Category Archives: TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

India and Pakistan: A Conversation That Refused To End

DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY .

Special to CPN from Nawal Amjad

On Thursday, 2 July 2026, people from two countries with one of the greatest global flashpoints came together — India and Pakistan. These countries fought a war last year, but here is thing about the need to pursue peace: it is not a permanent end goal but a continuous process — and every worthwhile process has to be revived like it did not exist, but also like it never stopped.

The event was hosted in collaboration by civil society organizations like, Socialist Yuvjan Sabha (India), Socialist Students’ Union (India) with Centre for Peace and Secular Studies (Pakistan), including luminaries like Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Ms. Lalita Ramdas and Ms. Diep Saeeda, who enabled the space for a discussion between people of the two countries.

The event was moderated by Rumaan Mecci (India) and Ahmad Raza (Pakistan), who navigated the event with all their light whether there was no electricity or internet (quite literally), or there were other bleak moments from some trolls in the audience that the moderators’ fellow, Rishi Anand helped keep away seamlessly.

If I have to begin with introducing this event, so it was a virtual dialogue themed on, ‘How can young people lead a new chapter of peace-building, democratic engagement and people-to-people diplomacy between Pakistan and India and create a shared future?’ Young changemakers along with individuals that have dedicated a substantial part of their lives to a Culture of Peace were there. And what is particularly special about this event is how it had enthusiastic participation from citizens from both countries, even expats who have spent years nurturing their and their polities’ identities abroad.

I was also honored to have been invited there because of my background with helping nourish a Culture of Peace in the last few years, and more recently, through my affiliation with Peace Manifesto 2025 and the Culture of Peace Corporation since last year.

When I had attended this dialogue, I did not maintain notes (something that I seldom forget when attending every webinar till date, even if I am a passive part of it), but in hindsight, I realized that perhaps making notes would have been a good way to document every noteworthy sentence that I heard in the discussion, however, some things need to be experienced — and so having chosen to be my usual geeky self would not have been this helpful.

What I in turn realized was that this event was indeed a watershed moment. Not because in the most academically fancy terms, changemakers, particularly young changemakers from two ‘archrivals’ came together one evening, but because an originally envisioned two-hour-long event went on for about almost four hours. If that surprised you, I’m not surprised, because that was the exact reaction of my mentor-boss, Professor David Adams, who has been one of the pioneers at UNESCO to have conceived the idea of a Culture of Peace for the whole world, decades ago and since then, he has not looked back from working for it despite what his friend-colleague described to him to be an increasingly apocaloptimistic world.

The need for a shared future

Monica Wahi, a prominent child film specialist from India opened the discussion by her reflections emphasizing upon the need for a ‘shared future’ — to this, I both responded and opened my address by saying that we would only need to have a shared future, if we had been divided — we were never really divided. I began by speaking about our ‘shared challenges’ as two struggling domestic polities: India, whom we clearly looked up to before the world’s greatest democracy increasingly began to deconsolidate, and our own democracy in Pakistan, having struggled to consolidate since forever.

Take the recent student protests in India for example. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)’s leak in India is the same as the Medical and Dental College Test (MDCAT)’s leaks in Pakistan; besides, the unfair grading replete with discrepancies that led to reconduct of the former in Pakistan only speaks volumes of how ‘we are always in this together’ is an apt phrase to describe most of what we both suffer. In fact, when I saw the police dragging protesters and even India’s seasoned politician Rahul Gandhi upon the country’s streets, I asked my own audience on my private Instagram the other day that, ‘Can I also say that our democracies are Sanjhi? Sanjhi is a Punjabi language word used commonly by people of both sides of the border which translates to as, ‘shared’.

Now back to the dialogue. I spoke of our many commonalities using very distinct set of things, but each weaving into why or how we are not that divided, if only we admit to realize. For instance, I spoke of my childhood familiarization with the word, ‘actor’ through watching Shah Rukh Khan, Indian superstar whom I referred to as, ‘Sharo Khan’ for the longest time — my first vivid TV memory of childhood.

Similarly, when women in India and Pakistan, both have to constantly register their existence through apparently needing to ‘break a glass ceiling’ rather than realizing that the latter only concretizes it, and when the news of women’s abuse of any nature circulates in the media or otherwise, the reasons and ramifications on both sides of the border are not different. In fact, even when a 150-year-old tree in Lahore is cut and so is a 100-year-old tree in Nashik, India — the hue of cry in the civilized people of both sides of the border is the same — and the vested interests of the powers that be responsible and or complicit in these cases are also the same.

During the dialogue, I also drew attention to my belief in the power of SDG 4.7: the seventh target of the fourth Sustainable Development Goal, Education, which is about working for and embodying values and practices of Global Citizenship Education and Sustainability; the non-exceptionalist nature of climate change sparing no one; my love for what all India has done and continues to do for entrepreneurship — thanks to me marveling at (Shark Tank India) as one of the many emblems of what we got to learn from them; a need for a Joint Pakistan-India Parliament where the youth could discuss the day-to-day issues of ‘shared interest’; a Public Diplomacy Centre to deepen people-to-people connectivity between both nations and some form of a Public Interest Promotion Centre/ Declaration, that enables us to teach each other best practices on governance, foreign policy, education, public health-care, technology, entrepreneurship, media and of course, art, culture and entertainment — no matter our piercing differences continue to stare into our faces.

If I begin to describe everything said by everyone, the article would never end, but I still deem it necessary to share brief takeaways from my fellow youth panelists from within my country and across the border.

Opportunities for dialogue

Tiya Mhatre, a student based in AliBaugh near Mumbai, who is about to join UWC Pearson University and is passionate about UN simulation conferences (just like I used to be) said something really helpful, Tiya pointed out that while student diasporas are one of those key scarce spaces remaining for youth of both countries to connect to each other, there are more opportunities through universities and student communities that ought to be explored; may it be collaborating through dialogues like these; joint projects; cultural exchanges on areas like, climate change, public health-care, sustainability and innovation — because in Tiya’s eyes, lasting peace begins with trust and trust begins with conversation, and while the former cannot resolve complex regional issues, it can indeed preserve something essential, the willingness to ‘keep talking’.

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Questions for this article:

Can peace be established between India and Pakistan?

Solidarity across national borders, What are some good examples?

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Another fellow panelist, Kabir Rao, who is a student of philosophy and Arabic at the University of St Andrews from India, and besides his interests in politics and military affairs for the Middle East, he is also attempting to learn Urdu and Farsi — yes, you heard that right. A Hindu in India studying philosophy and Arabic. Learning Urdu and Farsi. Kabir emphasized on his turn about the organic link between our shared struggles for a non-militaristic, non-violent and democratic outlook and better relations with neighbors at home. He also highlighted the similarities between India and Pakistan’s ‘connected histories’ and our present-day struggles. He further argued that the working class in both countries, especially the young people within it ought to understand these similarities and base their struggles on them.

A poem than transcends national boundaries

Kabir ended his points by reciting a verse from a poem, ‘Black Out’ by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a poet with ‘Pakistani origins’ and whose services for the country were oxygen for the progressive and democratic lungs of the country. The verse reads as,

ایک پل ٹھہرو کہ دریا کا کہیں پاٹ لگے
اور نیا دل میرا
زہر میں دھل کے، فنا ہو کے
کسی گھاٹ لگے
پھر پئے نذر نئے دیدہ و دل لے کے چلوں
حسن کی مدح کروں شوق کا مضمون لکھوں

Which translates to English as, ‘Wait a moment, so the river may somewhere find its shore, and my tender heart, washed in poison and dissolved, may reach a landing place.
Then I shall walk on, offering the lit lamps of my heart’s anguish, singing praises to beauty, and penning the treatise of longing.’

Such is our ‘shared’, or dare I say, inseparable history and legacy of our people, that is only telling of how profoundly we need a deliberate and a very consistent cultivation of a Culture of Peace.

Science and health transcend national boundaries

Another panelist, Iqra Preet, who is a PhD Biochemistry scholar and a researcher in nanotechnology-based treatment for multiple diseases based in Lahore, Pakistan said something that every other participant from (even within the audience) kept echoing till the end: how shared scientific research and investment in public health-care does not need to see who belongs to which nation. In my understanding, how a sample on a microscope, a DNA or a virus should override our very fragile fixation with our yet-to-understand fantasies of our so-called perfected nation-states.

Culture transcends national boundaries

Then it was Ritu Das, who is a queer feminist activist from Uttar Pradesh, based in Lucknow, India and is also a poet and has been active in the movement spaces for almost a decade. She utilized her turn by recalling her stay experience in a hotel in London. Among her hotel staff were two individuals — one, a Hindu Indian from Rajasthan — the other who was a Muslim from Bangladesh. To Ritu’s surprise, the connection felt and built more deeply and meaningfully with the Muslim from Bangladesh than her own fellow citizen.

According to Ritu, it was because of the cultural and linguistic boundaries that transcended the political border separating the region. It helped Ritu reinforce an important sociological insight: it is often our shared cultural and historical inheritances that sustain solidarities. In fact, Ritu’s grandmother’s narration of the violence events during partition taught Ritu something very poignant: she recounted violence with extreme ethical sensitivity and the latter was quoted by Ritu to have told them, ‘People of every community were killed and people of every community were forced to leave their homes, foregrounding human suffering rather than communal identity.’ As a member of a marginalized community, Ritu has witnessed Bangladeshi transgender communities drawing parallels between India’s Transgender Card Framework and Bangladesh’s Hijra Identity recognition, despite different political and legal systems — proving in the words of Ritu that, ‘struggles for dignity, recognition and justice frequently transcend national borders, producing what may be understood as transnational communities of care and resistance.’

The webinar was also attended by celebrated practitioners like, Sachendra Pratap Yadav, President of the Socialist Students’ Union and a PhD scholar at the BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India; Sanjay Gadhalay, an engineer, entrepreneur and Climate activist from Hyderabad India; Mazher Hussain, who runs Confederation of Voluntary Agencies (COVA) from Hyderabad, India and is a long-time peace activist; Shivi Upadhyay, recent PhD scholar in social work from Delhi University and a development activist who works in Goa at present; Razi Raziuddin, who can be uniquely distinguished because he studied at both Aligarh University and Banaras Hindu University and now works as a scientist in the United States of America and runs a diaspora forum; Cedric Prakash, a Catholic priest and a prominent human rights activist from Ahmedabad, India; Father Anand, Catholic activist, priest and playwright from Varanasi, India; Sheema Kermani, prominent classical dancer, actor and social activist from Pakistan among others.

The conversation refuses to end

This convergence was not easy owing to trolls constantly trying to keep the moderators on their toes, and even us attendees wondering if it would go on smoothly? There was, of course, a shared anxiousness around letting the audiences also participate by risking giving them a mic. Some of them were trolls, but most of them were also equally or even more elated than us to have been there, and it is these same people, the common people, with whom the discussion went on for almost four hours. Some of these people contributed by narrating tales of being constantly anxiety-ridden because of growing up in a military background — and the very solid and legitimate fear of losing their loved ones. But there were also those that wanted to call a spade a spade, and hence demanded us to not pretend like everything was hunky dory, but to both acknowledge and embrace the discomfort — talk out loud about the elephant in the room, issues like cross-border terrorism and Kashmir to name a few. Others simply encouraged and looked forward to more honest and uncomfortable conversations regularly in the future.

Before the article’s title starts to influence me (and it literally never ends), I am thinking of concluding this piece just when I have heard about the education minister in India resigning — if this is true victory for people of India is premature to say because systemic changes have a long way to go before they bear fruits. Notwithstanding that the ‘cockroaches’ in India were heard, and a seed has to be planted somewhere for it to appear to be bearing fruits later — and that gives me: a cockroach in Pakistan — a glimmer of relief for the justice of the dozens of those innocent students, who lost their lives just because their system failed them. But whether it is the cockroaches in India or in Pakistan, the conversation hopefully refuses to end.

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DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, South Asia, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

UNESCO Korean workshop: Translating Peace into Action

… TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY …

A page from Linked-in of Edvard Grigoryan

From declarations to action — translating peace into something you can actually feel.

This June, I had the honor of being one of 42 youth leaders from 33 countries selected to take part in the 12th Youth Leadership Workshop on GCED in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

The theme couldn’t have spoken more directly to my work in Peace and Conflict Resolution: “Translating Peace into Action: Leveraging Media and the Arts for Youth Advocacy.”

We kept returning to one question that has stayed with me since:
“Do we have the courage to face the realities of our time, and allow ourselves to feel deeply enough that it transforms us and our future?”

Over five intensive days, we moved beyond theory and into practice. A few moments that marked me:

→ A keynote on whether youth can truly promote peace in an era of global crisis

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Question for this article:

Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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→ A powerful session on the Art of Peacebuilding through Theatre of the Oppressed, turning conflict into embodied understanding

→ Hands-on labs on Media and Information Literacy and countering hate speech — essential skills for anyone working in conflict-sensitive spaces

→ Confronting ethics and empathy in the age of AI

→ A deeply moving visit to the War & Women’s Human Rights Museum, a reminder of why this work matters

→ And throughout it all, designing real, community-based action plans we’ll carry home

What made this experience extraordinary was the people — peacemakers, artists, journalists, and changemakers from every corner of the world, all proving that peace is not a policy text. It’s something we build, practice, and live every day.

This workshop was made possible by UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) and the UNESCO MGIEP Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the GCED Youth Network — a remarkable demonstration of UNESCO’s commitment to equipping young people to lead transformative change.

For someone whose path is rooted in peace and conflict resolution, this was more than a workshop. It was a reminder that the most durable peace begins with empathy — and that media and the arts may be among our most underused tools for advocacy.

Grateful, energized, and ready to translate this into action.

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East Asia, EDUCATION FOR PEACE, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Haiti: National Conference : Commitments of religious leaders, joint declaration

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from Ici Haiti

On Friday, May 29, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs held the closing ceremony of the National Conference of Religious Leaders for Peace, Stability, and Civic Engagement. Following the workshops, the religious leaders adopted a Declaration reaffirming their collective commitment to peace, social cohesion, civic education, support for vulnerable populations, and the effective integration of young people.

Commitments of the Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders :

1 – We commit to promoting, within our religious communities, concrete initiatives for violence prevention, civic education, and support for vulnerable populations, and to working to raise awareness among our Haitian brothers and sisters of the values of peace, tolerance, civic responsibility, and living together, particularly through community activities, mediation efforts, awareness campaigns, and youth programs;

We also commit to strengthening, within our communities, mechanisms for violence prevention, spaces for dialogue, listening, and community mediation, as well as initiatives that promote the mentoring, training, and reintegration of vulnerable youth;

2 – We call for a national mobilization around peace, civic responsibility, and the effective integration and/or reintegration of young people, particularly those from vulnerable communities and those affected by violence;

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(Click here for a French article on this subject.)

Question related to this article:
 
How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

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3 – We call upon the State, religious leaders, those of ancestral traditions, as well as spiritual and philosophical guides, the private sector, and civil society to unite their efforts to strengthen social cohesion, promote civic education, and build a culture of peace, stability, and civic responsibility;

4 – We reaffirm our commitment to supporting victims of violence and assisting young people through training, mentoring, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual support initiatives, as well as the development of concrete alternatives to violence and crime;

5 – We recommend that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs promote the protection of places of worship and support religious leaders, those of ancestral traditions, as well as spiritual and philosophical guides in initiatives that foster interreligious dialogue, social cohesion, and the promotion of civic responsibility for peace, stability, and the strengthening of the Haitian social fabric;

• We urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs to establish a National Council for Interreligious Consultation (CNCI) to foster ongoing dialogue among all religious sectors, ancestral traditions, and spiritual and philosophical leaders to promote peace, security, and social cohesion in Haiti;

• We also urge the Government to declare May 28th “National Day of Religious Leaders, Ancestral Traditions, and Spiritual and Philosophical Leaders” to ensure the sustainability of this initiative, which involves groups from this sector in matters of national interest;

• We reaffirm our commitment to promoting responsible religious discourse that fosters hope, unity, fraternity, solidarity, and reconciliation in the best interests of the Haitian nation;

• Finally, we reaffirm our commitment to working alongside the Haitian State, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, and civil society, to implement strategic plans to give concrete form to this Declaration.

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Latin America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Mouvement de la Paix: For Peace in the Caribbean; Stop the Blockade Against Cuba !

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

A press release from Mouvement de la Paix

The Mouvement de la Paix demands the immediate end to the illegal and inhumane blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba for the past 60 years and respect for the sovereignty of Cuba and all Caribbean states.


In recent statements, the President of the United States announced his intention to “deal with Cuba,” stating that “Cuba will be next on the list” because “Cuba continues to pose an extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security. Following the pressure exerted on several Latin American countries and the military aggression against Venezuela, Cuba is once again being targeted, even though it poses no threat to the United States.

Let’s think about this together! The facts speak for themselves: The USA is a country of 390 million inhabitants (43 times the population of Cuba—a small country of 9 million inhabitants), it is the world’s largest military power with approximately $900 billion in annual military spending; it has 1.8 million soldiers (active and reservists) compared to only a few tens of thousands of soldiers in Cuba. The USA has 7,500 nuclear warheads, while Cuba possesses no nuclear weapons and is determinedly fighting for the total elimination of nuclear weapons and practicing a policy of peace and cooperation, as seen in the medical field. It is not Cuba that has a military base in the USA, but the USA that maintains, against Cuba’s will, a military base at Guantanamo, infamous as a detention and torture center, particularly during the illegal US war in Iraq.

For more than sixty years, the Cuban people have suffered a blockade condemned every year by the United Nations General Assembly (1). This blockade causes serious human suffering by preventing normal access to essential products; it is an obstacle to the country’s economic development and to international cooperation since any person or economic entity (banks, various organizations) who would like to cooperate with Cuba are systematically subject to sanctions.Les nouvelles sanctions décidées par les États-Unis contre Cuba et contre les pays apportant leur aide à Cuba (ordre exécutif  du 1 mai 2026) (2)  constituent des violations supplémentaires du droit international. L’objectif  de ces sanctions  est quasiment  de ruiner l’économie du pays et de soumettre la population à des souffrances et des pénurie sources de souffrances et susceptibles  de mettre en cause la cohésion sociale du pays.

Beyond individual political opinions, the issue today is to defend the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law: respect for the national sovereignty of states, peaceful and political resolution of disputes and conflicts, and the rejection of the use or threat of force in international relations. The rule of law must prevail over the use of force.

(Click here for the original press release in French.)

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Question related to this article:
 
How can we best express solidarity with Cuba?

How can war crimes be documented, stopped, punished and prevented?

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France, present in this region of the world through Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, and other territories, has regularly condemned the blockade at UN General Assemblies. Faced with the strengthening of the blockade, France must make its voice heard at the Security Council and the UN General Assembly. It must exert all necessary energy to ensure that the regular and near-unanimous condemnation by the UN General Assembly translates into concrete measures of economic and financial aid for Cuba. France cannot remain silent in the face of the measures dictated by the USA to the national and international banking system. It must take steps to remove the obstacles preventing French charitable and humanitarian organizations from transferring their aid to the Cuban people; it must speak out against the militarization of the Caribbean and against illegal U.S.A. military interventions in the region, whether carried out directly by the U.S.A. or by private militias or military or paramilitary organizations, all of which increase tensions and threaten regional peace.

We call upon the French government, parliamentarians, local elected officials, trade unions, associations, and citizens’ organizations to take action to achieve:

° The immediate end of the blockade against Cuba, as demanded by the United Nations General Assembly (1);

° Respect for the sovereignty of Cuba and all Caribbean states;

° Respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations;

° The establishment of a zone of peace and cooperation throughout the Caribbean and Latin America region.

The Cuban people and all Caribbean peoples have the right to live in peace, to cooperate freely, and to build their future in mutual respect and solidarity, as enshrined in the Charter of CELAC (3), which aims to build peace in Latin America and the Caribbean through the development of a culture of peace as defined by the UN and UNESCO. Long live peace and friendship among peoples.

Le Mouvement de la Paix – 16 mai 2026

1- Excerpts from the UN website, October 2025: “It has now become a UN tradition, almost a ritual on the diplomatic calendar. As it has every year for the past 33 years, the United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution calling for the lifting of the blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States.”

2- Le Monde – AFP, May 1: Donald Trump announces strengthened sanctions against Cuba: In an executive order, the US president imposes sanctions on individuals and entities involved in the energy sector. “US President Donald Trump announced on Friday, May 1, a strengthening of US sanctions against Cuba, which ‘continues to pose an extraordinary threat’ to US national security.”

3- The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CACAC) is an intergovernmental mechanism for dialogue and political agreement link.

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Europe, Latin America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

Cuba Is Not a Failed State – It Is a Besieged State. We Need to Build a Unified Resistance

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

A email message received at CPNN from the United National Antiwar Coalition

The statement below is a response to the ongoing blockade against Cuba and the propaganda derived from it.   We hope you will endorse this statement, but we also hope you will commit to emergency actions if the Trump Administration follows through with their threats to invade Cuba.



Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel lead mass march against US blockade

Sign On  to  “Cuba is Not a Failed State – It Is a Besieged State”
Register  your Emergency  Actions

At this critical junction in world history when the Cuban Revolution is being threatened by US hegemon, it is essential to come to its defense. Cuba is the hope of humanity.

We defend Cuba by combating the intentionally negative stereotyping of a failed state. The problems Cuba faces under blockade conditions should not be portrayed in such alarmist ways that it reinforces Washington’s propaganda. We need to combat this defeatist approach.
Cuba is being sanctioned for the crime of being a good example.

That Washington continues to intensify its six-decade campaign against the Cuban Revolution testifies to the island’s resilience and strength.

Washington’s regime-change campaign has taken a heavy toll. Responsible Statecraft describes US policy as “bent on breaking the island.” The Guardian reports “an epidemic of flies, rats, waste and foul odors.”

These accounts portray Cuban hardship but intentionally overlook Cuban social achievements. Even statements from Congressional leaders advocating for an end to the blockade by focusing on the crisis it has created, can feed into Washington’s self-serving narrative that Cuba is a “failed nation.”

When descriptions of the humanitarian crisis caused by the escalated blockade do not question the ideological assumption that accepts capitalism as the natural state of humanity, they can be used to depict socialism as an abortive failed experiment.

This is why solidarity activists must take special care to highlight the incredible achievements of Cuba, even under blockade conditions, all while waging an active campaign against the sanctions and gathering supplies to take to the island in solidarity.

Doing so much with so little

The Center for Economic and Policy Research documents a dramatic increase in infant mortality from 4.9, now rising to 9.9 per 1,000 live births, attributable to deteriorating living conditions caused by the US economic war.

Yet, even under this intentional strangulation, Cuba’s infant mortality rate remains among the lowest in the region. Cuba has free public, personalized healthcare for every Cuban from birth and throughout life.

Surrounding countries that are not facing any U.S. sanctions but are forced to survive under capitalist relations have consistently higher infant mortality rates. Panama (11), Dominican Republic (16), El Salvador (12), Honduras (15), Guatemala (20), Jamaica (12), Haiti (45-50).

Most stunning is that Cuba’s infant mortality figures under a ruthless blockade are still lower than for African Americans in the U.S. (10.9).

This reflects the demonstrated success of Cuba’s social medicine model, even under the most challenging of circumstances.

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Question related to this article:
 
How can we best express solidarity with Cuba?

How can war crimes be documented, stopped, punished and prevented?

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Using Cuba’s example of people-centered healthcare, Nicaragua dramatically reduced their infant mortality from 29 deaths per thousand in 2005 under a right-wing, pro U.S. government to 9 under the Sandinistas and with the assistance of Cuban doctors.

This is why the Trump administration is determined to block Cuban medical staff from providing medical care in the Caribbean. A dozen countries have acquiesced to demands from the U.S. to end medical agreements with Cuba.

Cuba’s medical staff focuses heavily on underserved areas in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. They provide more doctors and medical staff than the World Health Organization and most western nations combined. The United States calls Cuba’s medical internationalism “human trafficking” – but it’s really an internationalist lifeline for the Global South.

Cuba is not alone, as it receives significant solidarity aid from allied states. China, for example, is helping address Cuba’s fossil fuel dependency by supplying 49 solar farms (20% of all its energy needs) and fleets of electric buses, cars, and scooters. Our solidarity movement should highlight and encourage such international cooperation.

Among Cuba’s public health achievements are its international medical brigades, excellence in advanced research, response to the pandemic, service to underserved populations, south-south cooperation initiatives, and the world’s highest doctor-to-patient ratios.

The Cuban socialist model has also produced notable successes in sports and public education.

Writing from Cuba, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio defended the country’s accomplishments over the past decade despite the “intense economic war,” including:

° sustaining the national electrical system while expanding renewable energy

° strengthening telecommunications and expanding internet access

° supporting vulnerable populations through food cultivation

° improving water infrastructure in underserved communities

° developing COVID vaccines and other medicines
expanding domestic industry including the assembly of electric vehicles

For a small, natural resource-poor island, Cuba has achieved so much with so little and under such extraordinarily adverse conditions. The nation asks only that the jackboot of imperialism be lifted so that it may truly flourish.

International people’s solidarity must not allow these incredible achievements to be overlooked as we advocate for relief from the cruel blockade. We should describe this crisis the same way that the Cuban leadership describes it – acknowledging the harms of US imperialism, but always stressing the achievements of the Cuban revolution and the power of solidarity and cooperation.

¡Venceremos!

Leading Organizers from the Following Organizations support this Cuba statement and the Call to Action.

United National Antiwar Coalition, Cuba Si NY/NJ, International US-Cuba Normalization Conference, Venezuela Solidarity Network, US Peace Council, Alliance for Global Justice, SanctionsKill! Campaign, Resist U.S. Led War Movement, Black Alliance for Peace, International League of Peoples Struggles, Americas Without Sanctions, Chicago ALBA Solidarity, Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition, Task Force on the Americas, International Action Center, Veterans For Peace, Code Pink NY, National Lawyers Guild, Anti War Action Network, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Socialist Action, Bronx Antiwar, Compas de la Diaspora, Struggle for Socialism Party, Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle, Diaspora Pa’lante Collective, Workers World Party,

(This statement was initiated by the SanctionsKill Campaign.)

Add your support and help to circulate this statement.

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Latin America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

‘A Voice That Upholds the Conscience of the World’: Spain Honors Francesca Albanese for Efforts to Stop Gaza Genocide

. HUMAN RIGHTS . .

An article by Stephen Prager in Common Dreams (licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez honored  Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on Palestine, on Thursday, in a display of solidarity as she faces sanctions from the United States over her outspoken advocacy against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Citing her work to document human rights violations over more than two years of conflict, Sánchez awarded Albanese the Order of Civil Merit, a knighthood granted to Spanish and foreign citizens for extraordinary services benefiting the state or society.

“Public responsibility… entails the moral obligation not to look the other way,” Sánchez said in a social media post. “It is an honor to award the Order of Civil Merit to a voice that upholds the conscience of the world: Francesca Albanese.”

Earlier this week, Sánchez petitioned  the European Commission to intervene to stop compliance with the Trump administration’s efforts to punish Albanese, as well as members of the International Criminal Court who have brought arrest warrants  against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

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Question related to this article:
 
How can we best express solidarity with the people of Gaza?

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

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Albanese, an Italian legal scholar, has held the role of special rapporteur since 2022, a year before Israel launched a war in Gaza in response to a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Human rights organizations  and UN experts  have described Israel’s assault as a genocide.

In March 2024, Albanese released  the UN’s first major public report, making the legal case that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe a genocide was being committed, referring to a litany of statements by Israeli officials establishing intent to destroy the Palestinian population.

In addition to documenting Israel’s actions, she has published  research demonstrating the “complicity” of nations that supply weapons and other support to Israel in what she has called a “collective crime” that they should also face responsibility for.

According to official estimates, at least 72,000 Palestinians have been killed  since October 2023, many of them women and children, while independent analyses suggest the death toll is much higher, in part due to the near-total destruction of health and other public infrastructure.

Many of the buildings in Gaza have been destroyed by over two years of relentless bombings, leaving most of its 2.1 million people displaced  and living in tent cities.

Albanese told  a Spanish broadcaster that the US and other nations attempting to punish her and other international authorities for speaking out against atrocities in Gaza were “like an international mafia.”

“They want to silence everyone who demands an end to genocide, an end to the crimes,” she said.

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Europe, HUMAN RIGHTS, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Burkina Faso: An inter-institutional cultural day to celebrate social cohesion 

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the News Agency of Burkina Faso

The youth of the commune of Kokologho celebrated, on Saturday, April 25, an inter-institutional cultural day under the banner of social cohesion. 
 
Organised around the theme “Responsible Youth, a Better Future”, this cultural immersion mobilized local, customary and school authorities in the town’s conference room.

The initiative, led by local educational stakeholders, has a clear objective: to strengthen resilience and cohesion among the people of Kokologho, the teaching staff, and the students. Beyond simply fostering interaction, it aims to stimulate civic engagement and solidarity among young people to build a peaceful future.

(Click here for the article in French.)

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Question related to this article:
 
Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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The President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of Kokologho, guest of honor at the ceremony, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout. He commended the students’ creativity and the relevance of this initiative, which promotes community spirit in a context where unity is paramount.

For the event’s patron, His Majesty Naaba Sigri, this day is a lever for safeguarding local identity.

“This is a great joy for me. I commend the leaders who took this initiative to bring together students and the entire population for the preservation of culture. I ask the authorities to support these young people in their mission to promote academic excellence and solidarity,” he pleaded.
 
Echoing this sentiment, co-sponsor Cheick Abdoul Karim Sawadogo expressed his admiration for the youth’s enthusiasm. He stated that this strong mobilization for culture sends a powerful message in favor of tolerance and a culture of peace within the community.
 
The day was marked by various artistic performances, illustrating the richness of the cultural heritage of the Boulkiemdé province, under the benevolent gaze of religious and traditional leaders.

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Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Zaid El-Kheir: Pope Leo XIV’s Visit to Algeria is Distinguished and Serves as a Positive Message for a More Harmonious and Stable World

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from Radio Algerie

The President of the High Islamic Council, Mr. Mabrouk Zaid El-Kheir, emphasized that the visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Algeria is of utmost importance, describing it as “highly significant,” especially as it comes in response to an official invitation from the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He expressed his hope that this visit would contribute to fostering a culture of peace and love, serving as a positive message to the entire world toward a more stable and harmonious future.

During his appearance this Monday [April 13] on the “L’invité du jour” on Algerian Radio’s Channel 1, Zaid El-Kheir explained that the high-level meeting between Algeria and the Vatican pursues noble goals worthy of this distinguished visit. He highlighted the religious and diplomatic dimensions of the visit, noting the significant influence of His Holiness the Pope as a major symbol for Christians worldwide. He further emphasized the Pope’s prestigious standing, earned through his efforts in promoting peace, advocating for harmony, and his initiatives regarding various complex international issues.

He further stated: “Algeria is a land of peace, tolerance, and respect for all religions. Therefore, I anticipate that this visit will be a significant milestone, given its ancient history and civilizational value. It will undoubtedly highlight this standing and strengthen the rapprochement between both parties”. He also pointed to its “prominent diplomatic dimension, which is poised to achieve harmony between two states of great religious and historical weight, establishing Algeria as a beacon of radiance for global peace”.

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(Click here for a French article on this subject.)

Question related to this article:
 
How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

(continued from left column)

A visit in a sensitive international context to renew relations

Speaking on the timing of the visit, Zaid El-Kheir considered it to be taking place in a precise international context marked by increasing unrest. He emphasized that Algeria and the Vatican are capable of contributing to de-escalating the situation and opening avenues for dialogue between religions, cultures, and cultures, thereby enhancing global security and stability.

He further explained that among the goals of the visit is the strengthening of bilateral relations, whose roots date back to the 1970s, and renewing them in a way that enshrines the values of mutual respect and affection. He emphasized the hope that this visit would result in outcomes that unify visions and send a message to the world that Algeria is a land of security and stability.

The President of the High Islamic Council emphasized that Algeria occupies a significant strategic position, serving as a gateway to Africa and being in close proximity to Europe. This grants it a pivotal role in fostering dialogue and communication among peoples.

Religion is a common denominator for rapprochement and coexistence between cultures

In a related context, the same speaker emphasized that this visit represents an opportunity to highlight the true role of religion as a common factor calling for coexistence and tolerance. He recalled that divine messages brought sublime values to foster harmony among humanity, noting that history bears witness to successful models of coexistence between Muslims and others in various regions, as was the case in ancient Egypt, Andalusia, and parts of Asia.

He also addressed the importance of contemporary religious discourse, which must be rational and derived from original texts, contributing to the achievement of harmony as well as spiritual and human stability.

Zaid El-Kheir pointed to the shared historical heritage, invoking the figure of Saint Augustine, one of the most prominent symbols of Christian thought. He emphasized that this visit also carries a symbolic dimension to revive this spiritual legacy spanning centuries, noting that Algeria has been and will remain a center for interfaith dialogue.

He concluded by saying: “Throughout its history, Algeria has remained a land of tolerance and coexistence, and has been keen on enshrining these values in its institutions, laws, and practices”.

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Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

70+ Boats Launch Historic Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza in Bold Solidarity Stand

. HUMAN RIGHTS .

An article from Telesur English

The Global Sumud Flotilla is departing today [April 14] from the Port of Barcelona in what organizers describe as the largest civilian-led maritime initiative in history aimed at breaking Israel’s long-standing blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Comprising more than 70 boats and over 3,000 participants from more than 100 countries, the fleet includes a dedicated medical contingent of 1,000 healthcare professionals carrying essential supplies for Gaza’s devastated health system.

Saif Abukeshek, the Palestinian activist based in Barcelona and spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla, has emphasized that this is a peaceful civilian action responding to ongoing aggressions against Palestinian and Lebanese populations.

Over 70 vessels and thousands of international volunteers are sailing to pressure governments worldwide.

The mission combines sea and land components, including solidarity convoys from Asia and North Africa.

Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise and Open Arms vessels are joining the effort from Barcelona.

This Spring 2026 mission builds directly on previous attempts, including the 2025 Global Sumud Flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces.

The Global Sumud Flotilla Mission: Scale and Objectives

The Global Sumud Flotilla represents a coordinated alliance of four major coalitions: the Global Sumud Flotilla itself, the Global Freedom and Sumud Flotilla, Thousand Madleens to Gaza, and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

Organizers state the goal is to deliver humanitarian aid, assert the right of navigation in international waters, and highlight the dire conditions in Gaza more than six months after a fragile ceasefire took effect in October 2025.

Saif Abukeshek has described the flotilla as “civilian boats” in response to what he calls systematic human rights violations in the Middle East, including continued strikes in Lebanon and restrictions in Gaza despite the truce.

The fleet carries medical supplies, food, and reconstruction materials while featuring doctors, engineers, legal experts, and activists ready to establish an unarmed protective presence if permitted.

Medical fleet of 1,000 professionals targets Gaza’s collapsed healthcare infrastructure.

Participants include parliamentarians, journalists, and civil society leaders from every continent.

The mission seeks to open a humanitarian sea corridor and challenge the 19-year blockade.

→ External link: Amnesty International: States must ensure safe passage for Global Sumud Flotilla

→ External link: Freedom Flotilla Coalition joint statement on largest flotilla yet

Historical Context of Efforts to Break the Gaza Blockade

Maritime activism to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza dates back to 2008 with the Free Gaza Movement, which successfully delivered aid in several voyages before 2010.

The 2010 Freedom Flotilla, including the MV Mavi Marmara, ended in tragedy when Israeli forces raided the vessels in international waters, resulting in nine activist deaths and widespread international condemnation.

Subsequent attempts — Freedom Flotilla II in 2011, III in 2015, the Women’s Boat in 2016, and multiple missions through 2018 — were all intercepted, with activists detained and deported.

In 2025, smaller missions like the Madleen and Handala faced drone attacks and boarding in international waters. The first large-scale Global Sumud Flotilla in September-October 2025 involved over 40 vessels and 500 participants but was fully intercepted, with hundreds detained.

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Question related to this article:
 
How can we best express solidarity with the people of Gaza?

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No flotilla has reached Gaza since 2010 despite repeated non-violent efforts.

The 2025 Global Sumud Flotilla marked the largest attempt until this 2026 spring mission.
Patterns show consistent Israeli interceptions, even in international waters, drawing UN and human rights criticism.

These actions have consistently raised global awareness about the blockade’s humanitarian impact, even when physically prevented from docking.

Current Situation in Gaza Six Months into the Fragile Ceasefire

The October 10, 2025 ceasefire, brokered with international involvement, promised a halt to major hostilities, hostage-prisoner exchanges, and increased aid flows. Yet Gaza remains in a state of “neither war nor peace.”

Official Palestinian sources report more than 2,073 Israeli violations between October 2025 and March 2026, including airstrikes and incursions, resulting in over 700 Palestinian deaths — the majority civilians.

Aid deliveries have fallen far short of commitments, with only about 21% of planned trucks entering. Reconstruction has barely begun, and restrictions on “dual-use” materials continue to hinder recovery.

Over 60% of children under two face food poverty amid persistent malnutrition.

Nearly 60% of the Gaza Strip remains a no-go zone under Israeli military control.

Thousands of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers suffer from acute malnutrition.

The health system lies in ruins, with limited medical evacuations and ongoing shortages of medicine and equipment.

Geopolitical Context and Broader Regional Implications

The launch of the Global Sumud Flotilla occurs against a backdrop of fragile truces across the Middle East. A short-lived US-Iran ceasefire announced in early April 2026 followed intense strikes that disrupted regional stability, affecting aid routes and energy supplies.

Continued Israeli operations in Lebanon, even during truce periods, and tensions involving Iran have compounded the crisis. These dynamics underscore how the Gaza blockade fits into wider patterns of conflict and external intervention.

Civilian initiatives like the flotilla highlight growing frustration with governmental inaction.

By asserting rights under international law, participants aim to pressure states to fulfill obligations regarding humanitarian access and accountability.

The blockade, now in its 19th year, is widely viewed as unlawful by human rights organizations.

International Court of Justice provisional measures remain unheeded.

Grassroots movements fill the vacuum left by stalled diplomacy.

This mission tests the commitment of the international community to protect non-violent activists and enforce humanitarian principles amid shifting alliances.

Challenges Ahead and Potential Impact of the Global Sumud Flotilla

Organizers have prepared for possible interceptions, framing the effort as a legal and moral challenge rather than confrontation. Past experiences show risks of detention, equipment seizure, and physical harm.

Yet the unprecedented scale — uniting diverse coalitions and drawing support from figures across civil society — amplifies its potential to influence public opinion and policy debates in Europe, the Americas, and beyond.

Success or high-visibility failure could bolster calls for lifting the blockade entirely.

Medical and reconstruction teams signal a focus on long-term solidarity.

The flotilla exposes the gap between international rhetoric and action on Palestine.
Amnesty International has urged states to guarantee safe passage, warning against repeats of 2025 abuses.

In a region marked by unresolved conflicts, the Global Sumud Flotilla keeps the humanitarian cost of the blockade in sharp focus. It demands justice, dignity, and an end to collective punishment for Gaza’s two million residents.

As vessels leave Barcelona today, the world watches whether this bold civilian stand will mark a turning point or another chapter in the long struggle for Palestinian rights.

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HUMAN RIGHTS, Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Muslims and Christians United in a Collective Iftar for Peace

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from Burkina24 (translation by CPNN)

In Ouagadougou, interfaith fraternity was expressed around a shared table. On Friday, March 13, 2026, the Movement for a Culture of Peace and Love of the Homeland (MPAP), in collaboration with the Cheick Moaze Foundation for Social Cohesion, Peace, and Charity, organized a collective iftar bringing together Muslims, Christians, and members of other faiths.

This collective breaking of the fast of Ramadan is part of the “Stop Xtrem” project, a civic initiative aimed at preventing religious extremism and the violence that stems from it. Through this initiative, the organizers also hope to encourage dialogue between different faiths and promote a culture of tolerance and mutual respect.

According to them, fostering such opportunities for interaction helps to strengthen social cohesion and reinforce bonds of solidarity among the various segments of Burkinabè society.

The president of the Movement for a Culture of Peace and Love of the Homeland (MPAP), Paul Marie Zoma, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout during this spiritual period marked by both Ramadan for Muslims and Lent for Christians.

He stated that these two periods remind us of shared values ​​such as self-control, humility, forgiveness, generosity, and love of one’s neighbor.

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(Click here for a French version of this article.)

Question related to this article:
 
How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

(continued from left column)

“Our country has always been recognized for the quality of its interfaith coexistence.” This wealth must be preserved and strengthened. By sharing this moment, we send a message of hope, that of a united Burkina Faso, in solidarity and resolutely committed to the path of peace,” he affirmed.

Present at the ceremony, religious leader Cheikh Moaze also praised the initiative, which he considers a powerful symbol of fraternity. According to him, every believer must learn to accept others with respect and fairness. He reminded everyone that the Quran teaches Muslims to be just and benevolent towards all, including non-Muslims.

“We must learn to accept one another and respect our differences. We must break down the barriers between the children of Adam and Eve, for only God can judge His children,” he declared. From the Catholic Church, Paul Tiendrébeogo, president of the parish committee for interreligious dialogue, also welcomed this initiative, which promotes fraternity among believers. According to him, Ramadan and Lent are periods of purification and drawing closer to God.

“By sharing this moment of breaking the fast, we affirm together that peace begins with simple gestures: meeting, talking, sharing, and respecting one another. This is how we build a society founded on solidarity, fraternity, and love of country,” he declared.
Representing the Presidency of Burkina Faso, Dr. Samuel Kalkumdo, Minister-Advisor to the President, emphasized the fundamental unity of the Burkinabè people. According to him, beyond religious or ethnic affiliations, all must consider themselves members of the same nation.

“We are all sons and daughters of Burkina Faso,” he affirmed, praising the foresight of Captain Ibrahim Traoré and calling on the Burkinabè people to remain united behind him to build a strong and cohesive nation in the face of current challenges. The meeting was also attended by several traditional and religious leaders as well as civil authorities.

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Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY