and government signed Agenda 21, a blue print that provides an action plan to move towards sustainable development. Ten years have now passed and yet there is still much ground to be covered by all nations. To date the world, especially Africa, is still confronted with serious environmental, political, social and economic crises. 

Some critics have seen the past decade as a decade of broken promises. Instead of human beings being at the centre of development, we have a world dominated by the search for more profits, by corporate greed, and by unmerciful and unforgiving markets. The majority of people’s livelihoods have become less and less sustainable.

Instead of poverty eradication, poverty is on the rise worldwide. This is true in both rich, developing and poor countries. The resurgence of diseases of poverty like TB, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic, are sucking more and more people into the spiral of poverty. 

Instead of reducing disparities in living standards, we see an ever-widening gap in incomes and living standards. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It has been argued that about 10% of Swaziland’s population occupies and controls 60% of the country’s natural resources. This means that 90% of the population share among themselves 40% of the resources. 

Instead of restoring the integrity of the earth’s ecosystem, we stand on the brink of an environmental catastrophe. Global warming is on the rise, weather patterns are becoming increasingly unpredictable, and we have famine in the midst of plenty. Poor communities are paying the price of an unrestrained abuse of nature and the environment by the rich and powerful.

Instead of the inclusion of citizens in making vital decisions about development choices, and about the environment, the elites of the world have increasingly taken it upon themselves to decide the fate of humanity. The economic policies of many countries are decided outside the country’s borders and parliaments, and decisions about the future of the biosphere are now left to the boardrooms of the major corporations. 

Instead of the full participation of women in sustainable development, women increasingly make up the majority of the world’s poor. Physical and sexual violence against women has become a pandemic, and the dream of full participation recedes with every setting sun. 

Instead of honoring and celebrating the idealism, courage and creativity of the youth, we have the marginalisation of the young, and the impoverishment of their bodies and spirits through rising youth unemployment. 

Instead of respect and appreciation for the knowledge of indigenous people, we have a wholesale expropriation of their knowledge and dispossession of their lands.

Instead of peace and the end to wars, we now stand on the brink of another arms race. New enemies have been conjured up to fuel the machinery of war.  Corporate elites incite and tempt governments to rearm, even at the expense of development and the environment.

Instead of co-operation between peoples and governments, we have predatory trade, bondage through debt, new forms of slavery, a rise in racism, new colonialism and wars. 

Ten years after Rio, we stand further and further away from the promise of sustainable development. The Johannesburg Summit was therefore expected to bridge the implementation gap through proposals for concrete actions. As an objective, the summit was expected to reinvigorate political commitments to sustainable development. 

Participation by all stakeholders, citizens and governments alike is paramount in the quest to achieve sustainable development. Civil society and governments globally have been engaged in preparatory consultative processes with various stakeholders as part of their preparations for the WSSD. Yonge Nawe as one of the major groups has been making her contribution to sustainable development within the country’s civil society by promulgating practices that will help the sustainable development goal become a reality. In this regard Yonge Nawe hosted two forums with legislators and civil society representatives, respectively to discuss sustainable development in the context of Swaziland; exchange information and knowledge on what sustainable development means for the Kingdom. Discussions were held on how the positive sustainable development initiatives in the country could be enhanced, turning around the negatives and, filling any existing gaps. The forums were convened as part of the civil society preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002. 

In addition to the above, Yonge Nawe ran a weekly column in the Times of Swaziland where she discussed topical issues around sustainable development as they relate to Swaziland. These issues are available on Yonge Nawe’s website www.yongenawe.com. 

SWAZILAND ISSUES BEFORE THE WSSD

The following issues were identified as critical for Swaziland in the two forums Yonge Nawe hosted. 

A. CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM TOWARDS WSSD
The forum was convened on 8 August 2002 at the Royal Swazi Sun Hotel and was attended by about 41 civil society representatives. Below are the issues raised at the civil society forum, which they perceived critical in achieving sustainable development in the context of Swaziland.

HEALTH:

• HIV/AIDS
• TB, Cholera (diseases)
• Malaria
• Poverty
• Lack of equal distribution of resources

• Inequality in decision-making, opportunities, employment
• Lack of access and ownership to productive resources

• Lack of political will in NDS –(ESRA, Millennium projects) in terms of stimulating meaningful development
• Lack of transparency
• Lack of accountability
• Lack of broad participation

• Emphasis on FDIs at expense of people’s health and environment. (FDIs investment in sugar and forestry businesses compromising food security)

• Sustainable use of natural resources
• Integration of environmental issues into development policies, programmes and projects

• Inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream economy, social, environmental spheres

• Need to institute policies and programmes that are sensitive to the needs of the Youth, children, elderly, women and orphans.

• Awareness raising initiatives to be strengthened 
• Demystification of information
• Localising global knowledge "Think globally, act locally"

• Need for Fair and not free trade
• Need to "level the play ground"
• External conditionalities and their impact on civil society development programmes, partnerships and access to external resources

• Lack of civil society participation
• Understand NEPAD and understand the process
• Information dissemination on NEPAD

B. PARLIAMENTARIAN FORUM
The forum was convened on 25 July 2002 at the Ezulwini Sun Hotel and was attended by 25 Parliamentarians. 

FORUM 

•  Was seen as a learning experience for legislators for WSSD and sustainable development

• Continuity on the role of legislators in sustainable development? (present and future)JHB and beyond
• How realistic is sustainable development in the light of increased poverty and HIV/AIDS and scarcity of resources?
• Involvement of legislators in convention processes and localisation of conventions
• Transparency in development initiatives
• Social equity
• Non implementation of environmental Bill

WATER AND SANITATION:

• Governments agreed to halve the number of people lacking clean drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015
• Civil Society delegates recommended the following as the way forward:
• That all states should classify water and sanitation as basic human commodities which should never be turned into commercial products
• That water management plans should be integrated into national sustainable development programmes
• That there should be increased involvement and participation of society, especially women in decision-making around water related issues
• That national, regional and international networks should be formed to protect water

• Governments agreed to half poverty by 2015 and push for effective mechanisms to deal with poverty reduction.
• Civil Society delegates recommended the following as the way forward:
• That countries should implement the “Millennium Development Projects” which are hoping to reduce the amount of poor people on the globe by 2015
• That countries should put in place sustainable agricultural measures in rural areas
• That gender issues should be considered in implementing measures to alleviate poverty
• That governments should make readily available drugs that combat deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB, and other water borne epidemics 
• That governments should devise systems for monitoring and evaluation of development projects

• Governments agreed to tackle action but failed to come up with targets
• The summit did not kick start a renewable energy revolution as expected

• Russia agreed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and that can result in the reduction of green house emission to curb global warming
• US refused to ratify
• US is the threat to global warming

• Governments agreed to cut significantly the rate at which rare animals and plants are becoming extinct by 2010
• No specific targets made
• Need to uphold traditional knowledge and traditional seeds, medicines
• property rights 
• Access and ownership to natural resources and biodiversity

• No binding targets reached
• Rich countries to reach voluntary agreements by 1st January 2005
• No targets on corporate accountability
• Civil society against privatization of basic services i.e. water, electricity

• Governments emphasized the need to fight corruption, provide democracy and the rule of law
• Civil society calls for broad based participation in policy formation, decision-making and implementation at all levels

• Access to health care must be consistent with basic human rights and “cultural and religious” values
• Civil society calls for free medicines for HIV/AIDS patients
• Natural and international interventions with increased funding and implementation of programmes. (HIV/AIDS, Cholera, Malaria, TB)

However, unlike the Green Campaigners, the UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan was content that the summit firmly put sustainable development on the world agenda.  Nevertheless the Johannesburg plan of action commits nations to halve the number of people without access to clean water and sanitation by 2015 and resolves to reduce the loss of biodiversity by 2010. 

We are back from the summit, and then what next? What are our issues and how do we move forward? The Johannesburg plan of action is just but a broad framework, which we should adopt according to our circumstances. The bottom line is we need to take practical action if we are to meet the target we committed ourselves to. Halving the number of people without access to clean water and sanitation by 2015 and to reduce the loss of biodiversity by 2010 seems to be far. But remember we are confronted by serious epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, hunger and poverty that continue to wreck havoc in the kingdom. Yonge Nawe will be facilitating the development of an implementation framework that will guide civil society initiatives beyond 2002.

WSSD Global People's Forum Civil Society Declaration
24 August - 3 September 2002

A Sustainable World Is Possible
We, the delegates to the Global People's Forum, representing the people of the world, meeting at Nasrec, Johannesburg, from 24 August to 3 September 2002, hereby submit the following declaration which pronounces our convictions, commitment and call for renewed action towards the attainment of the ideals of sustainable development. We are the major social groups named in Agenda 21 including, women, youth, labour, indigenous peoples, farmers, NGOs, and others including, disabled people, the elderly, faith-based organizations, peoples of African descent, social movements, people under foreign occupation and other under-represented groups. 

As the key agents of social change and sustainable development, we are determined to take leadership for our future with utmost seriousness. We will advance our cause through networks and alliances of people's organisations and in solidarity with impoverished, marginalized and subjugated people the world over, based on the principle of oneness of humankind.

Ten years ago at the Rio Earth Summit, we agreed that the protection of the environment, and the promotion of social and economic development are crucial pillars of sustainable development. However, we note the fact that after ten years of the Rio Summit, there is visible lack of progress in the implementation processes from all of us and in particular our Governments. This can be exemplified by the growing gap between the North and the South, and the ever-growing social-economic disparity between the rich and the poor, with particular impact on the people of African descent and the ongoing degradation of natural resources.

The vision that drew us to Rio and to Johannesburg continues to guide our efforts, values and convictions. The Earth and all its integrated, diverse and interdependent life support systems must be sustained, and its regenerative powers guaranteed for the present and all future generations. 

We note the urgency and the magnitude of the problems that confront humanity and nature in the world that compels us to act with speed and urgency. We call on all governments to fulfil commitments made in Rio and Johannesburg. The period of empty promises and lack of seriousness should be challenged side by side with actions and campaigns to ensure the full involvement of civil society in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Program of Action of Rio and all the other UN Conferences, including Johannesburg. 

We believe that civil society organisations have got a vital role to play in the advancement of the ideals of sustainable development. The definition of civil society includes, the major groups defined in Agenda 21, formal and informal community-based organizations, NGOs that work with and represent the poor and NGOs that work with and represent peoples who are victims of racism. Organizations of civil society have a central role to play in the translation of the Rio Principles and Agenda 21 into concrete programs, projects and implementation strategies for sustainable development.

We affirm that solidarity and partnerships for sustainable development are those entered into on the basis of clearly defined human needs and related goals, objectives and actions for the elimination of poverty and the enhancement and restoration of the physical, social, and universal spiritual environment. Partnerships for sustainable development are those entered into on the basis of mutual respect, trust, transparency, joint-decision-making, accountability and a shared vision of a healthy environment.

CORE ISSUES

SOCIAL
1. EQUALITY
We reaffirm the equality of all people, with special attention to historically disadvantaged groups such as Indigenous Peoples, Women, Youth, Workers, the Disabled People and People of African descent their inalienable right to meaningful participation in sustainable development policy formulation, design, program and project planning, decision-making and implementation processes. Such participation must reflect an agenda for development that is set by the community at risk with a view to empowerment.

2. HUMAN RIGHTS 
We demand that International conventions, including ILO conventions, UN conventions on economic, social, political, civil and cultural rights (provided that they confirm with international human rights standards and MEAs) and MEAs must be respected and enforced by all states, including the rich and powerful.

We affirm the rights of Indigenous Peoples and call for the rights of refugees to be acknowledged. Every person must have the right to income, food and social security. Persons affected with HIV/AIDS and other debilitating illness must not be discriminated against.

We believe that all peoples have the right to land, jobs and access to resources for development in addition to basic services such as water and sanitation, preventive, promotive and curative health care (including occupational health and safety), education, housing, energy, equality of opportunity and freedom from racism, tribalism, apartheid, religious fanaticism and all other forms discrimination. We support the right of access to information and the right to freedom of choice. We believe those to be cornerstones of sustainable development and life itself. 

ECONOMIC
1. FAIR TRADE
We advocate FAIR TRADE because the current 'free trade' system is far from free and not fair. Fair Trade reaffirms the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility. Fair Trade also reinforces and supports the right of developing countries to protect their own industries and natural resources against outside externalities including currency fluctuations and such as imposed by the WTO and other global institutions.

2. REDISTRIBUTION
We believe that the resources of the world can still be and should be shared among all the people of the planet without creating pockets of wealth amidst seas of poverty and hunger. It is a principle, which obliges the rich countries to reducing their excessive consumption of the world resources and to sharing their incomes in the interests of the present and future generations. Relevant countries must also agree to adequately address reparations.

3. CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY
We believe that legally binding global rules and obligations to regulate corporations especially Multi-nationals, must be developed and implemented, especially in critical areas of economic, social and environmental concerns. 

4. DEBT ERADICATION
We believe that multinationals and governments who have benefited from the exploitation of the human and natural resources in under-developed and developing countries are morally bound to repay the economic, social and ecological debt that has been accumulated as a result. We further believe that current debt servicing and repayment arrangements remain major impediments to sustainable development in many countries of the South. We insist on debt cancellation, reparations and the revision of existing conditionalities associated with current and future debt obligations, to reflect the principles and guidelines of Agenda 21. 

5. ANTI-PRIVITISATION
We believe that natural resources and basic services must be held in the public domain for the common good of all people. These include the provision of water and sanitation, health care, education and housing. If sectors are considered for privatisation for reasons of efficiency then we must adopt a humanitarian privatisation approach. We must also address the question of inequalities in access to resources between urban and rural communities.

POLITICAL

1. TRANSPARENCY
We believe that that there must be prior notice, consultation and participation and public disclosure on all transactions and agreements affecting the lives of the people in communities at risk. These include government - government and government - business transactions, and is especially so where resources for sustainable development are involved and administered by the United Nations and other multilateral and bilateral agencies. Of special importance are issues of the military and trade agreements. 

2. SOVEREIGNTY
We believe that the right to self-determination, respect for human rights and the principles of human and environmental security and justice should be the root of all political, economic and environmental agreements and interventions. 

3. PARTICIPATION
We believe that people must be involved in the design of plans and strategies for their development and engagement in decision-making processes at the local, national, regional and international levels on social, economic and physical planning as well as resource mobilization and allocation. We call for the inclusion of all major and organised groups to be involved in all areas of the United Nations. We call for the commitments to support the realization of the positive change in the lives of children.

4. MILITARISM
We advocate that the current spending on wars further entrenches conflicts and decreases the chances of sustainable development. We believe that peace-making and building processes and mechanisms should include organizations of civil society that work with and represent the communities at risk and should address economic injustices that often lie at the root of conflict. At the same time, peace with justice should be promoted and entrenched as part of the process of sustainable development. The massive spending on armament and war must be diverted to sustainable development initiatives and attacks to gain access to resources must be declared as a crime on humanity.

ENVIRONMENT
1. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
We believe that all communities and peoples must have control over biological resources as well as their rights to direct all development, including in agriculture and aquaculture, towards models that are ecologically and socio-culturally sensitive, and which conserve or enhance biodiversity and biodiversity-based livelihoods. Natural resource management is central to sustainable development. Traditional and indigenous knowledge systems developed over the ages should be recognised as legitimate. Climate change is an important issue for all countries as the impact is global, we call for the remaining countries to ratify the KYOTO protocol.

2. GENETIC ENGINEERING
We categorically reject the use of genetic engineering until the specified uses are proven safe. We believe in accordance with the Precautionary Principle, governments must ensure a GE free environment in our countries and in farming systems and support our efforts to raise awareness amongst farmers and consumers about real and potential impact of GE to the environment and to human health. 

3. MARINE, INLAND FISHERIES AND COASTS
We believe that current systems of unequal ownership, access to and use of marine and coastal resources should be transformed into systems based on sustainable and equitable use with direct benefit to the local communities at risk according to clear timelines for the conversion.

4. RENEWABLE ENERGY
We believe that fossil fuel continues to contribute towards climate change, which is felt most heavily by poor people. We call for the phasing out of the fossil fuel industry and the promotion of the use of renewable forms of energy according to clear timelines for the conversion. We call for the phasing out of nuclear reactors.