Invitation – Progressive Alliance Seminar: “Fighting Inequality”, 22 – 23 July 2014 in Montevideo, Uruguay

Dear Comrades, dear Friends,

You are cordially invited to the Progressive Alliance Seminar “Fighting Inequality” on July 22 and 23 in Montevideo, hosted by Socialist Party of Uruguay. In Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, we will gather participants from political parties, trade unions and progressive civil society from around the world. The aim of this seminar is to provide a forum for political discussions, networking and sharing of best practices in order to promote new ideas on progressive campaigning as well as to discuss  the experiences from different world regions to fight inequality and promote decent work .

It is a great pleasure for the Socialist Party of Uruguay to welcome the Progressive Alliance in Montevideo, as a new opportunity to bring together progressive forces worldwide. The objectives and principles on which is based this new network of progressive, socialists and social democrats organizations, are the same that rules our Party in Uruguay. We are attending the last part of the second mandate of Frente Amplio in the government. Our government has managed to change lives of Uruguayan people in just nine years. We have been dramatically changing our fellow citizen’s lives since 2005, overcoming the greatest crisis in the history of the country, enforcing social inclusion plans up to these days. Those plans were the  basis to reduce poverty from 40% to 12%. Furthermore, we reformed the taxati on system, promoted a deep Health Care Reform and implemented the “Plan Ceibal” that has supplied one laptop per child improving our children education. In both mandates we have been implementing several laws and policies  aimed to protect workers’ rights a nd improve their work conditions. As a result of those policies we can highlight the institutionalization of collective bargaining, unemployment rates below 6% and the highest rates of employment in the country’s history, among others achievements that yo u will have the chance to know during your stay in Montevideo.
Dear friends, Uruguay is a country of simple and friendly people, and we will be honored and proud to  welcome you at the Progressive Alliance Seminar.

Inequality is on the rise, leads to a massive problem of justice and has economic, social and political consequences. In the wake of the financial crisis, social inequality has moved to the center of political interest. The aim is to prevent high unemployment, falling real wages and  persistent recession. The increasing gap between rich and poor is the largest threat to the world economy. Inequality leads to negative consequences for social growth and decent work, income disparity,  cements social inequalities and power relations hampered social mobility, jeopardizing social peace and undermines democracy. Against this background, the seminar of the Progressive Alliance centers on the question of how to fight inequality. A policy paper “Economic inequality or prosperity for all?” will be presented, followed by several discussions about experiences  and best practices. In a debate between the Trade Unions Movement an d the Government of Uruguay on Sustainable Development and Decent Work, we are also pleased to announce the presence of President José Mujica. The second focus of the seminar is Progressive Campaigning as the Progressive Alliance intends to support the campaign capacities of progressive parties, in a way that progressive parties around the world are enabled to push our agenda forward and to win elections. In a working group the participants will have the opportunity to discuss shared best practices from different world regions.

Kind regards and looking forward to seeing you in Montevideo.