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Working for a strong anti-racist European Social Forum
The European
Social Forum (ESF) is
an international gathering of those interested in achieving social
justice. The ESF meets every two or three years in different parts
of Europe and is an important opportunity for anti-racist and Black
groups across Europe to meet, discuss and debate and to forge long
lasting alliances.
The Respect Trust is working closely with other anti-racist
and Black and minority ethnic organisations in the UK and in Europe
to ensure
that the ESF has strong participation from Black communities across
Europe and priority is given to opposing racism and discrimination
and to supporting equality and diversity.
The London ESF
in October 2004 was a big success with over 20,000 people attending
from nearly 70 countries.
The Trust played an important role in ensuring the process was inclusive
with Black people strongly represented on the platforms of the plenaries,
seminars and workshops as well as attending the sessions. The Respect
Trust was part of organising or supporting the sessions on the following
themes:
• Alliances we need to unite against racism
• Challenging Racism in Education
• Cultural Diversity, Multiculturalism or Integration?
• For asylum, refugee and migrant rights - against fortress Europe
• Hijab: a woman's right to choose
• Institutional Racism
• Justice and Equality - winning the agenda for young black
people
• Students united to defeat racism
• The End of Asylum Rights in Europe?
On the Sunday morning,
over 1000 people from the full range of organisations, trade unions,
grassroots networks, and individuals met in the ‘Assembly
of Social Movements’ which agreed a joint statement including
a strong anti-racist message.
The Forum ended with a 70,000 strong international
demonstration through central London and a rally at Trafalgar Square
with a strong anti-racist
theme.
The Respect Trust has continued to develop the anti-racist and
Black organisation networks and alliances established through the London
ESF and actively worked to achieve strong participation in the 2006
Forum in Athens. In Athens, we worked to organise sessions on institutional
racism and Islamophobia.
For information about participating in the
European Social Forum process please contact us at info@respecttrust.org.uk.
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