<h2>THE MAGHREB SOCIAL FORUM IS BORN</h2>
<span class="submitted">21. October 2008 - 14:22 — éditeur e-joussour</span>
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<p>Another Step to the construction of Maghreb of peoples <br>
As expected, the 1st Maghreb Social Forum was held on 25-26 and July
27, 2008 at the Faculty of Sciences of El Jadida in Morocco.</p>
<p>Again the objectives of this event have been achieved if not
exceeded: January 2008 as part of the global mobilization of social
movements to the call of the World Social Forum took place as agreed
and was able to meet the challenge of mobilization of large components
of social movements in Morocco, the contribution of dynamic Maghreb,
sub-Saharan and international and achieve its objectives as enshrined
in the programme and despite attempts (doomed to failure) agents of
certain governments of the Maghreb countries to derail the project.</p>
<p>1. In terms of mobilization, the 1st MaghrebSF was attended by
nearly 2300 participants of social movements from 28 countries, the
Maghreb, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa (9 countries), Europ and
North America and confirming the choice of its dimension African, Arab
and world both in terms of participation that the content of the
debates and conclusions.</p>
<p>2. Nearly 750 organizations and dynamic social movements took part
in the discussion thus achieving a broader participation and an anchor
in outreach work of social struggles</p>
<p>3. The 1st Maghreb Social Forum has enabled both a visibility of
social movements in the region and a strong spirit of solidarity with
the peoples struggling for freedom and dignity, to their economic,
social, civil, cultural and political. It is in emotion and anger that
participants at the closing session following the testimony of the
movements fighting the maghreb Basin mining Gafsa, the hunger strikers
of Algiers and the families of strikers Hunger in Marrakech as well as
populations bruised Sidi Ifni.</p>
<p>4. The youth whose participation has exceeded 52% was the heart of
the organisation and animation of the event and it brings hope in a
future and a better Maghreb;</p>
<p>5. More than 35% of participants are women struggling giving body and substance to the march of women to equality and dignity<br>
6. All areas identified by the programme were covered in 24 seminars (3
by theme programmed) and 38 workshops (of 42 scheduled), sometimes so
passionate but with the certainty to reach joint conclusions,
conclusions, and the firm intention by the organizations involved in
the dynamics of social forum, to establish the modalities for their
monitoring and implementation;</p>
<p>7. The 1st Maghreb Social Forum, beyond trade, listening, acceptance
of the confrontation of diversity and difference in the impetus to
build a Maghreb Peoples led to:</p>
<p>A. Strengthening the network of women in the Maghreb and their
commitment to unify their struggles against the dominant patriarchal
culture, for a women's empowerment and full citizenship, and in a
Maghreb without violence against women</p>
<p>B. The Maghrébine Coordination Body of Human Rights has devoted
efforts since 2006 by the formalisation of CMODH, the adoption of its
constitution and its programme of action transverse</p>
<p>C. The 1st MaghrebSF has devoted special attention to the dramatic
condition of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the Maghreb and
Europe in addressing the different dimensions of migration, and dynamic
mobilizations (World Social Forum on Migration in September,
celebration events of Sebta and Melilia in October,
against-Euro-African summit in October, etc.).. The axis migration was
an opportunity to reiterate the support by the association and the
militant-es participant (s) the human rights of migrants throughout the
world ..</p>
<p>D. The presence of unions to fight the Maghreb has enabled progress
on the joint statement by the unions Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian and
Mauritanian adopted in June to Mohammadia on the reconstruction of the
trade union movement, international solidarity Maghreb and the setting
up of A Trade Union Maghreb Social Forum under the Maghreb Social Forum;</p>
<p>E. A strengthening and expanding the network Maghreb working on water issues and environmental protection</p>
<p>F. The workshop on conflict resolution of the Sahara which was
attended by more than 600 people helped mark a significant step forward
in strengthening the space of debate in respect of the diversity of
positions without judgments, without a anathemas to create the
conditions for a re-appropriation of the debate between the various
protagonists in a new approach, a new identity, a Maghreb identity that
transcends divisions and drifts nationalist and chauvinist, an approach
able to contribute, through the proposal of alternatives to building a
Maghreb peoples, a united Maghreb, a Maghreb peace and shared
prosperity, a Maghreb democratic and respectful of political rights,
civil, social and cultural rights of its people;</p>
<p>G. The Palestinian issue, introduced at the opening of the Forum was
a new opportunity for social movements to reiterate their support for
the struggle of the Palestinian and Iraqi peoples and their commitment
to the peaceful struggle against U.S. imperialism, the war against
global against the militarization of which only the peoples are paying
the price;</p>
<p>H. The cultural activities by young Youth Action at the social forum
has achieved a fine demonstration of cultural diversity Moroccan and
Maghreb, emphasized the dynamism of the alternative culture of young
Moroccans, and the inclusion of the cultural dimension and festive of
the Social Forum as qu'axe cross the event.</p>
<p>I. All statements and press releases did not fail to reiterate their
commitment to the construction of the Maghreb peoples based on equal
rights, and their commitment to jointly fight against neoliberalism,
the commodification of the world, against the destruction of natural
resources, and for a democratic Maghreb and a better world.</p>
<p>J. The strong moment of the Forum, the Assembly of Peoples of
Maghreb adopted the Charter of Citizens Maghreb based on historical,
political, cultural, linguistic, which makes the building of the
Maghreb peoples in the era of globalization and the construction of
regional groupings not only a necessity, but a challenge and an
imperative. The Assembly and the Charter have emphasized the need to
overcome divisions and national chauvinism closely reflects the will of
minorities to maintain the grip on power and wealth. The Maghreb Social
Forum was described as a place of convergence of social movement "to
promote, as a new stage of world history, a globalization of solidarity
that respects human rights universal, those of all citizens and all
citizens of all nations and the environment, supported by systems and
democratic institutions in the service of social justice, equality and
sovereignty of peoples. "(Charter of Porto Alegre)</p>
<p>"Another world is possible. " <br>
"Another Maghreb is possible: the Maghreb of peoples. "</p>
<p>The Secretariat of Maghreb Social Forum<br>
El Jadida July 28, 2008</p>
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