The International Forum of Parliamentarians renews its defense of peace and justice
- New visions in the face of successive crises
- Palestine: a commitment rather than a political option
- Parliamentary diplomacy strengthens South-South cooperation
- Environmental justice and migration
Against a backdrop of successive geopolitical, economic, and environmental crises, as well as the health, social, and security challenges in the wake of COVID-19, the third edition of the International Forum of Young Socialist and Social Democratic Parliamentarians, held in Marrakech from May 2 to 4, reaffirms the commitment of the socialist and social democratic political family around the world to the causes that affect humanity.
The first secretary of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Driss Lachgar, shed light on the main causes of concern for the socialist elite around the world today, renewing the Moroccan socialist party's commitment to the defense of human rights, equality, and social justice.
New visions in the face of successive crises
Driss Lachgar urged the formulation of new visions based on the current reality, where crises are intertwined, creating a state of political and economic uncertainty, and threats to the collective aspirations of socialists around the world are multiplying.
On this planet full of complex challenges that require new approaches and progressive forces to face one of the most difficult moments of the 21st century, with devastating wars that not only leave destruction in their wake, but sometimes reach the limits of genocide, as is the case in Gaza.
According to Lachgar, due to an inherently greedy economic model that puts profit before life and consumption before sustainability, human beings continue to plunder this planet with its wonderful ecosystem ideal for life. That is why our freedom, our ability to create and build communities based on solidarity, is so important for a democratic model based on the rule of law and the principles of freedom, equality, and solidarity.
“Faced with the rise of authoritarianism, which is becoming increasingly attractive amid crises of confidence and uncertainty, our responsibility is to strongly reaffirm our commitment to the principles that constitute the cornerstone of any human future: freedom, equality, justice, and solidarity in the face of global disparities, the climate crisis, economic conflicts, and global inequalities,” said the first secretary of the Socialist Party.
“It is not enough to launch slogans for change; bold and organized collective action is needed to build a new economic model based on territorial and intergenerational justice, regulating monopolies and strengthening economic sovereignty,” he added.
Palestine: a commitment rather than a political option
For the Moroccan Socialist Party, the defense of human rights is not a political slogan, but a commitment to principles that cannot be selective. With this logic, the USFP condemns all violations affecting individuals or groups on the basis of their religion, color, origin, or cultural affiliation, particularly the escalation of acts of violence, discrimination, and hatred targeting Islamic minorities in several countries through physical and verbal attacks, discriminatory policies, and discourse that fuels racism.
“We believe that any realistic approach to establishing a just and lasting peace in the region requires an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, a halt to the settlement policy, and allowing the Palestinian people to realize all their legitimate national rights, especially their right to build their own state on their own soil,” said the USFP's first secretary.
Defending the Palestinian cause is not a passing political option, but a commitment derived from our belief in the justice of human rights.
The USFP affirms its firm position in favor of the right of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy and United Nations resolutions; it also calls for a complete ceasefire and the immediate opening of the Gaza border crossing to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population in order to protect citizens and allow the Palestinian people in Gaza to rebuild their lives and their society.
Parliamentary diplomacy strengthens South-South cooperation
According to the opening speech delivered by Driss Lachgar, the socialist project cannot succeed without a profound and radical overhaul of the global governance system, responsible parliamentary diplomacy, transitional justice, and unconditional respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States.
These reforms cannot be limited to accepting the addition of seats for Southern countries in decision-making organizations, specifically in the UN Security Council, but must include recognition of the historical injustices suffered by these countries as a result of colonization, resource exploitation, the transfer of polluting industries, and the imposition of destructive economic models that continue to dominate through unequal agreements and the monopoly of knowledge.
The restoration of the full cultural, scientific, economic, and political sovereignty of the nations of the South is a prerequisite for building a democratic global multilateralism that guarantees cooperation in the face of domination, dignity in the face of subjugation, and development in the face of dependence. It is a call for the construction of a new world order based on truth, justice, solidarity, and human rights.
Along these lines, the president of the Marrakech Safi region, Samir Goudar, stressed that parliamentary diplomacy represents an essential channel for strengthening South-South cooperation and building strategic alliances that defend the issues of national sovereignty and the right to development and allow the voice of our countries to be heard in international forums, not as followers but as active and responsible partners.
“We also consider it a vital tool for dialogue between North and South, especially between political actors and young parliamentarians, within a framework of cooperation and respect,” Goudar added.
Environmental justice and migration
Driss Lachgar outlined the priorities of the socialist project, which lie in comprehensive environmental justice and recognition of the environment as a human right, comprehensive equality and social inclusion through ambitious policies that enable women and minorities to live in democracy, resisting disinformation and protecting institutions and activists of the socialist movement.
In this regard, climate change poses a major threat to the continuity of life on earth, as its economic, social, and environmental impacts are hitting hard the countries of the South, which historically have not been responsible for industrial pollution but are now paying the price.
“We believe that climate justice requires reconsidering the mechanisms of international change and supporting developing countries to strengthen their adaptation capacities so that they can carry out a just energy transition,” emphasized Driss Lachgar.
As for the phenomenon of migration, the representatives of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces do not only view it from the perspective of the security of the host countries, but as a social and humanitarian phenomenon that reflects a profound imbalance in the international development system.
Therefore, the USFP called for migration issues to be addressed by supporting the right of countries of origin to development, respecting the basic rights of migrants, and dismantling human trafficking networks and human smugglers who exploit social tragedies for their criminal interests.
