DECLARATION of the 'NEW' INSIST

"We believe that injustice is at the core or root of all of the social problems that have occurred at any time and place throughout the history of human civilization, particularly those experienced by the groups that have been at the lowest, most ignored economic, political, and social-cultural levels;

We also believe that the social structures that have developed thus far are unjust, and result in economic, political, and social-cultural inequalities. As a result, some people have become increasingly prosperous, have a high level of access to resources, have broad opportunities to express themselves, and can determine the decision making process that impacts the broader community. On the other hand, the majority of the people are increasingly disempowered, ignored, and turned into objects or victims;

For these reasons, goals and efforts to eliminate all types and forms of injustice must be based on the empowerment of groups that have, to this point, been placed in weak, marginalised positions. They must be empowered to become active, critical actors in all processes of social transformation, moving towards the realisation of more just economic, political, and cultural systems, so that they can make a greater contribution to the advancement of civilization and humanity overall.

In realizing these goals, social transformation must be achieved through systematic efforts in various areas at both the micro and macro levels. These goals can only become reality if they have a foundation in the following basic values:

• Pluralism: the belief that difference and diversity are a strength.
• Non-discrimination: attitudes and behaviors that do not differentiate among people based on any kind of preference.
• Human rights: recognizing, prioritizing, and working to implement all of the basic and natural rights of every person, as have been agreed to by the people of the world.
• Democracy: recognizing, prioritizing, and constantly working to implement all principles of participation, transparency, and accountability.
• Loyalty and equality: working to build relationships and cooperation with all parties based on shared concern and equal position.
• Social equality of gender: working to realize justice in gender relations, both in our own circle and in the larger community.
• Sustainability of resources and the environment: working to achieve balance and preservation of resources and the environment around us.
• Local wisdom: honoring and working to develop local community systems of knowledge and institutions that have been shown to be in accordance with and support all the values above.

For these reasons, we, this community of organizations from various backgrounds and various areas of Indonesia, are joining together as a confederative association with the name INSIST, Indonesian Society for Social Transformation, in which we will strive to complement and strengthen each other through systematic efforts, both at the micro and macro levels, to work for social transformation.

In accordance with the goals of its founders, INSIST is thus developing its mission, the main principle of which is development of capacities and resources, together or by individual members, through various activities including:

• Engaging in research, creating analysis, and documenting efforts to strengthen and develop social transformation;
• Strengthening and developing people’s organizations to work for social transformation;
• Carrying out political education activities in the framework of social transformation;
• Engaging in study and critical analysis of policies at various levels (local, national, international) to push for change in policies that are considered unjust;
• Coordinating and strengthening networks, both within and beyond the INSIST community, in order to create stronger synergy for social movements.

For these reasons, INSIST is a vehicle for its members to learn and develop together, in order to realize the goals that are striven for by each of its members, in order to strengthen them and make them more usable. INSIST believes that only through constant development and discussion of ideas and strategies to strengthen people’s movements can social movements pushing for social transformation keep moving forward, so that these goals can be realized.

Jakarta, 20 May 2004.