The 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) was held October 27-29 in Havana, Cuba.
The IMCWP is an annual meeting of Communist and Workers' parties that began in 1998 at the imitative of the Communist Party of Greece. 145 representatives of 78 Communist and Workers' Parties from 60 countries attended in Havana.
A report on the opening of the meeting can be found at 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties begins in Havana.
Statements from the meeting can be found at Red Review #79 -- International Left and Labour News.
On November 3 the Final Declaration and Plan of Action of the 22nd IMCWP were released and we have translated them from the Spanish.
Final Declaration of the 22nd IMCWP:
“Solidarity with Cuba and all the struggling peoples. United we are stronger in the anti-imperialist struggle, together with social and popular movements, in the face of capitalism and its policies, the threat of fascism and war; in defence of peace, the environment, workers' rights, solidarity and socialism.”
The 145 representatives of 78 Communist and Workers' Parties from 60 countries, present at this XXII IMCWP, held in Havana, Cuba, on October 27 and 29, 2022, warn about the dangerous situation in which humanity finds itself.
The current dominance of imperialism imposes an unjust and unsustainable international order, intensifies exploitation and worsens the conditions of the working class and peoples, generates growing conflicts, antagonisms and wars, and hinders the solution of global problems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which socialist countries, historically, and Cuba today, in particular, with their public health system and scientific development, have faced effectively and where the superiority of socialism is manifested. Communists defend a new world order, based on the abolition of the exploitation of humans by humans, relations of mutual benefit between states and peoples, peace, sustainable development for the satisfaction of social needs, social justice and solidarity.
As a consequence of the growing aggressiveness of imperialism and the ongoing geopolitical recomposition, we face a new spiral of the arms race, the strengthening and expansion of NATO, the emergence of new military alliances, the sharpening of tensions and military conflicts, such as that of Ukraine, the resurgence of fascism in various parts of the world and the "cold war" and the threat of a nuclear conflagration, which we must reject.
We denounce that the predatory nature of capitalism leads to increased inequality, polarization of wealth, exclusion and migratory flows; to the deepening of the food crisis, and to an aggravation of the ecological crisis, while we are rapidly approaching a point of "no return".
The bourgeois political system, which defends the interests of the monopolies and corporations, manages the systemic crisis of capitalism to its advantage, and tries to control, through pressure and violence, the growing social discontent of the workers and peoples.
The gradual decline in the power of the United States of America and its allies, as a result of their internal crises and vis-à-vis their competitors, has reinforced the indiscriminate use of policies of blockades and illegal coercive measures, of "double standards", of military threats and interventions, and of interference in the internal affairs of States. Imperialism deploys a vast arsenal of subversion actions in the framework of unconventional war, among which those of a media nature stand out, as tools of destabilization and changing of governments that do not bend to its interests.
The battle of the world working class against the capitalist system of exploitation requires, first of all, the unity of the Communist and Workers' Movement together with the social and popular movements, peasants and indigenous people, to strengthen the class struggle against bourgeois and imperialist plans and for the construction of a world of peace, justice and social equity.
In the face of imperialist's attempts to contain the struggle of the workers and peoples and undermine the unity and solidarity of the anti-imperialist and revolutionary forces, the Communist and Workers' Parties, participants in the XXII IMCWP in Havana, agree to:
Join efforts to strengthen the struggle against imperialism, contribute to transforming the current unjust and undemocratic international order in which capitalist interests prevail, for an international order based on peace, sustainable development, social justice and solidarity, to pave the way for the construction of socialist society.
Demand respect for the principles of self-determination of peoples, independence, sovereign equality, and non-interference in the internal affairs of States, as well as the legitimate right of peoples to peace and to choose their own path of development.
Categorically reject imperialist wars, the threat and use of force in international relations, and promote the struggle for peace. Intensify internationalist action and solidarity, in defense of the common interests of the peoples, against the bourgeois classes.
Mobilize the masses in denouncing and rejecting the arms race and the enormous cuts in social spending that it causes, the existence and modernization of nuclear weapons, foreign military bases; against NATO and its project to expand and become a global military organization.
Fight against the resurgence of anti-communist, reactionary, ultra-nationalist and fascist forces, in various parts of the world, which exacerbate violence, xenophobia, racism and political, ideological, social, ethnic, religious and gender intolerance, and promote ethnic-national conflicts.
Strengthen solidarity with the peoples who resist the interference and aggression of imperialism and reject the policies of blockades, sanctions, unilateral coercive measures and double standards, as instruments of pressure and blackmail against governments and peoples.
Defend and disseminate Marxism and Leninism, confront the ideological, cultural and symbolic offensive of imperialism, aimed at legitimizing the injustices of the capitalist system, delegitimizing socialism and communism and eroding or destroying the cultural identity of our nations.
Redouble the struggle for all just and emancipatory causes of peoples and increase solidarity with workers, peasants, indigenous people, youth and women's organizations, in defense of their rights and against capitalism. Stand by refugees and victims of wars.
Denounce and fight against the development model based on capitalist profit that destroys the environment and puts at risk the survival of ecosystems and the human species.
Fulfill the Plan of Action approved at the XXII Meeting with the objective of strengthening the unity of the International Communist and Workers' Movement, together with the social and popular movements against imperialist domination with the purpose of intensifying the struggle in defense of the interests of workers and peoples, for revolutionary transformations for the overthrow of capitalism and the construction of Socialism.
With the articulated effort of the vanguard of the working class, together with the democratic, social and popular organizations and forces and the emancipation movements of women's rights, we will be able to defeat capitalism as a dominant, destructive and futureless world system and achieve a true revolutionary transformation.
We thank the Communist Party of Cuba, its revolutionary government and its people, for their contribution in the organization of the XXII IMCWP, and for the warm welcome given to its participants.
We reaffirm our solidarity and support for the just cause of the Cuban people and their struggle for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the unjust, criminal and intensified economic, commercial and financial blockade, to which it has been subjected for more than 60 years, and we demand that the United States government remove Cuba from the spurious list of countries sponsoring terrorism.
We pay tribute to the legacy of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, who together with the teachings of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz and the continuing generation, headed by the First Secretary of the CC PCC and President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, constitute a permanent inspiration for the struggle of the peoples for their true and definitive emancipation. on the road to building a socialist, independent and solidary society.
United in the struggle against imperialism and capitalism!
Long live Socialism!
Havana, October 29, 2022
Plan of Action of the 22nd IMCWP:
The XXII International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, held between October 27 and 29, 2022 in Havana, Cuba, defined as axes and main actions to be developed until the next Meeting the following:
1: Carry out mobilizations in defense of peace and in rejection of imperialist war, military interventions, nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases, as well as against NATO and other imperialist alliances, such as AUKUS.
Celebrate September 21, the International Day of Peace, a great global mobilization to denounce war and support for peace.
Ensure the success of the Assembly of the World Peace Council.
Advocate a serious, constructive and realistic solution to the conflict in Ukraine, by peaceful means, through dialogue and negotiation.
2: Encourage the political and protagonist participation of young people to guarantee the continuity of the ideas and principles we defend. Preserve and transmit to the new generations the historical memory of the international communist and workers' movement.
Celebrate International Youth Day on 12 August.
Celebrate International Student Day, November 17.
3: Organize workshops and seminars, in face-to-face and virtual format, that contribute to the exchange, analysis and dissemination of the theoretical and practical concepts of Marxism and Leninism and the values of socialism, as the only system that responds to the just demands and legitimate rights of peoples. To do this, consider the following activities and commemorations:
Centenary of the founding of the USSR.
The 140th anniversary of the death of Karl Marx (March 14, 1883).
The 175th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto (February 21, 1848).
The First International Meeting of Theoretical Publications of Leftist Parties and Movements, to be held in Cuba (10 to 12 February 2023).
4: To denounce anti-communism and fascism, as well as the distortion of the historical contribution of the USSR and socialism, in the framework of the centenary of the founding of the USSR and the fiftieth anniversary of the fascist coup d'état against the Popular Unity government of President Salvador Allende in Chile.
5: Express solidarity with the just causes of the peoples, with communists who face persecution and prohibitions on the free exercise of their political and social rights; against dictatorial regimes, repression and discrimination in terms of democratic rights and freedoms.
6: Carry out international campaigns in solidarity and support for the struggle of the working and peasant classes, women and immigrants, in their just demand for the right to unionization, better pay, working conditions and their democratic rights.
Reinforce the mobilizations of March 8, International Women's Day; and 1 May, International Workers' Day.
7: Carry out activities in defense of the culture and identity of the peoples against the project of imperialist cultural neo-colonization.
8: Participate actively in popular mobilizations that demand the care and protection of the environment and reject the irrational and unsustainable model of capitalist production and consumption.
9: Demonstrate solidarity with all peoples struggling against foreign occupation, blockades, sanctions, and imperialist aggression.
10: Participate in days of solidarity with the Cuban people for the immediate and unconditional cessation of the intensified economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States; against Cuba's inclusion in the arbitrary and unilateral list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism, interference in its internal affairs and attempts to subvert its constitutional order.
Achieve a greater and more active participation of the member parties of the IMCWP in the World Days of Solidarity with Cuba, which take place on the last weekend of each month.
11: To strengthen solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle and to demand by all possible means the immediate end of the Israeli occupation, and the right to exercise their self-determination and to have an independent and sovereign State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return of refugees, in accordance with the resolutions concerned of the United Nations. Condemn the so-called "Deal of the Century" and the criminal policy of the United States and Israel, with its colonizing and apartheid practices, including the construction and expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Develop an international campaign for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on November 29.
12: Demand a just and lasting solution to the question of Western Sahara, as well as the search for peaceful and negotiated solutions to conflicts not yet resolved, within the framework of the United Nations, in accordance with the norms of International Law.
Carry out a general mobilization in solidarity with the struggle of the Saharawi people for the exercise of their legitimate rights on May 10, Foundation day of the Frente POLISARIO
13: Promote solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the face of the aggression and illegal sanctions imposed by US and European imperialism. Carry out actions demanding the immediate lifting of illegal coercive measures and the return of assets owned by Venezuela, which have been usurped by the imperialist power.
14: Support the inalienable right to self-determination and independence of the people of Puerto Rico.
Support the international day in solidarity with Puerto Rico, which is celebrated every October 30, in commemoration of the first armed uprising against American colonialism.
15: Support the actions and activities carried out by IMCWP member political parties in Latin America and the Caribbean in commemoration of the following historical events:
Bicentennial of the independence of the countries of Central America.
170th anniversary of the birth of José Martí, National Hero of Cuba.
70th anniversary of the Assault on the "Moncada" and "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes" barracks.
16: Denounce imperialist interference in Latin America and the Caribbean in the framework of the Bicentennial of the Proclamation of the Monroe Doctrine and the 40th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Grenada.
17: Achieve greater action by the communist and workers' parties and their related social organizations with the aim of achieving a better articulation and strengthening of international anti-imperialist organizations, in particular, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the World Peace Council (WPC), the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and the Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF).
18: To strengthen unity, interaction and cooperation between Communist and Workers' Parties from all regions of the world, in order to successfully celebrate the XXIII IMCWP in 2023 in Turkey.