The World Federation of Democratic Youth, committed to the cause of anti-imperialist struggle, carried out an important international solidarity mission to Western Sahara on 2 to 11 of December. The organization of this mission was decided before the Assembly in the framework of the decisions taken then, to continue organizing international missions such as the mission to Egypt and Palestine. After the Assembly and its decisions, this mission had even greater importance as the final documentation of the Assembly, among other decisions, underlined and ratified the importance of this missions and of course the importance to support and express solidarity to the struggle of the people of Western Sahara against the Moroccan occupation.

The organization of the mission was carried out by the member organizations of WFDY, UJCE from Spain and the comrades of UJSARIO of Western Sahara. The mission had participation of 37 comrades from 3 countries and had the opportunity to meet with very important persons of the political life of Western Sahara, of Polisario and UJSARIO and of course with young Sahrawi’s that fight for freedom, against imperialism. The most important meeting was with the General Secretary and President of Sahrawi Arab Republic, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz. The mission also met with the President of the parliament, the coordinator of the Sahrawi with MINURSO (UN mission in W. Sahara), with the Governor of Esmara, representatives of local authorities and other organizations of the Sahrawi movement.

Another part of the mission consisted by a member of UJCE travelled directly to the occupied territories of Western Sahara and despite the continuous surveillance by the Moroccan occupying forces he met with members of the Sahrawi resistance and participated in their demonstrations and actions.

Given the opportunity the mission also visited schools, institutions and museums to better understand the historical development of the struggle of the Sahrawi people and also to witness the efforts that the Sahrawi people take to organize the life in the refugee camps in a just and democratic way overcoming the difficulties that are consequences of the occupation. It is worth mentioning also that during the mission the delegates had the opportunity to participate in a conference titled: “Imperialism, war and occupation in the world today. The response of the peoples”, which had a great success. Another important moment of the mission was the visit to the “Wall of Shame”, the wall that the occupation force of Morocco raised with the false belief that the Sahrawi’s would stop their struggle for freedom and self determination.

The people and youth of Western Sahara have been victims of the European and Moroccan colonialism for more than a century. They continue their struggle for the establishment of a free and independent State. Their struggle for a peaceful and just settlement finds obstacles put by the Moroccan government, which is supported by other imperialist forces, especially in Europe. For more than 20 years the Sahrawi try with peaceful means to take what is rightfully theirs but the Moroccan side refuses to collaborate.

On the contrary the Moroccan government represses the Sahrawi that live in the occupied territories, arrests those who resist and continue the exploitation of the natural resources of Western Sahara.

The World Federation of Democratic Youth condemns the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. We demand the liberation of the political prisoners and we stand in solidarity with the 36 Sahrawi prisoners who are on hunger strike in prisons of Morocco and who were detained after the massacre of Gdeim Izik.

WFDY stands in solidarity with the people and the youth of Western Sahara. We support the right of the Sahrawi people for self determination, for freedom and independence. Their struggle against the Moroccan occupation is a struggle against imperialism. We know that the path of the struggle is difficult especially considering the support that Morocco has by its imperialist allies who have financial interest in the area, but we are sure the popular resistance of the Sahrawi people and the international solidarity of the anti-imperialist movement will prevail, bringing closer the day of victory, a victory not only for the Sahrawi but also for the anti-imperialist movement.

The World Peace Council and the World Federation of Democratic Youth are uniting their voices with the hundreds of millions of peace loving people, the Youth and Students in all corners of the world, in solidarity with the people of Palestine which is suffering a slow genocide under the occupation of its territories. The case of the ongoing occupation of Palestine by the Israeli regime constitutes a crime against humanity and a flagrant provocation against the thousands who suffered and struggled heroically for the noble goal of freedom and justice. Despite the many concessions made from Palestinian side during the years in order to find a viable and just solution, the governments of Israel and the current one, refuse to accept the right of the Palestinian People for their independent State alongside Israel.

We express our sincere and full-hearted solidarity with the Palestinian men and women, the youth and the students in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem in their desire to end the humiliation, the discrimination and the occupation.

We condemn the support US imperialism is giving throughout the years to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the hypocritical policy of the E.U. which is keeping “equal distance” from the aggressors and the victims.

We consider it to be the high time to have this year in September the recognition of the independent State of Palestine within the borders of 4th June 1967 and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

We call upon the Member States of the UN to adopt in the General Assembly this proposal and the United Nations as such, to proceed with the necessary steps to ensure this demand which is being embraced by the vast majority of the nations in the world.

We underline our demands for the release of all Palestinian political prisoners from Israeli jails and the right for Palestinian refugees for their return according to the UN Resolution 194.

We furthermore salute the peace loving forces inside Israel who struggle side by side with the Palestinians for their just cause and reiterate our solidarity to all peoples in the region who are struggling against imperialism, its mechanisms and policies.

Lastly we underline our categorical rejection to the foreign occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and to the ongoing imperialist aggression against the people of Libya as well as against any foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the countries of the region. The peoples have the sovereign right to determine and fight for their freedom, democracy and social justice.

Under this light WFDY and the WPC will undertake a common initiative and organize a solidarity mission to Palestine during September 18-22, 2011 to meet with Youth and Peace organizations in order to express our strong support to the campaign for the recognition of the independent State of Palestine and our concrete solidarity with the peoples under occupation.

The World Federation of Democratic Youth would like to extend its greeting message to global youth on the occasion of 93rd birth Day of Nelson Mandela- to uphold his sprit to fight against the social and political injustices, hatred and subordination.

The icon of anti-apartheid struggle aspired globally not only being a revolutionary fighter from his young age to fight for justice, equality and human liberty- but also due to proving himself as a symbol of peace and harmony to bring his nation into reconciliation with ‘forget and forgiveness’ despite all his suffering from apartheid regime backed by imperialist forces that caged him into prison for 27 years of life.

His untiring struggle against apartheid, way of handling peace and reconciliation- and his vision of humanism, global equity and justice are not only the assets of South African people- but also the sources of inspiration to the people of third world and the globe. We think the decision of UN General Assembly in 2009 to celebrate ‘Nelson Mandela International Day’ is appreciative step that recognizes a 67 years of heroic fight of an African leader. It is also inspirational to uphold the path of justice and freedom for new generations.

WFDY had been actively supporting the cause of anti-apartheid struggle and had organized ranges of programs demanding to release Nelson Mandela during 70ties and 80ties. Many world youth festivals had committed to extend the solidarity and support programs for anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. We feel really proud that the clarion call of WFDY to global youth to protest apartheid regime and its series campaigns had helped a lot to internationalize the issue at the greater extend.

After two decades of freedom from apartheid, WFDY had the opportunity to convene its 17th World Festival of Youth and Students in South Africa in 2010 dedicating it to the name of Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro. It was really a cheerful movement for global youth that they had the chance to visit the country of Mandela for the cause that they had been supporting and extending solidarity for decades and to echo solidarity voice for others from platform of 17th WFYS.

We wish for his good health on this occasion that we could still feel him in person to inspire the anti -imperialist, progressive and democratic young people in the world- to fight for freedom, peace, harmony, equity and justice in the world.