Throughout France, the sixth International Solidarity Week will take place from 12 to 23 November 2003. This decentralized national operation, held simultaneously in Paris and the provinces, is structured around more than 1300 events, more than 150 of which are financed by the organizers to the tune of 200 to 1,000 Euros per project. Exhibitions, debates and festivals will punctuate this week of citizen action.

International Solidarity Week is conceived as an exchange of initiatives. The aim is to increase citizens’ awareness of common concerns through encounters with people engaged in solidarity schemes so that they can share their experiences.

Among the new forms of support to Third World Peoples, several are particularly favored: joint saving schemes which meet the expectations of those investors wishing to take ethical criteria into account when making their investments; fair trade, which helps provide a decent income to producers in Third World Countries and protect their social rights; and youth schemes, which allow the younger generation to get involved in international solidarity projects.

Lastly, it is worth noting that this event is not confined to France – events will be taking place simultaneously in Benin, Mali and Morocco. It is also part of the European education for World Citizenship Week, organized for the same period by the Council of Europe.