The Malta Declaration
The times where the politics of fear prevailed are over. Dystopia is not an acceptable scenario for the future. Signals of the big wave of change are already here . Our values are the best compass for moving ahead. Our togetherness fuels the passion to act.
An empathetic society can only be a progressive endeavor.
Here in Malta ,from the Socialist International Council ,we make a call. A call , to all those wishing to be part of the construction of a world society that will make a difference . A difference in real life , beyond the bubbles created by algorithms.
We will be leading together in transforming solidarity to action for all continents , all countries, all regions, all peoples, all nations.
Multilateral cooperation, implementation of the global development goals , fight against neocolonialist aspirations , limitation of the concentration of wealth ,are prerequisites for achieving an acceptable level of justice.
We will be leading together in protecting and reinforcing our democracies. The targeting of progressive governments,parties and politicians through lawfare, imprisonment , banning to run for elections, misinformation, media capture, hate speech is unacceptable.
We are proud for the achievements of progressives in power , fighting for housing for all, equality in the workplace , quality public health and education , food security , inclusiveness .
We will be leading together,men and women in the mainstreaming of all gender equality issues. We will unite our forces for building diverse societies ,were every individual choice , any identity will be respected.
People will embrace us because we dare to defend our values , we are setting the agenda , we bring new ideas and concepts. The incertitude of our complex world is a challenge for the better and we intend to use every new invention or tool that science and technology can bring , for this purpose.
We will be leading together in building peace based on principles and agreed solutions. While we must take all necessary measures to protect our societies from traditional and hybrid threats ,we do not want to make militarization of politics an instrument that will sideline diplomacy and reduce social welfare.
From the heart of the Mediterranean, looking around we can see all the consequences of the deconstruction of development and humanitarian cooperation. Climate change , food and water shortage, heat waves, natural disasters , proxy wars , extremist groups , mercenary armies, unlawful competition for national resources strengthen authoritarian regimes , increase poverty bring despair and the quest for a better future.
We are with all those that during the COP 30 in Belem ,insisted on the need to reduce the dépendance from fossil fuels. Big polluters have no right to make the rest of the world suffer from the consequences of their choices. The targets set in previous conferences of the parties have not been met and the clock is ticking. It’s urgent to pass from pledges to action. Financing mitigation efforts of the most vulnerable is a minimum gesture of solidarity .
Our member parties in Africa have to cope with the above challenges while fighting for democracy in very difficult circumstances. Africa experiences a debt crisis that , as highlighted in the recent G20 meeting . Immediate action to address this problem is needed as African countries are unlikely to gain a sustainable path to reaching their development and climate goals without substantial action on debt and development finance .
This situation is exacerbated by the longstanding conflicts and proxy wars in the continent . International media pay very little attention to the innocent women ,children that are massacred and raped every day, but WE cannot remain indifferent on what’s happening in Sudan , downplay the violence in the borders of DRC and overlook the jihadist attacks in many countries of the Sahel.
The Socialist International welcomes the successful meeting of the G20 Summit hosted by the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and the very productive European Union-African Union Summit in Luanda, Angola. Both events were attended by the Socialist International President and Prime Minister of Pedro Sanchez.
Two years after the Hamas attack of October 7 that took the lives of over 1,220 victims and where 251 hostages were kidnapped, the asymmetrical, destructive response of the Israeli Government that caused the killing of thousands of Palestinians, along with the destruction of all infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and the continued annexation of land by the settlers in the West Bank, the Middle East became the theater of an unimaginable tragedy, leaving several thousand families in mourning.
The perseverance in achieving a two state solution that will bring security ,peace and prosperity to Palestinians and Israelis has a huge symbolic significance not only for the broader region but also for the global community . Following the UN resolution of the Security Council ,the second phase of the Peace Plan should be implemented without delay, but in a way that it will facilitate the achievement of the Palestinian statehood. The Socialist International supports the Palestinian and Israeli Peace Camp for the advancement of the roadmap that requires a serious investment not only for the reconstruction of Gaza but also for peace building between the Palestinian and Israeli societies.
The war in Ukraine is an open wound for the European continent with global repercussions . Negotiations for ending the war present a window of opportunity , but can lead to a positive outcome only if the sacrifices and the interests of the Ukrainian people are taken seriously into account . As this conflict is closely related with European security, the EU must have a key role in defining the parameters of any agreement.
While efforts for global peace are a paramount priority , we should not disregard the everyday struggle of our member parties and like minded movements and individuals for safeguarding and strengthening open, democratic societies ,respecting the freedom of speech, the independence of the judicial system and human and social rights.
Ultra, sectarian , or neofascist movements trying to reverse or restrict what has been achieved through long struggles are present in all continents from Europe, to the Americas and Asia.
Leading together we can make these movements irrelevant. Unity and solidarity has always been our strength. Progress can only achieved by understanding what is going to come, while drawing inspiration from the lesson of our history. The Times They are a-Changin.
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