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Reclaiming
and reuniting SADC for people's political, social and economic
rights: Declaration of the People's Summit, Namibia
Southern Africa People's Solidarity
Network (SAPSN)
August 16, 2010
More than 350
representatives of grassroots movements, community-based organizations,
and faith based organizations, women's organizations, labor,
students, youth, economic justice and human rights networks and
other social movements met in Windhoek, Namibia on 15-16 August
at the sixth SADC People's Summit organised by the Southern
Africa Peoples' Solidarity Network (SAPSN), supported by the
local host organization NANGOF Trust.
The summit-
which was inspired by lively cultural presentations and energized
by the participants' singing and chanting-received solidarity
greetings from all fellow citizens of SADC, and brief reports on
our respective areas of work and the key concerns in our national
terrain.
We had plenary
sessions and discussions on regional solidarity and development;
the global financial and economic, climate and related crises facing
Africa and the world; and Eu's imposed Economic Partnership
Agreements (EPAs). Discussions were also held and testimonies received
in commissions on the state of democracy and human rights in SADC
countries; on the rights of workers and social and economic protections;
on the scourge of unemployment especially amongst the youth, and
the necessity of affordable education for all; on the continuing
adverse situation of women; on preventing further debt creation
through guaranteed popular oversight; on natural resources and land
rights; on public provision of full social and economic rights;
on social exclusion and marginalization, with particular reference
to the San people; on the rights to health, especially with regards
to HIV/Aids; and on the relatively new themes for people's
movements in our region arising from climate change which is adding
to the many other crises already being experienced by our peoples.
All these issues and demands on SADC governments and our joint programs
for further action will be energetically followed through in the
coming year.
At this point,
the most pressing common concerns to all our countries, and the
demands of our peoples arising out of the powerful presentations,
first hand testimonies and the key demands expressed throughout
this summit, were on:
- The ratification
and rapid implementation of the SADC Declaration and Treaty and
all SADC Protocols on social and economic rights, particularly
the original protocol on the free movement of all SADC citizens
within their region, including the right of assembly and freedom
of expression.
- The full
institutionalization of all democratic processes and bodies (including
to ensure fully free and fair elections), the guarantee of all
human and cultural rights and the protection of human rights defenders
and political activists, with particular reference to Zimbabwe,
Swaziland and Madagascar, and DRC which is still suffering the
effects of war.
- The rejection
of all free trade agreements and especially the EU-imposed Economic
Partnership Agreements which are dividing and threatening the
very survival and future development of SACU and SADC.
We the peoples
of SADC have been strengthened by our sharing of experiences and
aspirations within this Peoples's Summit and we commit ourselves
to achieve these by all means necessary.
Viva the Peoples
of SADC! Viva the Solidarity and rights of the Peoples of SADC!
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