African Social Forum calls for Global Week of Action
The third African Social Forum took place in Lusaka, Zambia in December 2004. It brought together a huge range of delegates from almost all corners of the continent. It witnessed an unprecedented blossoming of initiatives and self-organised activities and created space for fruitful discussion on issues close to the hearts of African people.
Among these initiatives was the seminar on the Global Week of Action on Trade, organised by the Gender and Trade Network in Africa (GENTA). For most of the participants the seminar was a learning experience. There was a profound interest in the initiative’s origin, the events and activities already planned in Africa and across the world. The seminar generated a great deal of interest and ideas of how to mobilise and get involved.
The leading speaker, Mohao Pheko from GENTA, presented the Week as a ‘call for global social movement, a unique opportunity to campaign in solidarity across borders and jointly raise a voice and say NO to all the economic injustices that are taking place in the world’.
The national campaigns are planning to give a voice to those at the sharp end of international trade encouraging them to tell their own stories and give their own testimonies.
Activities are already planned in over 15 countries in Africa. Campaigns will focus on the World Trade Organisation, economic liberalisation conditions dictated by the International Financial Institutions, the EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements, and Northern subsidies. Many are planning to take the Global Week of Action right up to the 6th World Trade Organisation meeting in December 2005 in Hong Kong.
