Documents
Peace for Ukraine
In the face of the attack and invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the ILRS approves the following declaration at the Helsinki Congress on March 18-19, 2022:
- 1.There is no just war. This war has caused thousands of deaths and injuries and several million displaced people and refugees fleeing from the bombs. In the world of the 21st century we cannot afford this serious humanitarian crisis. Our solidarity is in the first place with the Ukrainian people and their resistance to the invasion
- The attack carried out by Putin on behalf of the Russian nation is a completely unjustified aggression, of unprecedented gravity, and a flagrant violation of international law that puts global security and stability at risk.
- 3.We demand a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian military forces to give diplomacy and dialogue a real opportunity for a fair peace agreement.
- The solution of differences must take place within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, through peaceful and diplomatic means.
- ILRS praises the decision of the European Union to grant Temporary International Protection to Ukrainian refugees, but from our religious inspiration, we cannot accept the unequal treatment of other refugees from other parts of the world, p.e from Syria war.
- ILRS considers religions to be religions of peace. The name of God cannot be used to justify war, nor violence against people. The Totally Other, with multiple names, is the principle of love, brotherhood and peace between people and peoples.
- ILRS supports all efforts by citizens and organizations and institutions to welcome Ukrainian refugees, especially children, sick and elderly people.
- ILRS shares the decision of the European Union to act with instruments of economic, commercial and diplomatic pressure towards Russia and giving material to Ukraine.
- Our solidarity with the Russian people who demonstrate against the war and suffer reprisals for their freedom of thought, demonstration and dissent with respect to their authorities.
- Finally, ILRS is aware of the impact of this war on world geopolitics. Once again, politics faces uncertain events that were unthinkable a few years ago. It seems that we are leaving open globalization behind to re-enter a historical stage dominated by polarization into geopolitical blocs. Even more, in the face of the new fight between democracy and autocracy, we want to ratify our option for democracy as the best system in accordance with freedom and human dignity.
Migration and diversity
In the face of world-wide growing movements of refugees, the ILRS approves the following declaration at the Helsinki Congress on March 18-19, 2022:
ILRS works for a world where diversity is the basis for personal and societal development. All countries have a duty to receive people in need of protection and to work internationally to strengthen the rights of people on the run. ILRS is a faith-based socialist movement. We want to actively fight racism, discrimination, and xenophobia in society.
Migration has been as much a part of human history as it is of being a resident.
Migration can take place voluntarily, most often financially motivated, or forced, for example because of hunger, war, or human trafficking. There are good reasons to assume that global migration will increase, due to poverty, ecological disasters, violent conflicts, and population growth. ILRS wants a humane and solidary refugee and asylum policy.
In many countries, immigration will be necessary to cover the need for labor in the future. The diversity in a multicultural society is a good thing. It makes society richer in knowledge, language, cultural expressions, opinions, and views on life.
In the multicultural society, there must be room for differences in way of life, culture, and religion. For such a society to function, there must also be a set of common rights and obligations.
In a society with great diversity of beliefs and ways of living, countries must have a policy that is open-minded to religions and different visions of life. ILRS will work for respect for the individual’s freedom of faith.
Inclusion is about having equal opportunities and equal duties to contribute and to participate in the community. Inclusion is a two-way process. Both society at large and minorities and individuals must adapt. ILRS believes that a policy of work for all and reduced class differences are the most important contribution for a better inclusion.
Religious Diversity
The world society faces challenges no country can solve alone. ILRS wants a rule-governed and better organized world.
The social democratic and socialist movement arose as a reaction to class societies where people were systematically discriminated against. Respect for the fundamental rights of all people is the basis of our commitment.
A just world is also an equal world. Women’s active participation in society creates development and growth.
Faith has a completely natural place in the public space, the individual takes his or her faith with him/her everywhere in life. The role of states in relation to religion should be to create space for diversity and ensure the possibility to conduct religious activities.
ILRS believes that all people have an equal right to free religious practice and participation.
The social democratic and socialist movement is based on the organization of workers, political activity, and the building of party organizations. The right to organize is a hallmark of a free society. All movements must have the same right.
ILRS stands for democracy and the rule of law. In many countries, free media and independent courts are put under pressure. Freedom of association, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly are threatened.
The ILRS calls on social democratic and socialist parties to defend human rights by ensuring that the courts are free and independent and by working to strengthen freedom of expression and religion, and the freedom for assemblies and associations.
Statement on COVID Pandemic
After more than two years of world-wide management with the COVID pandemic, the ILRS approves the following declaration at the Helsinki Congress on March 18-19, 2022:
The COVID pandemic is a milestone in our recent history. A global experience of vulnerability, suffering and death. Its effects will be with us for years to come. This unprecedented crisis has revealed and increased the perverse effects of some economic, political and social dynamics that already existed and has highlighted others that offer opportunities to promote care for life. We are on the verge of making a part of humanity immune to this virus and we run the risk of letting ourselves be carried away by the desire to quickly turn the page to forget this bad dream.
- COVID has called into question the paradigm of self-sufficiency. It has brought us back to the human condition: we are vulnerable. We are ecodependent and interdependent organisms within a biosphere where everything is connected to everything else. The eco-interdependence that forms our backbone makes us all responsible for the rest of humanity and the planet.
- The pandemic has meant a setback in the fight against poverty reduction and an increase in inequalities. It has exacerbated these inequalities even with regard to the distribution of death in relation to our social organization. The distribution of wealth clearly explains the impact of the virus and its unequal impact by geographical area. We see it the same way in the distribution of vaccines globally. It has shown the limitations that our economic system has to guarantee the basic rights of all people, especially those who are in a situation of vulnerability.
- The pandemic has brought about an explosion in the complexity of politics: public health or economic recovery; social control or individual freedom; where the policy of reducing expenses prevailed, now it is time to increase them; Given the difficulties experienced to guarantee food sovereignty, protectionism is promoted where free trade was previously advocated, etc. Politics faces a problem that is epistemological rather than epidemiological. Politics needs new thinking prepared to deal with complexity.
- Uncertainty is the sign of these current times and it extends before a panorama that does not call for optimism. Likewise, individualistic dynamics, selfishness and isolation are increased; suspicion about the “other” increases; emotions prevail over knowledge and the community sense of belonging, key to participation and democracy, diminishes. The media promote a dynamic of “permanent excitement” that contributes to further promoting social alarm and fear. Security appears as a great emerging value of the pandemic. With it, the social rise of far-right populist political movements.
- It is necessary to have a State capable of guaranteeing basic universal rights to the entire population. We cannot subordinate the management of basic services and the guarantee of rights to the dynamics of the free market. To this end, it is urgent to implement a tax reform that contributes to a redistribution of wealth and a review of public policies and the participation of social agents to guarantee their orientation towards the common good. The dynamics of empowerment of the administration and reorientation to the common good of the economic dynamics of the market must be accompanied by an increase in the role of participation and control by citizens. We need a strong state and a strong civil society.
- Although the European Union reacted to the Global Recession of 2008 with austerity policies that widened inequality between countries and social classes, it has reacted to Covid-19 by increasing public spending, reinforcing solidarity between countries by committing to social cohesion . The European vaccine purchase policy has also had great symbolic force. This European Union does give confidence to citizens.