Palestinian organizations are continuing preparations to participate in the World Social Forum, which will take place in Tunisia between March 24-28, where it is anticipated that Palestine will be a strong presence in the activities of the Forum. Yousef Habash, a member of the Forum’s international coordinating committee and a representative of the Palestinian national committee for the Forum, said that Palestine will have a strong presence at the biannual Forum, which represents the largest gathering of civil society organizations and social movements globally. The theme of this year’s forum is “Rights and dignity,” Habash said, noting that Tunisia is hosting this global event for the second time in a row.
The hosting of the event in Tunisia is of great importance, Habash said, particularly in light of the momentum of the Palestinian and Arab national cause in the countries of the Maghreb. There will be opportunities to address the Palestinian cause from a number of angles, including issues facing youth, women and other social sectors, he noted.
The Palestinian committee for the Forum is also organizing cultural activities, including film screenings, art shows, photo galleries, and other cultural events. The focus on Palestine will peak on the last day of the Forum, March 28, when participants are expected to march in the tens of thousands in the “March of Palestine;” this march will take place two days before Land Day, March 30. Palestinians will participate from all areas of occupied Palestine, the refugee camps, and the broader Palestinian diaspora.
There are at least 121 Palestinian organizations and institutions participating in the WSF, which recognizes its importance as a platform for confronting neoliberalism in Palestine and globally, for highlighting the struggle of the Palestinian people, and for building solidarity among movements and leftist organizations engaging in the forum, he said, noting that it is also an opportunity to highlight the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the Arab struggle.
The activities will not end in the Forum, Habash emphasized, noting that the forum’s international coordinating committee is planning to hold its first meeting following the forum in the Gaza Strip, to break the siege and support the Palestinian people. This initiative will also work with Brazilian organizations and institutions who will be organizing delegations to break the siege on Gaza.
The Palestinian organizing committee will also be building for a Palestinian Social Forum, and to follow up with large delegations of Palestinian youth for a future forum in Tunisia in the summer to invite international youth movements to participate and build support for the struggle of Palestinian youth under occupation.
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