The demonstration marking the start of the first World Social Forum in Africa brought some 20,000 to the streets of Bamako, calling for the abolition of poverty in Africa to become the number one priority for national leaders and the international institutions.
The Malian people, who were out in force, expressed their joy at seeing their demands supported by such a strong international presence. “This demonstration is supporting our aspiration to live in dignity and with economic and social justice. It is also showing us some of the benefits to be gained from alliances with civil society”, The issue of cotton production took centre stage at the demonstration as Mali is an agricultural country with 85% of the population living in rural areas. Many Malian families manage to eke out a living from cotton production, which accounts for 60% of exports and 30% of national production.
Despite that, if the world trade rules were fairer, the living conditions of these families could improve considerably. So it is no surprise that one of the most popular slogans at the demonstration was “Destroy the subsidies in rich countries, not production in Africa”.
The Decent Work Agenda : Africa’s time has come
Within the framework of the Bamako World Social Forum (Mali), IUSY, ECOSY and IFM-SEI under the umbrella of the Global Progressive Youth Forum (GPYF) hosted on the 21st January a debate on “decent work and young people”. The GPYF was represented by Giacomo Filibeck, SG Italy (ECOSY President) and Remi Bazilier, MJS France (Co-ordinator IUSY network on social movements and GPF)
The meeting, which had well over a 120 participants, set out to strengthen the left-wing cooperation in creating more and better jobs for young people.
Rémi Bazillier, IUSY coordinator on social movements and GPF,stated that “This meeting of the GPYF Forum is a first step. A first step towards a broader mobilization of the progressive forces in Africa, towards the building of a network of African political youth organizations, NGOs and Trade unions fighting together for a globalization based on Social Rights, and Solidarity ; not on inequalities and competition between social models”.
On the 22nd January, the Global Progressive Forum (GPF), together with the international trade unions (ICFTU and WCL) and the NGO Solidar organized a series of roundtable discussions on the decent work agenda in Africa.
Giacomo Fililbeck, ECOSY President stated during the meeting that "We live in a world that has transformed itself into a market that is not based on the competitiveness of enterprises but on the competition between entire societies, and this competition seems to be based more on the capacity to practice smarter, social, political dumping then anything else. As young European socialist we believe it is crucial to correct this global trend which is devastating the confidence of younger generations."
During the debate Harlem Désir, Vice President of the GPF emphasized that “the battle against neo-liberalism calls for alliances built on the issue of decent work between trade unions, civil society organisations and other progressive forces.”
Retrouvez cet article sur le site de la IUSY et d'ECOSY.
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