The 2016 World Social Forum (WSF) took place August 9 – 14 in Montreal. The Forum was spread out among four universities in downtown Montreal. Over 35 000 activists from around the world attended. Approximately 1500 workshops were organized. Additionally, there were a great many film presentations and other cultural events, various agora sites, marches, etc. There was controversy over the number of international delegates denied visas to enter Canada (the WSF claimed that 70% of registered international delegates could not attend).

One of the “Grands Conférences” (plenary events) of the WSF was sponsored by the World Federalists, along with McGill University Faculty of Law and McGill University Institute for the Study of International Development. The conference theme was, “From Global to Local: The Importance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Reconciliation in Canada.” The event included the presentation of WFMC’s 2016 World Peace Award to Senator Murray Sinclair, former chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The presentation, and Senator Sinclair’s remarks, were followed by a panel discussion with McGill University professors Cindy Blackstock, Catherine Lu, and Payam Akhavan (who was unable to attend, but provided remarks).

A summary of the live tweeting of the event is available.

In addition to the other workshops listed below (on peacekeeping and the proposed Latin American criminal court for organized court), WFMC also presented a forum on ways to develop and reform global governance with Vivian Davidson, President of WFMC’s Vancouver Branch, and John Trent, WFMC’s Board Chair and former Professor of Political Science, University of Ottawa.