For Freedom of Movement & Fair Development!

Dakar World Social Forum: resistance and struggle of African peoples

The World Social Forum returns to Africa in 2011. After Nairobi (Kenya), the Senegalese capital Dakar will host the centralized edition on February 06th to 11th 2011, this time differently from previous years, when it was held during the Economic Forum in Davos. Focusing on the history of resistance and struggle of African peoples, the 2011 WSF should find the necessary interface with global struggles and strategies that are common with those of Africa, the South and the rest of the world. Therefore, the thematic axes of the Forum should take in consideration the major concerns of social movements around the globe. There is a public consultation of the axes up until September the 10th.

For the organizers, the WSF comeback to Africa expresses the active solidarity of the international social movement, a much appreciated support as Africa runs the risk of bearing the brunt of the current crisis of capitalism, it is in fact, already weakened by structural adjustment programs of the 1980s and 1990s.

The six days of the event will be organized in the following manner:

1st day (02/06/2011): Opening March
2nd day (02/07/2011): Africa and Diaspora Day
3rd day (02/08/2011): Self-organized activities
4th day (02/09/2011): Self-organized activities
5th day (02/10/2011): Thematic Assemblies
6th day (02/11/2011): Morning – Thematic Assemblies / Afternoon: Assembly of Assemblies

The ten-year experience of the WSF prepared this moment to be a space dedicated to strengthen the offensive capability against neoliberal capitalism and its instruments; to deepen struggles and resistances against capitalism, imperialism and oppression, as well as proposing democratic and popular alternatives.

Venue and registration

The Cheik Anta Dioup University campus will be the main venue of the Forum. With rooms, conference rooms and open spaces for hosting activities and/or thematic tents, International Youth Camp and stages.

It will be possible to register online and locally. Local registration is destined to those with little or no Internet connection and online payment via credit card – the registration system is being developed to work with this payment mean only. Wishing to opening the access even more, registration fees will vary according to geopolitical social group criteria, aiming to guarantee the plurality of participants. The idea is to have registration starting from October on.

Food, water and waste

Aiming to give a greater visibility to local food culture and stimulating the active participation of peasants and small farmers, local and regional (West Africa) products of small producers will be sold in the WSF territory. The idea is that participants also buy products of the 12th International Fair of Agriculture and Animal Resources, well known fair in the region and that will take place during the event.

Regarding water, one of the SOC's main concerns is to not contribute to increase of water price. This way, it is studying the possibility of offering free water through drinking fountains with filter, also to avoid plastic bottles.

A work of awareness is planned regarding waste – in the sense of avoiding its formation as well as to plan its selection and disposal. The Committee has been integrating garbage collectors and recyclers to the Logistics Commission in order to elaborate alternatives to this.

Accommodation and International Youth Camp

To avoid a major increase in prices, an open negotiation with several hotels of the city is in course in order to guarantee promotional fares for participants. Some hotels are already available at http://fsm2011.org/en/accommodation-1

Beyond these alternatives, the Youth Commission is working to have the International Youth Camp inside the Campus (exact place to be defined yet). Due to the city's particularities, some other aspects are also being considered:

  • Accessibility to the event, especially to handicapped people;
  • Mobilization and training of volunteers to aid older or visually impaired people;
  • Facilitating the entrance visa process, as it is impossible to make it free of costs;
  • Traffic and transportation: there is a negotiation on course with the transport trade union in order to train drivers of public transportation and taxi drivers, as well as traffic signs to the WSF.