It is remarkable to see how capable farmers are of expressing their views (when given an opportunity to take the floor).

It is moving to see the  women rise and voice their concerns.

It is a joy to see so many organisations work together in a spirit of commitment for a better world.

After three days of work in 2 panels and 30 workshops and several informal groups, the following strong points stood out at the end of this exceptional meeting:

Final declaration  of the Second Social Forum in Burkina Faso 

Following the first Social Forum of March 2007 in Loumbila (Province of Oubritenga) the representatives of various civil society organisations from Mali, Togo, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso and Europe worked together to fulfil the wish for a second forum, which took place in Ouahigouya (Yatenga) on March 27-29 this year, on the subject of regional integration and food sovereignty.

The Forum convinced us beyond doubt of the need to gather our strength to build a world of more dignity and fairness,  on the basis of a more humane economy that would save our planet from  programmed self-destruction. 

Indeed we in the West African sub-region, which for centuries has been the victim of looting, orchestrated and maintained by the powerful of this world,  now have  a duty  to fight for a better life for ourselves and our children.

Therefore the Ouahigouya Social Forum of 2008 is  an expression of the solidarity needed to make ourselves heard in our refusal to continue to be subjected to neo-liberal policies, based on  an exclusively mercantile outlook. 

At the end of the three days  the forum adopted the following recommendations, to be addressed to all leaders and to all those sensitive to the danger into which humanity is sinking. It is urgent that we take a different direction and therefore,  we, the participants of the  2008 Social Forum in Ouahigouya

• reconfirm our rejection of all the neo-liberal policies and their offspring, even in disguise,  imposed on our people;
• strongly reject the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in their present form;
• condemn any violation of human rights in our countries and demand the leaders of the sub-region to work for a speedy and real integration of our peoples;
• reiterate our rejection of corruption and bad governance in our nations in all areas of public administration. They are a source of injustice, violence and breach of fundamental human rights.
• furthermore reaffirm our commitment to produce what we consume and to consume what we produce,  to support our producers and live a healthier life. We insistently demand the adoption of an authentic and more coherent agricultural policy, which
• includes food sovereignty
• takes the legitimate demands of producers into account
• protects our products by customs duties of up to 50%
• gives priority to locally selected and enhanced seeds
• rejects GMOs, which are a threat to our agriculture and environment and nail us                    down in deeper dependence      
• re-values cotton prices,  refuses Monsanto’s Bt cotton  and promotes organic cotton   
• avours local production that gives producers a fair remuneration and puts particular emphasis on the organic sector
• puts in place an efficient network for the production and marketing of agricultural products
• takes better account of  cattle farming and local milk production, improving animal feed and sustaining local milk and the Burkina Lait brand.

The fight against the high cost of living can only have effect within the framework of a real agricultural policy.

It must be recalled that there can be no food sovereignty without secure land tenure. Nobody has the right to take possession of land to the detriment of inhabitants and food production.

Let us forcefully insist on

• the development of a real integration policy for our sub-region
• the removal of barriers at national borders to permit the free movement of people, which is a basic right
• a  valid promotion of  our rich cultural heritage
• the same rights for migrants as for the people of the host country
• the improvement of water management in the sub-region, since water is a public asset
• harmonisation and co-ordination of the education and health systems,  better connection between road and rail infra-structures, power lines and all the means of communication to bring about rapid integration of the sub-continent
• more respect for women throughout the sub-region, by improving communication between men and women, educating young boys and cultivating solidarity between women and by promoting a culture of peace.

Yes, another world is possible,  a world in which every man and woman can find   their place and dignity , where they can  work and live in peace, as the human being will be  the centre of political and economic concerns. Yes, another world is possible, if we stay together, united in solidarity, to fight for the world we want. Another world is possible, another Africa is possible, another West Africa is possible and another Burkina Faso is possible.

The participants of the forum.

 You will find all documents and pictures concerning the forum at forumsocialburkina.info