The 2 nd Moroccan Social Forum : Rabat University (27 th-29 th July 2004)

The second Moroccan Social Forum (MSF) gathered in Rabat between the 27 th and 28 th of July 2004. The Forum represents a significant and distinctive experience in the Arab region, where civil society groups are slowly, but surely, opening up to the experiences of the social forums. The agenda of the Forum covered issues of neo-liberal globalization and human development, women’s rights, geopolitical changes, democracy and public freedoms, cultural dimensions, environment and sustainable development, migration, and the dynamics of the Arab social movement.

The MSF 2004 was enriched by the organization of the first Youth Moroccan Social Forum. The youth forum discussed various issues of youths, including issues of religion, education, arts and culture, volunteerism, media, immigration, war, human rights, sexuality, and others. In addition, the MSF hosted several cultural and artistic events, and opened space for participants to exhibit materials that represent their own background, organization, country, case….

The bulk of participants in the MSF were from Morocco, but the issues discussed could not be limited by one country, they were issues that impacted the lives of each one of citizens of the Arab countries and each civil society activist. The importance of this Forum lies in the space that it made available for more than a thousand of interested and committed civil society activists to meet. Yet, their gathering was made special and more significant by the enthusiasm of each to hear the other and to share experiences.

The people one meets at the MSF usually have many questions for the other; about the country or region one comes from, about the issues one reads about, write about, or work on. In principle, the MSF gives a handy push for the development of the social movement in the Arab region. Definitely, more participants from the Arab region ought to take part in this significant event. As much as Arab participation support and enrich the experience of the MSF, it is definite that taking part in the MSF gives each participant a new push in his activism and in finding a place and meaning within a bigger picture of an Arab social movement.

The MSF 2004 gathered around 1500 participant, including around 100 participants from various Arab countries including Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, and Palestine. In addition, the MSF was attended by a group of foreign civil society groups, and was marked by the participation and opening notes of the Palestinian activist, Mr. Moustapha El Barghouti, and the Chilean activist and representative of the International Committee of the World Social Forum, Mr. Gustavo Martin.

The Arab NGO Network for Development participated in the MSF through organizing the participation of a group of 30 Arab activists, including 13 young participants, coming from 10 Arab countries. In addition, ANND organized two conferences and three workshops, including:

• A conference on the “Future of the Arab Social Movement”

• A workshop on “Mainstreaming Youths’ Issues in the Millennium Development Goals Campaign”

• A conference on “ Palestine, Iraq, and the Project of the Greater Middle East”

   

  • A workshop on the “Crisis in Darfur, Sudan”
  • A workshop on the “Impact of War on Youth”