MANIFIESTA Festival hosts conference on defending democratic rights

As part of the MANIFIESTA Festival in Ostend, a conference titled ‘Our democratic rights, our fight’ is scheduled for Sunday, September 13. The event features a panel of activists, union leaders, and representatives from various organizations to discuss the defense of democratic freedoms.

The discussion focuses on rising resistance against social dismantling, the climate crisis, and militarization. Panelists will address concerns regarding government efforts to suppress opposition, including potential legislation that could allow for the arbitrary banning of protest organizations, the risk of losing subsidies for dissenting groups, and increased police repression during peaceful demonstrations.

Participants include Carine Thibaut of Amnesty International Belgium (French-speaking), Julie Hendrickx Devos of Beweging.net, Laurent Pirnay of the CGSP, Deniz Agbaba of Greenpeace, and Charlie Le Paige of the PTB.