From 26 to 28 september, it will be held the first Iraqi Social Forum , in Baghdad, Iraq. A space for social movements and civil society to build another country based on peace.
The Iraqi Social Forum is an event that opposes decades of immense violence and destruction. It proposes a time and a space managed by civil society and social movements to build another Iraq based on peace, respect for human rights and social justice, in partnership with all those who adhere to the principles and charter of the WSF, adopted in Porto Alegre in 2001.
The loss of the lives of over one million people, the destruction of infrastructure, fatal and debilitating effects of depleted uranium and chemical weaponry used by the occupation forces cannot be forgotten, neither by the Iraqi people nor by the international movements who have been mobilizing against the war and the occupation. Moreover, hundreds of thousands citizens have protested in the streets of Iraqi cities since 2011 against corruption, for social services, for freedom of expression, and for an independent judiciary system. More than 2600 Iraqis have been killed since April 2013 in terrorist attacks, most of them in Baghdad. Still Iraqi civil society acts for change.
“Now it is the time to all work together to build a way for hope to emerge, and to contribute to the desires of the Iraqi people for a civil, democratic society and State, based on respect for different cultures. The country is experiencing a political, economic and social crisis: this is the time to build partnerships, foster dialogue and cooperation, to find solutions to outstanding problems”, points out The Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, association that is organizing the Forum.
The World Social Forum process is now well anchored in the region. Since 2008 Iraq have witnessed successful regional social fora in the Maghreb/Mashreq, a World Education Forum in Palestine and the World Social Forum in Tunis earlier this year. These collective experiences provide a fertile ground for the Iraqi civil society to build the first Iraqi Social Forum as an open space for exchange of experiences and ideas, and to build a movement against neo-liberalism, for social change.
International and national oganizations such Women for peace, Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Initiatives Pour un Autre Monde, Alternatives International and NOVACT, among others, will participate on the different activities held during the Forum.
NOVACT will be part of an international team of 3 international and 2 Iraqi facilitators for the training Organizing for Nonviolent Social Change in Baghdad. A workshop for 20 campaigners for social change, from campaigns for freedom of expression to Save the Tigers, through youth from February 25th movement.
The International Institute for Nonviolent Action also gives support to the organization of the Forum, in partnership with ICSS, providing funding, political support… Also Novact will give a talk on the privatization of war and anti-militarism, in the frame of Social Forum activities.
Here you find different ways of joining the first Iraqi Social Forum:
1) Be in Baghdad. Be aware that this entails a certain degree of risk,
and that they will confirm international participation only in early September depending on the situation. Meanwhile, you need to register before the 15th of August in order to receive a letter of invitation and apply for the visa at the Iraqi Embassy in your country.
You will be contacted individually after submitting the application form here: http://www.iraqicivilsociety.org/registration-form-iraqi-social-forum-2013
2) Extended ISF. Organize a solidarity event in your own country,
before or during the ISF, or a live exchange via Internet with a group in Baghdad , or a tele-participation in an activity held in Baghdad . A group of Iraqi volunteers is being trained to help connect with counterparts who want to exchange via Internet. Define with the local organizers which ISF activities will be enlarged for Internet participation, and build the corresponding connections.
You can learn more about the Extended forum and announce each of your extended collective participations in the ISF in a form accessible here: http://www.iraqicivilsociety.org/extended-iraqi-social-forum-registration-form
If you need support contact: icssi.project@gmail.com
