The World Federation of Democratic Youth joins the Mandela family, South African people and all progressive youth movements in remembering the 20th Anniversary after the release of Cde Nelson Mandela from the notorious Robben Island Prison of the apartheid regime.We once again re-affirm our support for the great revolutionary leader who has stood firm and focused to defend the imperialist machinations and unconditionally defended the revolution for a free South Africa.

Today, the same imperialist regimes continue to craft draconian laws to further oppress innocent people of the world under the so called banners of the rule of law, democracy and terrorist activities amongst other endless list of imperial propaganda language.

WFDY still stand side by side with revolutionaries who resisted and who still resist all forms of oppression, leaders like Cde Mandela who made South Africa to illuminate with glory over the achievements they made in developing their countries.

On behalf of member and friendly organizations, the World Federation of Democratic Youth therefore salute Cde Nelson Mandela for the role he has played as a courageous father-figure, a role model par excellence and we applaud him for the historical role he has played in uniting the progressive masses of not South Africa but the world at large. His highest level of his sacrifice goes a long way in teaching us, the youth of today, to actively participate in resisting all forms of oppression for a better and peaceful world.

The World Federation of Democratic Youth General Council Meeting successfully took place in Beirut, Lebanon from 5-8 February 2010. Around 80 delegates of 47 organizations attended the meeting and discussed on a number of issues on how we can revamp our struggles as one of the few international youth organisation which openly denounces illegal occupations and all forms of imperialism amongst other issues.
For the first time in the history of the Federation, the International Consultative Meeting accepted and unanimously agreed to the bid by the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) to host the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students in December 2010. The preparation process has since kicked off on a high note to ensure that the biggest ever youth congregation can attend the festival in a country whose brave and steadfast leadership defeated and ended the brutal rule of the apartheid regime.
In the political statement released all progressive organisations noted with great concern the continued imperialistic intervention in both Western Sahara and Palestine. In the same vein and context, a high powered delegation led by WFDY visited the Palestine refugee camps in Lebanon to exchange notes and to express WFDY solidarity with the people of Palestine in exile and occupied territories.
The meeting also reaffirmed its position as a follow up to the General Assembly resolutions regarding its continued solidarity with the situation and people of Haiti, Cyprus, Burma, Cuba, Sudan, Zimbabwe and other nations where the unrepentant imperialist god-fathers seek to impose some unscrupulous governments through the back door.
The meeting also applauded WFDY for its stance on a self funded federation whose principled views and responsibilities are bound by the financial support from member organisations as compared to other political stooges (imperialist projects) which are masked as international independent political outfits who play the game according to the needs of their imperial donors.
We once again applaud the host organisation (ULDY) for the generous hospitality and warm welcome for all the delegates who attended the General Council Meeting in Beirut.
The General Council meeting further urged all progressive revolutionaries to remain united and focused to achieve a world free of military bases, colonialism, apartheid, illegal occupation, racism and all forms of imperialist aggressions.