On 4-8 February 2019, ten members of the Economic Policy Working Group (EPWG) came together in Chiapas, Mexico, for a workshop on building a shared systemic critique of the dominant economic system, otherwise known as the “Chiapas Workshop.” It was co-hosted by Otros Mundos Chiapas AC, which formed the workshop Planning Committee, together with fellow members: Chiadzwa Community Development Trust (Zimbabwe), The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (Egypt) and The Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice (USA). The Chiapas Workshop is the first major activity under the Economic Policy Working Group’s Systemic Critique Project, which aims to deepen and popularize a human-rights based critique of the global economic system — what members identified as capitalism — informed and guided by grassroots struggles. The project seeks to disrupt the technocratic monopoly on economic analysis by creating space for popular and political education with members, their allies, communities and targeted publics — centering grassroots struggles in the process. To this aim, EPWG members gathered to build the foundation and common language of this shared critique. It was a space for mutual learning, exchange and strategizing towards the following objectives: - Strengthen a common analysis of the dominant socio-economic system and its link with human rights
- Deepen a common narrative that identifies the contradictions and opportunities for collective action to advance human rights and social justice
- Establish strategies to facilitate popular education related to this analysis and narrative within and beyond ESCR-Net
To learn more about the meeting please see this report.
Next StepsA series of online discussions will be organized to move forward the Action Areas outlined in the report. If you are interested in getting involved, we encourage you to sign up to the Project Advisory Group through this link: https://forms.gle/jDjEvZZQqH31a3sQ8 More information about the roles and responsibilities of the Project Advisory Group can be found in the governance section below. |