What happened in Mumbai?
In January 2004 thousands of people gathered in Mumbai, India, for the 4th World Social Forum. Social movements from all around the world meet to discuss about peace, social justice and environmental responsibility. In that context a World Student Assembly took place.
After long debates the Assembly agreed on the necessity to have revived the movement for quality, free and accessible education all around the world. In addition, the 17th November, already symbolic in Europe for its historical value, was proposed as the International Day of Students and was fully approved by the Assembly.
Ten months after the World Student Assembly in Mumbai, thousands of students all around the world took action on the newly designated International Students’ Day. Since that first 17th November in 2004, year after year, the date became ever more important and cherished among students all over the world.
Picture of the participants of the World Social Forum 2004 – from Claudio Riccio
