For the first time, children's rights issues are going to be raised at the WSF.

Date: 16 - 21 January 2004
Location: Mumbai, India

The World Social Forum (WSF) is "an open meeting place for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and inter-linking for effective action, by groups and movements of civil society that are opposed to neo- liberalism and to domination of the world by capital and any form of imperialism, and are committed to building a society centred on the human person".

The first three WSFs were all held in Port Alegre, Brazil.

Participation has been growing over the years, with 20,000 people participating in 2001, and this year's Forum is expecting the participation of 100,000 people from 123 countries.

For the first time, children's rights issues are going to be raised at the WSF. A number of events will be running at the same time at the venue in Mumbai, where a football stadium has been hired for the event.

Events will include workshops on issues like children in conflict with the law, disability, children's rights, children facing homelessness, trafficking, etc.

There will also be panel discussions with international and national speakers - both adults and children, as well as a number of other events especially for child participants.

Child journalists will be covering the event and offering debriefing sessions.

One key panel discussion will be held on 18 January from 9 am - 12 noon, with the central theme 'Children's Rights in a Globalizing World - Making the World fit for all children. Who is accountable? Who is responsible?'.

There will be 3 adult speakers and 9 child speakers. There will be Q & A sessions in between, and simultaneous translations will also be available.

Some 4000 people, including about 2000 children, are expected to attend this discussion.

For more information about the event in general, visit the official website of the World Social Forum at: http://www.wsfindia.org/

For more information about youth activities, visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=3872&flag=event

Source: World Social Forum/ Save the Children, UK