Glenys Kinnock MEP
Member of the European Parliament

"It is justice, not charity, that is wanting in the world". So wrote Mary Wollstonecraft, in 'The Vindication of the Rights of Woman," in 1792. The ideas she expressed over two hundred years ago are, I believe, as relevant and as challenging today as they were in her time, and they remind us that the search for justice is one of the oldest struggles in human history. Development is itself a matter of justice, and globalisation has to respond to the fundamental aspirations of people everywhere for decent and productive jobs in conditions of freedom, equality, security and human dignity. This is a duty which requires accountability by all of us – the state, communities, private enterprises and individuals.

However, it is now clear that economic development and globalisation per say will not fulfil the urgent need to redistribute wealth, fight poverty, achieve social integration and invest in human capital and infrastructure. The potential for good is undeniable but it is not pre-ordained.

• Trade is a vital tool to lift people out of poverty but it will only be effective if the rules of the game are radically changed. For instance, the insistence by the World Bank and IMF that poor countries rapidly open up their markets in order to qualify for loans needs to be challenged. Poor countries must develop industrial strength before they are subjected to the full blast of global competition. According to Oxfam's latest report on trade, "Most economies in East Asia did not start to liberalise until export growth was well established." Only by protecting infant industries, supporting exporters with cheap loans and limiting financial speculators was it possible to foster economic growth which lifted 400 million people out of poverty. How can developing countries be expected to catch up if they are denied the same protection and advantages which more advanced countries have had, and continue to benefit from?

At the same time, the poorest countries must be given improved access to Western markets. Rich countries need to phase out quota and tariff restrictions on exports from all low-income countries, and radically reform their use of export subsidies – particularly for agricultural production. The European Union's Everything but Arms Initiative, which was adopted in 2001, lets all products – except armaments – from the very poorest countries in the world enter European markets duty and quota free. This is a step in the right direction, but clearly much more needs to be done to ensure that developing countries can effectively participate in the globalisation process.

• Even a cursory glance at the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund or the World Trade Organisation shows that the current global system of economic management is far from satisfactory. Although efforts are being made to reform the way that the multilateral system operates, it is clear that it is currently structured in a way which favours Western Governments, and the interests of multinational corporations. Yet for multilateralism to work, the rules of the system should be fair and balanced, and should be designed in a way which reflects the concerns and priorities of the world's poorest people.

One of the key issues in respect of the new Doha Round of trade talks is the capacity of developing countries to participate. 11 Least Developed Countries and 9 developing countries have no representation at the WTO in Geneva, and even a country as large as Bangladesh can only afford to keep one permanent representative at the WTO. Developed country members, in comparison, fly in specialists for specific meetings and all have permanent negotiators based in Geneva. In addition, in the past the agenda of the WTO has clearly been dominated by the interests of rich countries. We have a duty to ensure that we address the wide discrepancies which exist in terms of human and institutional capacity between developed and developing countries, and ensure that capacity building and technical assistance are essential elements in all future development, economic co-operation and trade arrangements.

• Corruption and bad governance all too often weaken the impact of global efforts to fight poverty, build democracy, protect human rights and foster equality. Indeed, as Transparency International has said there is a vicious circle of poverty and corruption, one "where parents have to bribe underpaid teachers to secure an education for their children, and where under-resourced health services provide a breeding ground for corruption."

The need to tackle corruption is, however, now on the agenda as never before – but civil society organisations, parliamentarians and citizens must continue to hold governments, politicians, officials and business to account. Developed countries, in particular, have a responsibility to root out sources of corruption, and to be ready to assist efforts to track and reclaim funds which are looted from developing countries.

• Issues of governance are, of course, not limited to governments and trade negotiators. Transnational companies today wield considerable – and often unaccountable – power over all of our lives. The European Union – as the world's biggest trading block and home to some of the biggest global companies – has a particular role to play in the whole debate on corporate ethics and responsibility. The European Commission recently produced a Green Paper; 'Promoting a European Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility". This is a welcome initiative which is currently being considered by the European Parliament and EU Member States.

Business clearly has to show that it operates broadly in the public interest, and obligations on corporations should, I believe, include the need to conduct social and environmental impact assessments, report on human rights, environmental and labour conditions and ensure community participation in decision making.

I firmly believe that armed with the right information, committed citizens can change the world. Whether it is a sponsored bike ride for Nicaragua, rattling a collection box or giving hours of ones time raising funds for overseas work. All of us can campaign in our different ways to open peoples' eyes, ears – and hearts. Women are, I believe, key to this – as environmentalists, teachers, and peace builders and natural leaders of social change. Change requires political will and real leadership. Everybody has the right to clean water, basic health and education. Those with power and financial clout have the responsibility to ensure that they get them.

Placed on Fabian Global Forum, May 2002