Implementing the 2024 AMR Political Declaration: Industry Accountability and Equity in Agrifood Sector Transformation
High-Level Dialogue on AMR, with the support of South Centre
2 July 2025, 12:30 – 16:00 CEST
FAO Headquarters (Rome), Iran Room (B-116 bis)
Excerpt from the Speech by Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere at the Opening Ceremony of the Second Meeting of the Council of Representatives of the South Centre in New York
21st September 1998
“If we in the developing countries are to shape our own destiny, and participate fully in shaping the future and the nature of the world in which we live, we have to have an effective voice. But we will not have that effective voice if we do not work together, at least in some areas of vital concern to all of us. Together we can reduce our separate weaknesses. Acting together we can become stronger; we can gain at least some more influence in the world.”
Book Review: What Do We Know and What Should We Do About Tax Justice
By Abdul Muheet Chowdhary
The book What Do We Know and What Should We Do About Tax Justice, written by Alex Cobham, CEO of the Tax Justice Network, is an excellent summary of the state of knowledge on tax justice and provides a clear direction on what should be the goals of the tax justice movement going forward.
Policy in Practice: Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship Post-COVID-19
Q&A and Commentary
By Dr Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy
This report summarises the key questions and expert commentary for the South Centre, as well as the South Centre Policy Brief on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship and provide practical recommendations discussed during the South Centre webinar on “Strengthening Antimicrobial Stewardship: Policy Insights from COVID-19 and Future Pandemic Preparedness.”
Harnessing Open Account Trade — A Major Enabler for Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries
Can blockchain technology come to the rescue? Will the African Continental Free Trade Area leverage its Digital Trade Protocol?
By Yuefen Li
The current geopolitical landscape has made domestic resource mobilization an even more important imperative for developing countries. In this context, it is more urgent than ever to combat illicit financial flows (IFFs) whose staggering amount from developing countries has outstripped the combined sum of official development assistance (ODA) and foreign direct investment (FDI) going into the developing world. The IFFs from the financial channel is significant, but the greater proportion of IFFs actually stems from trade channels rather than from financial channels. It is particularly concerning that the flexibility and legitimacy of international trade have been exploited to cover IFFs. Trade mis-invoicing is the largest component of IFFs from developing countries. A major reason for trade being used to undertake illicit, fraudulent or criminal activities is because 80%-85% of the more than US$ 24 trillion international trade is conducted via open account trade (OAT), which has minimum scrutiny as it is conducted on a bilateral basis between the importer and exporter, not transparent and with minimal involvement of the financial institutions and customs authorities. OAT payment does not require documents to prove quality, quantity and other information about the product being shipped and is made through automatic payment systems which lack the oversight provided by any third party. OAT gives trade mis-invoicing great ease, flexibility, minimal cost and minimal risk. Therefore, if the world is serious about combatting IFFs, it is urgent and imperative to close loopholes in the OAT for IFFs, making it transparent, trackable and involving third party monitoring and scrutiny. The functionalities and features of Blockchain technology (BCT), though its implementation is still nascent, can be a good candidate to make OAT more modern, transparent to regulators, traceable, more efficient and above all minimize IFFs. The goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)’s Digital Trade Protocol (DTP) include boosting intra-African trade through unifying and harmonizing regulatory framework for Africa’s digital economy and regional trade, promoting cross-border data flows and paperless trade, and enhancing cybersecurity measures. The exploration of Blockchain adoption to reduce OAT’s risks for IFFs and make trade more effective aligns well with DTP’s goals.
ID with the SR on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
South Centre Statement (Item 3)
In its 59th session of the Human Rights Council statement on the Right to Health, the South Centre addressed the Special Rapporteur’s report, focusing on the protection of health and care workers. The statement noted the challenges they face, from migration impacts to poor working conditions, and called for their protection to ensure health equity for all.
Reform of the International Debt Architecture: A Developing Country Perspective on Credit Rating Agencies and Financing for Sustainable Development
FfD4 Side Event Co-Organized by IDEAs and South Centre
2 July 2025, 12:30 – 14:00, Room Side Event 17,
FIBES Sevilla Exhibition & Conference Centre, Seville, Spain
Upholding health equity:
Access to medical products and reproductive rights
Side Event to the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council
23 June 2025
12:00 to 13:00
Room XXVII, Palais de Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
The pursuit of health equity, encompassing fair and just opportunities for all to achieve their full health potential, remains a paramount global challenge. The right to health is a fundamental part of our human rights and of our understanding of a life in dignity. This event will explore the indivisible links between equitable access to medical products, the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and the strengthening of international cooperation as pillars for upholding this fundamental right for everyone, everywhere. The interconnectedness of these themes is central; they are not disparate issues but integral components of a holistic approach necessary to realise comprehensive health equity.
The side event is anticipated to significantly enhance participants’ understanding of the complex, intersecting challenges and opportunities in upholding health equity, particularly through improved access to medical products and the full realization of SRHR. The discussions aim to identify potential policy pathways, innovative approaches, and actionable strategies for key stakeholders to address existing inequities. Furthermore, a crucial outcome will be a reinforced commitment to multilateralism and collaborative action as essential tools for tackling global health challenges and advancing the right to health, with the dialogue contributing valuable insights to ongoing policy debates in relevant international fora, especially concerning the implementation of recent global agreements and agendas, while also strengthening networks and partnerships dedicated to health equity and human rights.
Scope of Compulsory License and Government Use of Patented Medicines
To meet public health needs governments can use compulsory licenses and government use as a tool for procurement and import of patented medicines. These mechanisms are provided for in most laws worldwide. The WTO TRIPS Agreement, as reaffirmed by the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, recognises the right of WTO members to grant compulsory licenses and their freedom to determine the grounds upon which such licenses may be granted.
This table provides information of instances of their use.
Statements at the 25th Meeting of the Council of Representatives of the South Centre
Geneva, 8 May
The Council of Representatives of the South Centre, the highest authority of the organization, met on 8 May 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, with the participation of the Chairman and members of the Centre’s Board and representatives from 36 Members States of the Centre. The Council’s functions include to examine the Centre’s activities, offer advice and recommendations and review the financial situation of the Centre.
This year’s meeting of the Council of Representatives had particular significance as the South Centre celebrates the 30th anniversary from its establishment. A Reception was organized after the Council to celebrate this anniversary.
This document includes the statement made by H.E. Mr. Thabo Mbeki, Chairman of the South Centre Board under agenda item 5 of the meeting “Statement by the Chairman of the Board of the South Centre”, the report made by Dr. Carlos Correa, Executive Director of the South Centre under agenda item 4 “Activities and finances of the South Centre: Report by the Executive Director”, the opening statement and closing remarks made by H.E. Mr. Ajit Kumar, Convenor of the Council of Representatives of the South Centre, and also interventions made by member countries at the meeting under agenda item 8 “General Statements from Representatives”.
South Centre Statement to the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on IP, Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore 51st Session
May 2025
Read our statement on the future of the work by the WIPO Committee on IP, Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, following the conclusion of the WIPO GRATK Treaty. Viable options for an international legal instrument or instrument(s) on TK/TCEs are emerging with greater clarity. A final timeline for conclusion would support the negotiation process, with a date set for a Diplomatic Conference in the next biennium.
Impact of Global Trade Tensions on Developing Countries: How to respond to a reset of the global economic system
By Yuefen Li
The recent unilateral, significant and broad-ranging tariff hikes by the new United States administration have triggered unprecedented trade tension in the world and led to significant downward revisions of the world’s economic and trade growth projections for 2025 and beyond. The main aims of the U.S.’ trade policies are complex and strategic, not only about reducing the trade and fiscal deficits, but also addressing the dollar overvaluation problem, “reconfigur(ing) the global trading and financial systems to America’s benefit”, promoting economic “fairness” and “making America great again”. As what has frequently happened before, the poor countries are disproportionally affected by the negative repercussions of these policies, owing to their financial and capacity constraints and weaknesses to absorb the impact. This short paper analyses through which channels and to what degree trade tension would introduce economic, financial and political stability risks for developing countries, particularly in financially distressed developing countries. A few policy recommendations are also briefly mentioned.
