Yesterday, over 300 activists, from over 60 different countries, came together in Paris to officially open the first day of the World Youth Conference. The conference started with an opening ceremony that included introductions by the participants and greetings via video from groups and movements that couldn’t physically be present.

"At the peak of the crisis - Understanding today's world" - The day went on with a panel discussion among 4 representatives of 4 organizations: the Union Des Associations et Coordination d'Associations Pour le Developpement et le Droits Des Demunis (UACDDD) from Mali; Ciwanen Bakur, Youth from North-Kurdistan; Anakbayan from the Philippines, and Poder Popular from Argentina, who presented different analysis of the socio-political and economic contexts of their local reality, in their region and country, and of the overall current international stage. The discussion focused particularly on analyzing the dynamics responsible for some of the world’s biggest problems: including inadequate housing and land dispossession, food insecurity, poverty, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, political repression and persecution, war, and genocide. Drawing from their local struggles and experiences, the panelists discussed the need to create a real alternative to the current system, one that can be shaped by the people and that can ensure peace and freedom.

"The history of our regional revolutionary movements, like the ones from Cuba and Nicaragua, and the resistance against the US-backed military dictatorships that our parents and grandparents in the 70s built, should inspire us and show us that fighting for a new world is possible and it is our responsibility," said one of the young Argentinian activist, Sofia from Poder Popular.

"Once again, during this first panel, we’re reminded of the emergency we’re in and the ever more pressing need for international solutions. The problems that our panelists face in their home countries, have common root causes and impacts across different continents, as was pointed out."

"Thousands of comrades, from all over Kurdistan, are currently in prison, building great resistance even in the face of relentless oppression, and that’s why we understand very well the situation of Palestinian people. We are never on the side of those who wage war on society, who, on behalf of nationalist and fascist interests, commit genocide," said Erdal from Ciwanen Bakur, North-Kurdistan.

All panelists have emphasized on this first day, that nation-states, like China, the US, Turkey, Israel, among others, are in a state of deep contradictions and crisis which are shown in their inability to hide the deep crisis affecting our society, resorting to repression against any form of dissent.

“We need to use all possible means to fight oppression: it's the responsibility of the youth to create a democratic society and live by an ideology that can help us to resist the nation-state’s attempt to depoliticize and alienate the youth,” continued the speaker from Bakur.

"Simultaneously, several social struggles are being waged, in particular the securing of land ownership, a common family heritage that must be protected against the commodification imposed by capitalism; the right of women and young people to manage the land, the symbol of our future; respect of human rights, particularly the ones of peasants, the first victims of expropriation. The fight against the environmental crisis by changing production methods towards ecological agriculture and halting deforestation; and the fight against the rural exodus, particularly the one of young girls leaving to work in the big cities where they find themselves exploited by domestic work that tramples on their rights," said Amidou from Mali representing the UACDDD.

Today, Saturday, the conference will continue with 12 workshop topics, such as "Youth Militarism & Fascism", "Youth of the Middle East as the Center of the 3rd World War", "Problems of Indigenous Youth and Oppressed People", "Jin, Jiyan Azadi, Towards a Women's Revolution".