Since its inception, IT for Change has always taken a stand on issues pertinent to its core values and beliefs. This page highlights the most recent of our endorsements in some key areas:
1) Civil Society Open letter to Governments in the 16 RCEP Countries:Take the message from the TPP, RCEP must be rejected
IT for Change endorses the open letter, by civil society organization, addressed to the governments of the 16 countries that are negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnerhship (RCEP), a proposed trade treaty. The letters calls upon the governments to reject some key problematic elements that are being sought to be imported into the RCEP from Trans Pacific Partnership Treaty. A host of these elements concern digital governance issues.
“This is an urgent call by civil society organizations across the Asian and Pacific countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes the 10 ASEAN Member States with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. This letter comes at a very important...” Read more
2) UID not be mandatory for welfare and social sector programmes
On 16th Nov 2016, IT for Change along with 26 other citizen groups, social movements, campaigns and civil society organizations came together at a consultation lead by Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, the Research Collective, PSA and the Public Finance Public Accountability Collective to discuss and share stories, experiences and studies on the negative impact of mandatory use of aadhaar in welfare delivery on the rights of the poor and marginalized and develop an action plan to address this situation.
“The coercive and mandatory use of aadhaar in welfare delivery is causing unprecedented havoc,exclusion, and harassment to the most vulnerable citizens from accessing their legal entitlements to welfare and social support. In blatant violation of the orders of the Supreme Court,..” Read more
3) Statement in support of Julian Assange to Swedish and UK governments
Before the 31st United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, 500 human rights organizations, law professors, former UN office holders, and high-profile rights defenders including four Nobel Peace Prize winners urged the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom to respect the United Nations’ decision to free Julian Assange. The statement was delivered to the Swedish and UK Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in Geneva.
“We, the signers of this statement, which include human rights and pro-democracy organizations, intellectuals and public officers, condemn the reactions of the governments of Sweden and the UK to the judgment of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which concluded that Julian Assange’s detention is unjust. The governments of Sweden and the UK are setting a dangerous precedent, that weakens the United Nations system in its totality...” Read more
4) Asia Pacific peoples urge governments: Do not Sign the TPP
The Asia Pacific peoples movements and civil society organizations representing various groups and constituencies from all over Asia Pacific called on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) -member governments to not sign the deal on February 4 in New Zealand. More than 100 regional and national organizations from the region signed a letter explaining that the TPP was not created in the peoples interest.
“On February 4, New Zealand will host the historic signing of the Transpacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) amidst widespread people’s protests against the deal. All members of the TPP, which include United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, are expected to come to the signing of the trade deal…” Read more
5) An open letter to the leaders of the world’s governments SIGNED by organizations, companies, and individuals demanding a secure internet
Access Now has collaborated with organizations, companies, and experts from around the world to launch — an open letter to world leaders asking for them to support encryption and to avoid mandates that would undermine the security of users and companies (see securetheinternet.org).
The letter signed by 195 organizations, individuals, trade associations, and companies, represents a global effort to advance digital security.
“We encourage you to support the safety and security of users, companies, and governments by strengthening the integrity of communications and systems. In doing so, governments should reject laws, policies, or other mandates or practices, including secret agreements with companies, that limit access to or undermine encryption and other secure communications tools and technologies...” Read more
6) Open letter to Prime Minister on MGNREGA
Over 65 Citizens including academics urge the Modi government to release budgetary commitments for NREGA.
“Dear Mr Jaitley,
This is a submission to be handed over to you at the pre-budget consultation on the social sector on January 12, 2016, sent through invited members of citizen groups.
While the continuing trend of meagre and slashed budget allocations for the entire social sector is a reason for alarm, we write to you today regarding an immediate and urgent concern regarding the budgetary allocations and disbursement of funds for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the current financial year...” Read more
7) People's Group Reject RCEP
IT for Change participated in and co-organized the South India Workshop on Understanding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and its Implications along with Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), La via Campesina, Forum Against FTA's and other local groups in Bangalore on 2nd and 3rd April, 2017.
The meeting discussed the adverse implications of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on the Global South across sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, essential services including access to medicines, financial services and the digital economy. This meeting comes at a crucial point in time since the Indian Government prepares to host the 19th round of RCEP negotiations in Hyderabad in July this year.
Find the press statement released by the group on 4 April, 2017. Read more.
8) Indian Feminists Statement for CSW 61
In March 2017, IT for Change joined 29 other citizens and civil society organisations to endorse the Indian Feminists’ Statement for Committee on the Status of Women 61. The statement recognises prevalent factors responsible for women’s disempowered condition in the Indian context. It demands that unpaid work and care work undertaken by women is recognised, reduced and redistributed to create a more equitable and inclusive environment for women. Read more.
9) Remove regressive provisions from proposed RTI rules
On May 3, 2017, IT for Change signed the petition for removal of regressive provisions from proposed Right to Information rules. The petition that has garnered more than 1,30,000 votes, has been filed to protect the appellants so that they can exercise their right without any threat to life and to demand the implementation of Whistle Blowers Protection Act. Read more.