The social movements and mass organizations of the world assembled in the World Social Forum 2004, Mumbai, India. They supported the efforts of mass movements and popular organizations in India and Asia which promote the struggle for justice, equality and human rights, especially that of the Dalits, Adivasis, and the most oppressed and repressed sectors of society. They held that the neoliberal policy of the Indian government aggravated the marginalization and social oppression which the Dalits have suffered historically.

‘For all these reasons we support the struggle of all the marginalized throughout the world, and urge everyone worldwide to join the call of the Dalits for a day of mobilization for social inclusion’, they called.

After the World Social Forum; the Dalit organizations, organizations of workers, women, Adivasis, Muslims, other marginals and mass movements of India came together to discuss strategies and plans of action against social exclusion, neo-liberal policies and religious fundamentalism. The World Dignity Forum, a forum against casteism, racism, other forms of discriminations and exclusions that roots itself in Indian Dalits and Dalit organizations and was officially launched in the World Social Forum 2004, channelised this process. All elaborated a common action agenda. The 5^th of December, the Day of a Peoples’ Dignity Rally in Delhi, the capital of India, is an important part of this common agenda. Therefore, we call everybody, worldwide, to action on this day as the World Dignity Day - International Day of Dalits’ Struggle.

We call to focus mobilizations on four key issues:

1. Dignity should be a universal human concern. In terms of the individual or the collective it assigns equal worth to all, without any distinction of colour, race, caste, gender, ethnicity, ability/disability, or language. It is intrinsically valuable and hence non-negotiable. Various forces challenge the basic dignity of the people all over the world and crush them under the burden of obligation, patronage, charity, piety, mockery and coercion. Neo-liberal globalization plays a significant role in destroying sources of dignity like autonomy, opportunity and rationality, by ruining the livelihood resources of a large number of people, impairing their social support base, by marginalizing the welfare state. Thus, we oppose neo-liberal globalization and its manifestations.

2. Dalit movements and mass organisations of India and South Asia call for action against all forms of discrimination and exclusion based on caste, religion, colour, race, gender, ethnicity, ability/disability, or language on this international day of mobilization. We believe that there cannot be equity, justice and dignity in a world in which oppression of millions of Indians, Africans, Latin Americans, Afro-Americans, Palestinians, religious minorities, indigenous populations, HIV and AIDS sufferers is the principle of social, political and economic relationships. Social justice, peace and dignity can only exist when all are free to live with dignity; free from the hunger, violence and insecurity inflicted upon them and in their homes and work places; and are free from patriarchy and gender inequality.

3. Right to work, right to livelihood, right to food, right to health and education, right to affirmative action in public and private sectors for dalits, women’s right to agricultural land, protection of the interests of the unorganized workers, comprehensive land and agrarian reforms and peoples’ rights and ownership over natural resources are central in achieving dignity, social justice and social inclusion for the Dalits, Adivasis, minorities women, and other oppressed and repressed populations of the world.

4. Fighting the political and ideological forces which promote sectarian violence, exclusion, aggression and nationalism based on religion and ethnicity, is the key to the struggle of Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, women and labouring classes as these forces threaten to rupture the fabric of society and their politics promotes ‘clash of civilisations’, declares war against minority religious communities, scorns legal and democratic norms.

December 5^th is International Day of Dalits’ Struggle - the World Dignity Day. We believe that it will be a day of diverse, demonstrative activities that contribute to strengthen the dreams and aspirations, hopes and struggles of Indian Dalits, Adivasis, workers, along with Africans, Latin Americans, Afro-Americans, Palestinians, religious minorities and indigenous populations, physically challenged and HIV and AIDS victims.

We appeal to all movements and call mass organisations to organise different programmes to mark solidarity with Indian Dalits, Adivasis, unorganized workers, women, minorities and other marginalised and present their memorandums to Indian Government through its diplomatic missions in their countries to end Indian Apartheid - the caste based discrimination, to end the attack on peoples natural resources and social security.

Let’s join the Peoples’ Dignity Rally on 5^th December at Ram Lila Grounds, New Delhi, India.

Let’s make this day a day of International Struggle for Social Inclusion and Dignity.

Let’s Globalize the Struggle! Let’s Globalize Dignity!