In the Americas, annual debt payments exceed new financial inflows creating an immoral drain on poor countries' resources. The illegitimate debts of the developing countries of the Americas must be annulled. These include debts that cannot be serviced without causing harm to people and communities, debt incurred by illegitimate debtors, debts incurred for illegitimate uses and debts incurred with illegitimate terms. Gives governments the right to control their development. These programs which include trade liberalization, exacerbate inequalities as their austerity measures fall disproportionately on the poor, especially women.
SAPs involve an unacceptable intervention in the affairs of sovereign states.
These programs must be eliminated, and the power of the institutions that promote them must be dramatically reduced. Gives citizens broad-based access to the process. Citizens must have direct access to the design and implementation of economic integration agreements. Governments must submit economic integration agreements to democratic consultations in each of the countries involved. Citizens of the Americas need to know what is being negotiated so that there can be real public debate on policies that will directly affect all of us.