The 3rd Nyéléni Global Forum closes as social movements set a political agenda for mobilisation, resistance and just alternatives, paving the way toward system change

The 3rd Nyéléni Global Forum ended in Kandy, Sri Lanka, with a declaration highlighting a strong, people-centred political agenda for systemic change. The forum brought together social movements and peoples from around the world in a convergence process. The commitments in the declaration reflect the interconnectedness of justice struggles, and advance proposals from territories and grassroots communities for food sovereignty, global justice and systemic change. It lists nearly ten actions and steps to be taken as well as various campaigns.

“Our unity stems from our firm belief in the power of peoples to bring about transformative change that counters the rise of fascism and the far right, and upholds peoples’ rights and internationalist solidarity. In Kandy, we deepened our collective analysis of the crises we face and paved the way forward in our convergence. We are committed to building communities of resistance and hope, and advancing a feminist just transition”

Lise Masson
Climate Justice and Energy Coordinator, Friends of the Earth International

In Kandy, popular and social movements highlighted the critical struggles against fascism, imperialism, colonialism, capitalism and the systems of oppression they fuel: patriarchy, misogyny, racism, worker exploitation, destruction of territories, privatisation and financialisation. The declaration reiterated a collective commitment to the struggles for systemic change.

As part of that change, the Nyéléni declaration highlights that social movements and communities around the world are advancing feminist economies that centre life, food sovereignty and the right to food, agroecological practices that promote peoples’ rights, from rivers and lakes, across lands to the sea.

“Following this long process of the Nyéléni Forums, which began in 2007, we have now taken a historic step in the 3rd edition in Kandy. In our demands for food sovereignty and the right to food, we placed at the centre of the debate the urgency of a profound systemic transformation and the need to dismantle corporate power, as well as the structures of oppression that aim to divide us. We are advancing our demands in a way that centres sovereignty and dignity for our people.”

Mariann Bassey, Coordinator of the Food Sovereignty programme
Friends of the Earth Africa

“Justice and liberation for Palestine have been present throughout these days in Kandy, always at the heart of our struggles. The genocide perpetrated by Israel, and fueled by the same complicit transnational corporations that put our communities on the frontline of injustice, is the clearest manifestation of the imperialist system of destruction and devastation. We are uncompromising in our condemnation of the genocide in Gaza and in our demand that it be brought to an urgent end. We will not rest until all those responsible and complicit in it are held accountable for their crimes.”

Mageswari Sangaralingam
SAM / Friends of the Earth Malaysia and Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific

“Nyéléni is a process of struggle, resistance and convergence. It did not begin with the organisation of this 3rd forum, nor does it end with its conclusion. Deeply committed to systemic change, we will strengthen our vision for transformative change, and political formation process, our collective action, and mass mobilisation. We have defined next steps, actions and campaigns to give continuity to our popular mobilisation, strengthen our resistance and scale up our alternatives for a world with social, environmental, economic and gender justice. We are in this together. Systemic transformation, now and forever!”

Martín Drago, Coordinator of the Food Sovereignty programme
Friends of the Earth International