Changing Political Landscape in South Asia: Resistance, Representation and People’s Alternatives
27 August 2026 | Kathmandu, Nepal
We, the undersigned civil society organisations, social movements, peoples’ organisations, workers’ organisations, farmers’ organisations, women’s organisations, youth and other people-centred organisations from South Asia, gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 26–27 August 2026 for the South Asia Convergence 2026,
recognise that South Asia is at a critical juncture, facing interconnected political, economic, social and ecological crises that are deepening gender inequality, insecurity and exclusion across the region. We are concerned by democratic backsliding, the centralisation of power, shrinking civic space, restrictions on freedom of expression and association, growing surveillance, and the increasing marginalisation of civil society, social movements, workers, women, youth and other historically excluded communities. We recognise the growing frustration and aspirations of young people across South Asia and the urgent need to ensure their meaningful participation and representation in political decision-making and public life.
We are deeply concerned that neoliberal economic policies, austerity, privatisation, rising debt burdens and regressive taxation are undermining public services, livelihoods and people’s economic and social rights, disproportionately affecting workers, women, informal workers, farmers and marginalised communities. We are deeply alarmed by escalating youth unemployment, underemployment, insecure platform work, and the forced economic migration/brain drain that deprives South Asian nations of their dynamic potential. We recognise the essential contribution of informal, migrant, domestic and other precarious workers to the economies and societies of South Asia, while noting their continued exclusion from decent work, living wages, labour rights and adequate social protection. We affirm that food, land, water and natural resources are fundamental to people’s lives and livelihoods, and that smallholder farmers, indigenous peoples, women and local communities must have greater control over food systems and natural resources. We are alarmed by the accelerating climate crisis and its disproportionate impacts on workers, women, farmers, indigenous peoples, informal settlement communities and other vulnerable groups, and recognise the urgent need for climate justice and a just transition.
We further recognise that inequality, discrimination and the unequal distribution of land, resources, care work, political power and economic opportunities continue to undermine women’s rights and dignity. We therefore reaffirm that stronger regional cooperation and solidarity are essential to addressing these shared challenges, protecting people’s rights and advancing alternatives based on justice, equality, dignity and sustainability.
Hereby, we adopt the following declaration and call on governments to act:
- We demand accountable and democratic governance that protects civic freedoms and ensures meaningful participation and representation of youth, women, workers, farmers and marginalised communities, while strengthening intergenerational collaboration and solidarity within civil society and social movements.
- We recognise young people as agents of social and political transformation and call for their meaningful participation in decision-making processes and their right to peaceful public protest without punishment.
- We call for decent work, living wages, secure employment, safe working conditions and free of sexual harassment for women and full labour rights for all workers, including informal, domestic, migrant, agricultural and platform workers.
- We demand universal, publicly financed social protection for all workers, including protection from climate-related income loss and access to adequate housing and basic public services.
- We support farmer- and community-led agroecological food systems and the protection of traditional knowledge, local seeds and sustainable agriculture from corporate control.
- We oppose land and resource grabbing and demand equitable access to, control over and democratic governance of land, water and natural resources, with priority given to historically deprived and marginalised groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, Dalits and landless communities.
- We call on the UNFCCC and the FRLD to support climate justice and a people-centered just transition that protects workers, farmers, women, and vulnerable communities, while ensuring equitable support for those most affected by climate change despite contributing the least to its causes.
- We demand progressive taxation, corporate accountability, and debt justice, with fiscal policies that prioritise public investment in public services, universal social protection, decent work, and climate resilience over debt servicing and the interests of capital.
- We reject privatisation of essential services and call for universal access to quality healthcare, education, housing, water, sanitation and other essential public services.
- We reject all forms of gender-based discrimination, violence, including online and workplace, and exclusion and call for women’s meaningful participation in governance and decision-making, as well as the protection and promotion of their equal inheritance and property rights.
- We stand in solidarity with Dalits, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, refugees, fishers, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ communities and other marginalised groups and demand protection of their rights, dignity and meaningful participation.
- We call for the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region, reduced militarisation and spending and stronger regional cooperation, centred on people’s welfare, peace and solidarity.
- We condemn the criminalisation, intimidation and surveillance of activists, human rights defenders, trade unions, journalists and civil society organisations, and demand protection of civic space, alongside accountability for the spread of fake news and disinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression and independent journalism.
- We further recognise that gender inequality, structural discrimination and unequal power relations continue to undermine women’s rights and dignity and exclude marginalised communities from decision-making, resources and opportunities. We affirm gender equality, equity and social inclusion as fundamental principles of just societies and reaffirm the need to dismantle barriers to equality.
- We reject development models that prioritise profit and corporate interests over people and the planet. We support alternatives based on social justice, ecological sustainability, economic democracy and solidarity.