For the second time, the World Parliamentary Forum took place in Porto Alegre, from February 1st to 2nd , 2002, in the heart of the World Social Forum. In the past, on January 28th, 2001, the 1st World Parliamentary Forum had adopted, in the end of its works sessions, a declaration which requested the formation of a world parliamentary network (IPN).
After setting up a number of themes that the WPF judged important to put into action, the Final Declaration concluded as follows: “ We will form an international parliamentary network to coordinate our activities on these issues at our respective assemblies, to sustain more efficiently, the action of social movements and citizens and to make them privileged speakers for our assemblies, and to think together about an alternative solution. Because we believe that another world is possible”.
In its content and aims, the 1st World Parliamentary Forum Final Declaration continues totally up-to-date. During all the last year, the opposition movements to the liberal globalization and to the world merchandising were active in many regions. After the terrorist attacks on September 11th,2001 and the Afghanistan war, the link between the struggle for social justice and the construction of a peaceful world - safer for all peoples - becomes the most important issue. During the present crisis in Argentine the 2nd World Social Forum in Porto Alegre has a role which shows strongly the demand of another globalization, although with solidarity; and the necessity to put into practice alternative policies.
The International Parliamentary Network is organized based in regional sectors and the organization guarantees an international dimension. Each region will be able to deal with issues which are priority ( like FTAA in Latin America) and to be part of a global network at the same time.
At a very first moment the European sector will make easier the link with the network members in regions which are not able to form their own sector.
A list of electronic discussion has already been formed to allow the members elected from the International Parliamentary Network and their comrades to communi cate without any difficulties. The electronic list will be part of the regional discussion list in the future. These discussion lists will have the following aims: to guarantee the information of the network members, to express the ideas collectively, to make the regional or international cooperation become closer at a legislative level, to define and put into practice the common actions, to organize the regional and international meetings concerning the initiatives which are part of social and citizenship movements, mainly in the World Social Forum program.
From this point of view, the International Parliamentary Network really aim to have a strong link with the social and citizenship movements as well as with the organization of the World Social Forum regarding the Charter of Principles adopted by the WSF. To make easier this cooperation the IPN could be represented in the WSF International Council like an observer. The IPN participation could be guaranteed through the regional sectors of the Parliamentary Network.
In the years 2002 and 2003, the IPN will fix up some dates of international commitments, such as the Monterrey Conference on the financing development in March; “ Rome + 5 ” on the struggle against hunger in the world (from June 10th to 13 th, 2002); “Rio + 10” in August in South Africa; the Regional Social Fora in the end of 2002; the 3rd World Social Forum in Porto Alegre from January to February 2003; the G7 meeting in France and the project to form FTAA (Buenos Ayres Conference). These agendas will be fixed up regarding mainly the activities schedule which is being fixed up by the social movements at the moment during the WSF event.
The 3rd World Parliamentary Forum will take place in the next year, during the World Social Forum.