Defiant Tunisia Hosts the World Social Forum · Global Voices
Afef Abrougui

Tunisia hosts the World Social Forum for the second time in a row
Less than a week after the deadly attack on the Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis, which left 20 tourists and a police officer dead, Tunisia is hosting the 10th edition of the World Social Forum (WSF).
Following the attack on March 18, there were fears that the forum might be cancelled. However, the organizing committee issued a statement declaring that the forum is not going to be cancelled and that all of its activities are maintained.
Through this attack, terrorist groups attempted to undermine the democratic transition Tunisia and the region are currently experiencing while creating a climate of fear amongst citizens who aspire to freedom, democracy and pacific participation in establishing democracy.
The quick response from the social movement and all the political bodies in Tunisia opposed to terrorism, calling upon unity to fight it, proves how Tunisians care about their recent democratic experience. The social movement in Tunisia and the region counts on the global support of democratic forces to oppose violence and terrorism.
More than ever, the massive participation to the WSF (Tunis 24th-28th March 2015) will be the appropriate answer from all the peace and democratic forces towards a better, more fair and free world made of pacific co-existence.
In fact, the maintaining of the forum is perceived as a strong response to the Bardo Museum attack.
Nessryne said:
Despite the shock and the sadness, I cannot wait for the #WSF2015. Activism, struggle and life must go on. #BardoAttack
— Nessryne J (@sasoukee) March 21, 2015
While the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey tweeted:
World Social Forum 2015 is about to start in #Tunis. Best answer 2 Bardo massacre is building another world! #WSF2015 pic.twitter.com/EptYl25Pkd
— LabourNews #Turkey (@KivancEliacikEN) March 23, 2015
The World Social Forum is an anti-globalization and anti-capitalism meeting of civil society organizations. It first met in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2001, as a response to the World Economic Forum. It serves as a space for reflection to groups and movements that oppose no-liberalism and strive for social and economic justice.
Human rights advocate Rae Abileah explains:
The World Social Forum is about learning how to translate our struggles & work in coalition – @ActionAid #FSM2015
— Rae Abileah (@raeabileah) March 23, 2015
We don't want to take a nice photo with world leaders in Davos. We want to hold them accountable in #Tunis! @ActionAid #FSM2015
— Rae Abileah (@raeabileah) March 23, 2015
The Dakar-based Flamme d’ Afrique tweeted on 24 March:
Les peuples du monde se donnent RDV à Tunis pour s'indigner face aux inégalités dans notre monde et prêcher pour un monde meilleur #WSF2015
— Flamme Afrique (@Flamme_Afrique) March 24, 2015
Peoples of the world will be meeting in Tunis to express anger at the inequalities of our world and preach for a better one
The forum kicked off on Wednesday afternoon with an anti-terror march to the Bardo Museum.
2015 World Social Forum delegates march to the Bardo Museum, where two gunmen killed 21 people on 18 March. Photo shared on Twitter by @arabesque_tn
Le #FSM2015 à #Tunis est une excellente occasion pour affirmer que la lutte contre le #terrorisme passe aussi par la justice social #FSM
— Seif Eddine TRABELSI (@seifeddinetr) March 24, 2015
The World Social Forum in Tunis is an excellent reminder that counter-terrorism also requires social justice
This is the second time in a row Tunisia hosts the forum. Tunis has already hosted the 2013 edition. During the five-day event, 70,000 delegates from more than 4,000 organizations representing countries from across the world, will be discussing a wide range of issues and topics including, climate justice, immigration, media freedom, women's rights, refugees and energy.