This year the CIVICUS World Assembly returns to Canada after 9 years. Montreal will host the next 3 World Assemblies from 2010-2012, the first of which will take place from 20-23 August this year. Those of you who have participated in previous World Assemblies know that they are the most significant global gathering of civil society, donors, government, international institutions, business and media seeking collaborative ways to strengthen the rights of citizens everywhere to exist, express and engage collectively. The CIVICUS World Assemblies have earned global recognition for their success in facilitating the exchange of state-of-the-art views on the critical issues confronting civil society. As one of the few venues that enable engagement across the diversity of civil society entities and between civil society and other key stakeholders, they have been described as both unique and invaluable.
These attributes are of greater significance than ever this year. In the wake of the financial and economic crises and the inadequacy of the solutions that have seen the light of day thus far, we face a heightened need to amplify the voices that are seldom heard in the corridors of global power. With fiscal pressures mounting on both the poorest and the wealthiest nations, and the growing economic and political importance of the emerging economies, the debates around development cooperation too have an enhanced criticality. Adding further significance to this year's Assembly is the shadow of COP-15 and the subversion of the prospects of a fair, ambitious, binding agreement on climate.
It is fitting, therefore, that the CIVICUS World Assembly, which is designed to build coherence and critical mass around the theme Acting Together for a Just World, will this year focus on economic justice as its core theme underpinned by development effectiveness and climate justice. Since the crises broke in late 2008, civil society voices around the world have responded - by highlighting their disproportionate impact on the poor and marginalised, by pointing out the opportunities for structural reform of our systems of economic and financial regulation and governance, and by advocating for solutions that address the root causes of the crises rather than superficial quick fixes that only postpone and exacerbate the problems.
In Montreal this August the CIVICUS World Assembly will bring together these strands under the umbrella Seeking Out Solutions. This year's assembly, hosted by our partner, Institut du Nouveau Monde, will use contemporary tools and methodologies to synthesise creative thinking from diverse actors towards evolving ways forward built on shared values of equity, justice, inclusiveness and accountability.
We're delighted that the World Assemblies in Montreal will include the Youth assemblies pioneered at the Glasgow Assemblies. This year's Youth Assembly will commence on 19 August.
Whether you are trying to make sense of the puzzle, have a key piece to add to the jigsaw or both - you need to be at the CIVICUS World Assembly this year. Registrations are open at https://www.civicusassembly.org. Early bird discounts end on 30 April. You can get any details or clarifications you need by e-mailing worldassembly@civicus.org . See you in Montreal!
In solidarity,
Ingrid Srinath
Secretary General