30 civil society organisations and networks endorse Asia Regional People’s Declaration ahead of World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings and COP31

The Asia Regional People’s Assembly 2026 has adopted a declaration calling for debt cancellation, an end to austerity, universal social protection, climate justice, protection of civic freedoms and an end to war and militarism.

Adopted by 30 civil society organisations and networks following the virtual assembly on 1 October, the Asia Regional People’s Declaration 2026 brings together demands for systemic change in global financial governance, climate finance, democratic accountability and peace. More than 116 community members, civil society leaders and academics participated in the assembly.

Read Asia Regional People’s Declaration here.

Watch the Asia Regional People’s Assembly here.

The declaration highlights the growing debt crisis in developing countries, climate emergencies, shrinking civic space and the devastating impacts of conflict. It argues that debt repayment and austerity measures are diverting public resources from essential services, leaving vulnerable communities increasingly exposed to poverty, inequality, health emergencies and climate-related disasters.

Speakers and community members in the Asia Regional People’s Assembly

The declaration calls for the unconditional cancellation of external debts of low- and lower-middle-income countries, a UN Framework Convention on Sovereign Debt, progressive taxation and reforms to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). It urges governments to prioritise public services, decent work and social protection over debt servicing, and to ensure that international financial programmes support the Sustainable Development Goals.

On climate justice, the declaration demands accessible, grant-based climate finance directed towards frontline and marginalised communities, accountability for historical polluters and a rapid, equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. It also calls for the United Nations General Assembly to declare the recent Nepal avalanche a global climate emergency.

The declaration further urges Asian governments to protect civic space, freedom of expression and association, and the participation of women, youth, workers, farmers, Dalits, Indigenous peoples and other marginalised communities in decision-making.

Addressing conflicts, it calls for an immediate halt to military actions involving the US, Israel and Iran, an end to Israel’s military assault on Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access and accountability for violations of international humanitarian law.

The declaration’s demands will be taken to the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok from 12–18 October and the UN climate conference, COP31, in Türkiye in November.

The assembly forms part of the wider People’s Assembly process connecting community, national, regional and global struggles for economic, social and climate justice. Civil society organisations are expected to advance the declaration’s demands through national and international advocacy.