Privatisation

Last November, the National Assembly of Slovenia passed an amendment to its Constitution to include a new article that recognizes the Human Right to Water. The amendment affirms water should be treated as a public good managed by the state, not as a commodity, and that drinking water must be supplied by the public sector on a not-for-profit basis.

The World Bank highlights its “Economics of Education” as a responsible approach toward meeting “excess demand” for education in developing countries. This approach serves to justify the World Bank’s penchant for privatization of public education.

An overview of global trends in privatization of public services. Privatization Watch - Issue 13/2016

Today’s release of the EU’s demands of developing countries in the TISA negotiations highlights the double standards within the EU, says Public Services International. While the European Commission tries to convince the European public that its approach to trade agreements safeguards European public services it simultaneously demands that developing countries public services are undermined.

PSI affiliates in Mauritius launch joint campaign following announcements by the Public Utilities Minister that privatisation of the Central Water Authority was unavoidable and, more recently, that water rates will be increased. The increase could be as high as 20-30% according to some reports.

The objective of this global PPPs e-list, instigated by Jubilee Debt Campaign UK, is to strengthen collective global civil society activity to tackle the threat to public services and public finances posed by the rise of PPPs.

In an historic move, and on the back of years of work by public sector unions and civil society allies, the United States Department of Justice announced on 18 August their intention to close all private prisons under contract to the DOJ.