Latin American and Caribbean Peoples’ Integration Journey starts today (22)

From the newsroom
Translated by: Ana Paula Rocha

This Thursday (22), the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples’ Integration Journey begins at the Foz do Iguaçu Convention Center (CECONFI) in the city of Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná state, and will end on Saturday (24). The meeting intends to discuss the ways of regional politics and build consensus regarding a political-programmatic platform to integrate the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.

A total of 1500 people from over 20 countries in the region are expected to attend the event. Militants of people’s movements, trade unions, political parties, teachers, students, parliamentarians and representatives of governments will attend the three days of debates. Among the names confirmed are the vice-president of Colombia, Francia Marquez; the former president of Uruguay, Pepe Mujica; Dr. Esperanza Martínez, a senator from Paraguay; and Carol Proner, who will take up a position on the Public Ethics Commission of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil.

“All over the world, we are living through maximum levels of backlash against rights and manipulation of justice systems against leaders, parties, political participation and the will of the people,” said Carol Proner. One of the focuses of the debates will be analyzing the structural crisis of capital, threats to peace and sovereignty of peoples.

Rafael Freire Neto, the general secretary of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (CSA, in Portuguese), will also take part in the event. “What we are doing is accepting the challenge of building the most powerful social unity on our continent to defend our integration, the most powerful social articulation that can maintain a superior dialog and different political forces, with political parties and our presidents,” Neto explained.

The Journey is organized by ALBA Movimientos, International Peoples’ Assembly, Confederation of Trade Unions of the Americas, Continental Organization of Latin American and Caribbean Students (Oclae), Continental Day for Democracy and Against Neoliberalism, as well as the universities Unioeste and UNILA.

Edited by: Lia Bianchini