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World Social Forum

Socialist International at the 4th World Social Forum, Mumbai

16-21 January 2004

This year’s World Social Forum (WSF), held in Mumbai, India, from 16 to 21 January under the heading "Another World is Possible", attracted the participation of more than one hundred thousand people. Among them were leaders and members of the International, participating in many of the seminars and discussions organised during those days. A special first meeting in Mumbai of members of the Socialist International, and leaders and representatives from SI members in India and other Asian countries, took place on 16 January for an initial exchange of views which focused on the situation of social democracy in India, Asia and globally.

On 17 January, a seminar within the programme of the WSF took place, organised by the Socialist Front of India and the Socialist International on the theme "For a democratic, fair and responsible international governance" in which António Guterres, Luis Ayala, Elio Di Rupo, Enrique Barón, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Erkki Tuomioja, Kader Arif, Marina Sereni, Ilan Halevi and Surendra Mohan of the Indian Socialist Front participated. That evening the Socialist International hosted a dinner attended by some 150 people, for SI members and friends, allowing for an informal exchange of views on the Forum and related events.

On the morning of 18 January, the WSF organised a discussion on "Political Parties and Social Movements" in which the SI Secretary General, Luis Ayala, was a panellist. The same day in the afternoon, SI President António Guterres and other members of the SI including Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Elio Di Rupo took part in a debate "Can globalisation be fixed?" organised by SOLIDAR.

On 20 January a discussion on UN Reform included, from the SI participants, MEP Helle Thorning-Schmidt. There followed a seminar organised by the Indian Socialist Movement on "Socialist Responsibility in Deepening Democracy Globally" which included contributions from SI President António Guterres, MEPs Neena Gill and Jo Leinen, and Luis Ayala who moderated the debate.

The role of the Socialist International in the World Social Forum, in line with the commitment and will of the International to advance and deepen the relations with social movements, was welcomed by all and will continue next year at the 5th WSF to be held again in Porto Alegre in 2005.

 



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