PROGRESSIVE SOLUTIONS FOR A WORLD IN MOTION
SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL - RABAT
The Socialist International held its second Council of 2024 in Rabat/Morocco on December 21-22. Before the Council took place the Meeting of the Africa Committee and the Meeting of Socialist International Women.
The Council was opened by the leader of the host party USFP Driss Lachgar and participants were welcomed by the SI General Coordinator Chantal Kambiwa before the key note speech of the President of the Socialist International Pedro Sanchez.
Pedro Sanchez , highlighted the importance of Africa for the SI, a continent with huge potential and dynamism that will play a leading role in the coming years.
More than 300 delegates from 60 countries attended the Council and had the opportunity to exchange views on their national situation as well as on key issues of the global agenda.
The ongoing conflicts in all continents were analyzed in depth with an emphasis on human security and the protection of the most vulnerable. The need to include more women in peace negotiations was underlined by many speakers. The urgency to put an end to the war in Gaza with its huge civilian toll among Palestinians, secure the release of Israeli hostages and promote a two state solution for Israel and Palestine was reflected in the SI Statement on the Middle East.
The social and economic impact of climate change and natural disasters with the recent example of the droughts in Spain and the Sahel was a big issue of concern, related also with the key priorities of the Pact for the Future. The call to show more solidarity for the countries facing complex multi level challenges was followed by a moving gesture of support to Haiti.
The SI General Coordinator presented all the big changes made in the organization during the last months , implementing a new culture of collaboration adapted to requirements of our times but also to the expectations of member parties.
The Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee Eero Heinaluoma presented also his report as well as the Chair of the Ethics Committee Paulina Lampsa .
A highlight of the Council was the inauguration of the Francisco Peña Gómez Award , an initiative proposed by the Latin America Committee and adopted by the SI President Pedro Sanchez and Peggy Cabral de Peña Gómez. Francisco Peña Gómez is a symbol at global level of the struggle for democracy , equal opportunities and. Inclusive governance . This year the Award was given to the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo , the leader of the SI member party from Puerto Rico Ruben Berrios and two SI leaders who are political prisoners Mikola Statkevich from Belarus and Temirlan Sultanbekov from Kyrgyzstan.
