WSF Human Rights Assembly

(A first quick report)

In some way, every issue considered in WSF is linked to human rights: land, water, freedom of demonstration...

Human Rights defense is the defense of all life forms in their integrality.

We are happy about the level of participation in human rights activities. As Human Rights are a transveral issue, they have been considered by various themes in different forms during WSF.

The Human Rights Assembly was an important moment for solidarity and denouncing (A more detailed account of the human rights assembly will be presented very soon in this blog)

Four axes where identified in this Assembly. They where discussed in four self-organized working groups. Two working groups issued recommendations and proposals for joint action, which will also be published soon in this blog.

Axes:

-Criminalization of social protest, including violence, judicial harassment and threats to human rights defenders. The right to memory and truth was also hightligted.

-Discrimination, including the rights of indigenous peoples, discrimination based on handicap, discrimination based on sexual orientation and religious groups.

-Gender Equality: another world will not be possible if women's rights are not respected!

-Economic, Social and Cultural rights & right to environement, including:

a) fostering education on human rights

b) granting urgan and rural rights

c) denouncing human rights violations caused by multinationals

d) Impact of big projects on human rights

e) work (slave work, child's work, sexual explotation)

f) migrant's rights

g) Environemental rights

h) pressure on governments for the ratification of ESCRC Facultative Protocol

The Human Rights Assembly would like to express its solidarity with the Palestinian people and will foster the mobilisations planned for the 30 march.