ENAR Advocates for Racial Justice at the Green Social Summit
Madrid, Spain, October 29-30 – Ahead of the 2024 European Elections, ENAR Chair Nyanchama Okemwa advocated for racial justice and the vital role of civil society at the Green Social Summit.
The summit, which convened in Madrid, brought together 300 progressive leaders from across Europe in preparation for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June 2024. As a critical platform bridging institutional and grassroots politics, it hosted key discussions on how to build a stronger European Union based on human dignity, as well as social and ecological policies.
Invited to share ENAR’s expertise on the shrinking civic space through a panel discussion on Democracy Under Threat, the newly-elected ENAR Chair Nyanchama Okemwa advocated for racial justice and the vital role of civil society. Bringing the voice of our anti-racism movement to the table, she advocated for:
- A closer collaboration of progressive parties with the civil society. Political parties could play a pivotal role in preserving this civic space by forging close partnerships with civil society organizations, particularly in the context of election preparation.
- Brave political leadership not afraid of addressing ALL social inequalities, including racism. We need clear messages and dedicated attention in electoral manifestos to racial inequalities as a KEY social issue. Only by centering the most marginalised can we achieve long-lasting justice and equity.
- Improved representation and inclusion of racialised minorities in decision-making. Tokenism does not suffice. Instead, genuine progress can only be achieved by ensuring that those most profoundly affected by social inequalities hold a substantive place at the decision-making table.
In a meeting with Lisa Paus, German Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth, ENAR also brought forward the pressing issues of racial justice in Germany and Europe. The discussion focused on participation of racialised groups in policy-making, securing support for civil society, as well as the reform of the German equality law.
