Solidarity 2020 & Beyond holds historic gathering of nonviolent activists in Nepal
From March 15 to 19th, 2023, NVI Director, Michael Beer joined 75 nonviolent activists from 40 countries in Nepal to strengthen global solidarity, particularly in the global south. We compared stories of organizing campaigns, prisons, and social movements. A child soldier shared stories of organizing for their rights in Nepal, Latin America activists shared the stories of women organizing to find and remember their disappeared loved ones, and African and Myanmar activists shared their struggles against dictators. To learn more about this new transnational network that NVI is fiscally sponsoring, please read more below.
Organized by Solidarity 2020 and Beyond Director, Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh in honor of her recently deceased son, we re-discovered our common challenges and need to support each other despite our diverse problems and contexts.
We spent days sharing our stories about fighting corruption, organizing for disability rights, empowering women to mobilize for their needs. I was fortunate to share highlights from my book, Civil Resistance Tactics of the 21st Century and database. Many asked for the book to be translated in more languages.
Here is a chart of nonviolent tactics that I shared. This maps the universe of nonviolent tactics which are driven by manipulating resources through saying, doing and not doing things and doing them in constructive or confrontational ways. People were excited to see the emphasis on positive/constructive actions since most media attention is on confrontational tactics.
If you'd like to learn more about the universe of nonviolent action, please read my book and spend time looking through our database of nonviolent tactics.
Isabella Piccone, an activist and trainer from Venezuela, offered to help host a webinar introducing the book in Spanish language. Simon Basp is working with NVI to produce a popular history of NV action in Uganda. NVI-Ukraine Director shared his experience in Ukraine and his efforts to support the anti-war movement in Russia. He called for global support and asked people not to get caught in the big power contestation, but to focus on the little people of Ukraine and Russia.
Michael Beer, & Zahra Hayder Ibrahim (Sudan)
Reem Ghunaim, Solidarity 2020 and Beyond staff (US/Palestine) & Simon Basp (Uganda)
Stephen Zunes, (US), Michael Beer, and Janet Cherry (South Africa)
Andre Kamenshikov, (NVI-Ukraine) Ali Ahmed Palh, (Pakistan)
Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh, Founder, Solidarity 2020 and Beyond,
Here is another article by Bekele Woyecha about his experience at the international gathering. He is a long time community organizer and advocate for refugee rights.
Here is the declaration that we issued at the end of the gathering.
Solidarity 2020 and Beyond
International Activists Convening of Global Grassroots Activists Network
15-19 March 2023, Kathmandu, Nepal
“Kathmandu Declaration on People’s Resistance, Grassroots Activism, and Global Movements"
How do we learn from each other and mobilize in joint struggles more effectively amidst escalating repression, climate catastrophe, systematic exploitation, and new challenges after the COVID pandemic? This is the question addressed by 80+ grassroots activists and community
leaders from every region of the world (44 countries) who gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal on 15-19 March 2023 under the umbrella of Solidarity 2020 and Beyond. This Declaration summarizes our core values and what we committed to advance in our communities and globally.
We, grassroots activists and leaders of movements from across the globe, reaffirm our solidarity and our responsibility to future generations to sustain worldwide grassroots movements for freedom, dignity, peace, equity and justice. Working as individuals, organizations, and
movements, we hold our governments and power holders accountable to the people. We believe all humans have a responsibility to act to defend their rights and protect our planet. From the Himalayas to the Dead Sea, from the Sahara Desert to the great rivers and oceans, our planet is ailing. We live in what may be the most fragile and critical time of world history. Our movements enable us to make a difference and together we can do much more to build a sustainable planet for people and nature.
1. We acknowledge that indigenous people are guardians of the world’s ecosystems and believe that they should be protected, supported, and given the breathing space necessary to lead us into our intertwined future.
2. We acknowledge the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and other conventions in
humanitarian and human rights law making up the body of international law. However, we also acknowledge that these laws are violated or only partially implemented by many governments, including those that signed them.
3. Gathered here in Kathmandu, we express our concerns for, and solidarity with, the people of Nepal and grassroots movements around the country. We call for the unacceptably lengthy transitional justice process, currently controlled by political elites and external
actors, to be victim-centered prioritizing their needs and demands and strengthening human rights, rule of law, reconciliation, and non-recurrence. We stand in solidarity with ongoing women’s rights, indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ rights movements.
4. We stand against the myriad of systems and “isms” that are being used to oppress people and mother earth in various parts of the world, including neoliberalism/extreme capitalism, imperialism, colonialism, fascism, autocratic communism, and consumerist development
paradigms that are sources of corruption, kleptocracy, land grabs, environmental catastrophes, and violent conflicts. We will act to promote governance and economic systems that put the interests of people and nature ahead of corporate and elite interests.
5. We are committed to protect each other. Human Rights Defenders, including grassroots nonviolent activists around the world, are under pressure and we must support these selfless people who act for their communities, countries and the world. We call for added
resources and additional protection mechanisms to allow their work to continue.
6. We live in a time of rampant militarism with huge amounts of money and resources wasted on weapons and arms (both nuclear and traditional) that cause more violence, death, suffering, and diversion of resources away from human needs. We support ongoing efforts
to address this major issue. We will work for an end to all wars including the war in Ukraine based on territorial integrity and respect of human rights of all people and the extreme violence in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Syria.
7. We affirm our commitment to protecting the rights of children from child labour, conscription as child soldiers, trafficking, and abuse. We reiterate the need to ensure their rights to education, good health, and security.
8. We call on the media to support civil liberties, human rights, and transparency. We encourage the media to report from the peoples’ perspective as we also commit to sharing information, evidence, and documentation with them to continuously inform the public
about what is happening around the globe on these issues, utilizing all available tools including fundraising and digital media to effect change in our societies.
9. Patriarchal norms are suppressing the rights of women and LGBTIQ+ lives the world over, while also distancing men from their fullest humanity. This causes rampant gender based violence, systematic oppression of queer people, exploitation of children, lack of resources
and education for girls, and obstruction to health care and education. We strongly support efforts to ensure equal rights and equal access for all.
10. We strongly stand for freedom from discrimination of all kinds, including racial justice and equality, which is enshrined in Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a principle of both the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and addressed directly in the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
11. Ongoing occupations and settler colonial activities across the world are unjust and against international law. The occupation and colonization of all peoples and lands must end now, including in Palestine, Western Sahara, West Papua, Kashmir, and Tibet.
12. Authoritarian regimes that don’t follow the will of the people should come to an end. We pledge to use the strength of people power and nonviolent resistance to accomplish these objectives and ensure peace with justice, equity, rights, and dignity for all. We are proactively
seeking worldwide alliances and cooperation and ask all people to join us to build and strengthen this grassroots network. We call for an immediate end to violations of people's rights and all forms of oppression around the world. We call for respect for mother earth and a shift from violence and “power over” to nonviolent action and “power with.” This can catalyze transformative change worldwide.
For more information, please see: https://solidarity2020andbeyond.org/ And to become a monthly donor for this transnational effort, please give here.
Latest posts
End the Suffering: Global Days of Remembrance and Action
October 6, 7, and 8
#EveryLifeAUniverse
Nonviolence International invites you—communities, congregations, institutions, and individuals throughout the world—to commemorate the one-year mark of October 7th in a way that renews our resolve for justice and peace. Let us remember and honor the sacredness of every life, grief for those lost over decades of violence and oppression, and acknowledge those who are in pain today: those who have lost loved ones, are injured, abducted, displaced, whose homes have been destroyed, and who suffer from hunger and illness.
Through our grief and remembrance, let us renew our commitment to never give up on justice and peace between Palestinians and Israelis
We invite you for three days of remembrance and action by doing the following:
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Wear a black ribbon or armband during these days. We want to see people all around the world, in our cities and towns, workplaces, and educational institutions, wear black ribbons or armbands in order to create the collective consciousness of grief for lives that haven been lost. You are also welcomed to write "Every life, a Universe" on your ribbons or armbands.
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Organizing community vigils, sit-ins, sharing circles, walks, events, fundraisers, days of fasting, and humanitarian efforts for each of the days;
On October 6th, you are invited to remember the decades of the past and decry the mistreatment and suffering of Palestinians caused by Israeli policies of expulsion, imprisonment, apartheid, siege, and occupation.
On October 7th, you are invited to remember and decry the violent attacks by Hamas and others, including the hostage-taking, and the death of over 1,000 Israelis in a single day.
On October 8th, you are invited to remember and decry the launch and continuation of Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, the killing of over 40,000 individuals, the injury of over 80,000, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians and the abduction of thousands from their homes and families.
Here is the registration link for 3 global online events: REGISTER HERE FOR ALL 3!
Nonviolence International. Oct 6. 9pm. JT
Parents Circle Families Forum/American Friends of Parents Circle Families Forum Oct. 7. 9pm JT.
Combatants for Peace/American Friends
of Combatants for Peace. Oct 8. 9pm JT. - Use the hashtag: #EveryLifeAUniverse on your social media, change your profile picture to the our event's black ribbon attached below , and share your activities on the following Facebook page so others can join you and for all of us to know what you are doing Facebook Event Page.
Join us in your own way to say that violence, whether in defense or for liberation, is not the answer. Only nonviolence, which dismantles systems of oppression and violence and calls for collective justice and equality, will ensure that Israelis and Palestinians can live together in safety, peace, and justice.
Goals:
- To create global momentum that transcends the dichotomy of right versus wrong and unites us in a collective call to end all suffering. Our aim is to move forward toward achieving peace and justice for everyone.
- We seek to establish a unified ritual space where we can come together to acknowledge and process the past. This includes confronting grief, grievances, and the structures and systems of oppression that have perpetuated suffering across decades.
- Our objective is to reframe the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in a way that fosters a shared vision of equality, justice, and reconciliation. By doing so, we hope to encourage and mobilize collective actions to end the suffering.
- We want to remind everyone that we are the change-makers we have been waiting for. If we don't act now, the suffering will continue and intensify.
You can join our facebook event page and add your event there
Explore our Tool Kit on how to participate in the Global Days of Remembrance and Action, filled with actionable steps and resources: Tool Kit
If you would like to cosponsor and have your event promoted through our network, please register using the following link: Google form
We are not alone in our commitment to honoring Every Life, A Universe. Others Every Life A Universe share our vision, working toward the same goal of celebrating human dignity and fostering peace. We encourage you to learn more about their efforts as we continue to grow our collective impact.
As of October 4, 2024, here are the campaign co-sponsors:
- Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
- Prayers for Peace Alliance
- Jefferson County Palestine Solidarity (Washington State)
- Epigenetic Alchemy
- Center for Jewish Nonviolence
- Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom (SOSS)
- Lindsay Stanek
- Combatants for Peace
- Euphrates Institute
- Peace Catalyst International
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." —Rumi
Watch the recording of the Q&A Panel Discussion on
In Conversation: "Humanity in Gaza" Revisited
Recording
Please share this information and flyers with your family, friends, neighbors, and community.
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Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace |
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To create a more nonviolent planet, national leaders at the UN Summit of the Future on Sept 22., adopted a ground-breaking Pact for the Future that also includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations (See UN adopts ground-breaking Pact for the Future to transform global governance, UN press release, September 22).
Following an unsuccessful effort by Russia and its allies yesterday morning to render the PACT toothless in national jurisdictions, it was adopted without vote, i.e. by consensus.
This Pact is the culmination of an inclusive, years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow. As the Secretary-General has said, “we cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents.”
While innovative and ground-breaking, the PACT is not as ambitious as hoped by many like-minded governments and civil society networks who had advanced a range of even stronger proposals for better global governance to ensure peace, environmental protection, human rights, democracy and sustainability for current and future generations. See, for example, the Peoples Pact for the Future.
Join civil society leaders from World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy (WFM) and Mobilizing an Earth Governance Alliance (MEGA) online today for an update on the Summit of the Future, the adoption of the PACT and where-to-from here.
The Flotilla ships currently being prevented from leaving port by the Turkish Port Authorities
on September 12 Freedom Flotilla has announced that the demonstration to release the Flotilla ships currently being prevented from leaving port by the Turkish Port Authorities, continues in Istanbul. and they are calling for help;
We need your help in getting international media to cover this historic protest and help put pressure on the government to release the ships, ensuring we can sail towards Gaza.
HOW TO HELP:
1. Call, email and/or demonstrate at Turkish embassies and consulates and demand that the Freedom Flotilla ships be released and allowed to deliver aid to Gaza immediately.
2. Tag mainstream accounts in this post or when you share our photos to your stories.
3. Message the social media page of the Ministry of Transport and Foreign Affairs @tcdisisleri & @uabakanligi on IG and on X
4. Share our videos using the hashtags #WeWillSail and #LetThemSail tagging @tcdisisleri and @uabakanligi
#WeWillSail #LetThemSail #TheFreedomFlotilla #FFC #Istanbul #Turkiye #Turkey #mavimarmara
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi Killed While Peacefully Protecting Palestinians
Nonviolence International has long supported third-party nonviolent action around the world and in Palestine/Israel through training, research, fiscal sponsorship, and advocacy. NVI strongly encourages well-meaning visitors, delegations, and organized solidarity accompaniment and co-resistance to go to Palestine/Israel. This page highlights some of the many activities by courageous international people and groups in Palestine/Israel who seek to protect civilians and human rights.
On September 3, 2024, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi traveled to the occupied West Bank to join the unarmed civilian protection (UCP) group, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM)/Faz3a. According to her family, she felt a deep responsibility to stand with Palestinian civilians facing ongoing repression and violence, particularly from settlers. On September 6, 2024, while attending a peaceful protest in Beita, Eygi was tragically shot in the head by an Israeli soldier. Source.
A photo of Aysenur Eygi during her graduation.
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was born on July 27, 1998, in Turkey and raised in Seattle, Washington. She graduated from Seattle Central College in 2022 with an Associate’s degree in Art and completed her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of Washington in June 2024. She was actively involved in pro-Palestinian activism and was considering pursuing graduate studies in Near Eastern archaeology.
Nonviolence International, an organization dedicated to promoting nonviolent resistance and human rights, strongly condemns the killing of Eygi. We express deep outrage at the violent suppression of peaceful protests towards both Palestinians and internationals. This tragic incident underscores the dangers faced by activists advocating for basic human and civil rights in the occupied territories. Nonviolence International reaffirms its commitment to supporting peaceful activism and standing in solidarity with those resisting oppression.
Please call on the United Nations, Turkey, and the United States of America to launch independent investigations and to take measures to protect everyone.
To support our partners involved in UCP in Palestine, please visit the following:
https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/ucpnp_partner
https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/ffc_freedom_flotilla_coalition
https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/cjnv_partner