Final Declaration
 

 Freedom and democratic rights are fundamental values of all the peoples and youths of the world, inherent in a society that dignifies the human being and moves toward social progress.

The youths of the world are currently faced with one of the most violent and aggressive imperialist offences ever, namely regarding the respect to the freedom of association and organization, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and protest.

The struggle for liberties, rights and guarantees is a reality nowadays, in a moment of dangerous attacks by the most reactionary forces of entire world, sustained by the growing of work’s exploitation, diminishing real wages, increasing unemployment, privatization of the health, education and social security systems, and the regression in matters of human development and environment.

After the events of September 11th, 2001 we find ourselves in a new and dangerous phase, marked by the militarization of international relations, increase of imperialist aggression, increased racism and xenophobia, attacks to democratic rights, threat of nuclear weapon’s use by the imperialist powers, increased race to armament and ever evolving competition and contradiction between imperialist forces.

With the perceived war on terrorism, several countries dominated by imperialism have increased “security measures” that have no other effect than the diminishing of conquered liberties, rights and guarantees of the people and the oppression and repression against them. Behind the facade of the war on terrorism, there is the goal to create conditions for the constant violation of human rights.

Examples of these violations are before us: the torture used by the CIA (with the authorization of the US President) over supposed terrorists in clandestine prisons all over the world, from Afghanistan to the European Union countries; the use, also by the CIA, of civilian planes that fly unreservedly all around the world to capture prisoners illegally and imprison them afterwards; the uncontrolled inspections and monitoring of phone calls and e-mails; the limitation (and even abolishment in certain situations) of the right to demonstrate; the permit for unsubstantiated arrests and imprisonments included in the proposed European Constitution, which was rejected by the French and Dutch people.

Imperialism promotes a milieu of insecurity, fear and terror to demobilize the struggle and maintain its power. The utilization, supported by the media, of the Madrid and London blasts is an example of these tactics. In this framework and transmitting the idea of actions to “liberate the people”, imperialism tries to justify the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. All over the world, the youth expressed their repudiation of imperialist wars and continue to demand the withdrawal of troops still occupying Afghanistan and Iraq.

The proclaimed war on terrorism, so often used by the United States and submissive allies, is a strategy to maintain its global hegemony. The problem of terrorism, including the terrorism used by these governments, can only be solved with equality, democracy and social justice. The question of terrorism can only be resolved with the end of state terrorism. An example of state terrorism is practises by the US from the beginning against Cuba, as witnessed in the case of Posada Carilles left free, whereas the five Cubans who were in Miami fighting against terrorism are jailed in this country where their rights are systematically violated.

Under the umbrella of “security measures”, there is the attempt to equate terrorism with resistance and progressive battles of youth and people. It is the attempt to criminalize progressive and resistance forces, which stand in the way of capitalist exploitation and domination, with the goal to repress whoever struggle organized. Not only is it an attempt to criminalize the experiences of building socialism, by equating it with crimes and terror, but, above all, it is the criminalization of the communist ideal itself, and of the struggle for the transformation of the society.

Nowadays, besides the fascist and the most reactionary forces, the social-democrat forces advance on the attempt to repress and illegalize progressive organizations. The presentation of the “Anti-Communist Motion” in the Council of Europe is an outstanding example of this.

The detention and torture of members of the League of Communist Leninist Youth of Ukraine (LKSMU) by those country’s authorities under false criminal and terrorist pretext; the recent attempt to illegalize the Communist Youth Union of the Czech Republic (KSM) by that country’s government; the persecution and attempt to criminalize the Communist Youth of Colombia (JUCO) are only some recent examples of repression against communist and progressive organizations. We also condemn the repression and persecutory actions of many US governments against organisations and actions of the youth, an example of which is the struggle of Spanish youth who publicly expressed their support for a Republic. Also in Portugal, the parties that serve the great capital (Socialist and Social-Democrat Parties) have approved a new ‘party organization and financing’ law which is undemocratic, unconstitutional and is clearly targeting the Portuguese Communist Party, its superior democratic functioning, its character, objectives and what it represents to the Portuguese working class, youth and people. More recently we have assisted to the limitation of liberties and democratic rights trough restrictions to the right of protest, with police intimidations, and to the freedom of expression and political affirmation in the streets.

The European Union, driven by the bourgeoisie of the member-states and by multi-national capital, reinforced by right wing and social-democrat forces, moves towards the reinforcement of neo-liberalism as an imperialist power. Its politics strongly contribute to the worsening of the current international situation. The European social-democracy positions itself side by side with the hegemonic goals of the USA. The EU imperialist intervention in internal political systems of country members to incorporate the political parties in its aims has assumed many ways.

Presently the European youth struggle against labour precariousness. An example of this is the struggle of the French youth a few weeks ago for the revoking of the First Employment Contract (CPE). It is important to strengthen the struggle against national laws and the proposal of the Bolkstein directive which only helped to increase this precariousness. We also have to struggle against the objective of commercialization of education as expressed by the Bologna Process

This increase in the imperialist offence against the youth and the workers has only been made possible by the change in the international balance of forces. The disappearance of the Soviet Union and of the eastern socialist states has allowed the North American and EU imperialism to act freely. The existence of the Soviet Union allowed for the creation and development of many progressive actions and battles all over the world and the affirmation of the example and rights of the workers and people.

The imperialist forces have declared the death of the communist ideal. This proclamation does not reflect the reality, though, for they feel the need to constantly attempt to attack it once they know of the vivacity and attraction of the progressive and emancipating ideals among the young people. Therefore the young people are the main target of imperialism’s ideological offence and of its actions to blank and rewrite the history, namely trough the content of school curricula.

All over the world, the youth struggles and resists against the strategy of capital and imperialism, against exploitation, blockades and embargos and all forms of discrimination. The youth struggles for a peaceful world, free of nuclear weapons, for social justice, national sovereignty and independence, self-determination, democracy, safety, international cooperation and solidarity. Youths struggle for human rights, women’s rights, sexual and reproductive rights, sustainable development and the environment. Fight for jobs and labour rights, for the right to education and knowledge, for healthcare, for access to exercise and sports, for access to culture and technology. They resist and fight for other society, more just, where the human being is the protagonist.

Despite the strong imperialistic assault throughout the world, the organization, conscientiousness and mobilization of youth continues to grow; the anti-imperialistic movements and the progressive forces continue to resist and strengthen in defence of the needs and interests of the people and of the exploited stratums of the society, in defence and conquest of liberties, rights and guarantees.

The road to the defence of the rights of the youth includes their exercise, and day-by-day making these rights acquired and due. The struggle must always be connected to daily life at school, at work, in the neighbourhood and these must reinforce the global fight against capitalism through the national struggles and increase youths’ awareness, strengthening the student and youth associative movement and the fair and correct demands of the youth masses for the transformation of the concrete reality.

The involvement of young people to create even more diverse international solidarity and cooperation’s actions, become extremely important in the international scenario, to reinforce the anti-imperialist struggle.

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