Given the situation in Chile 

Since Friday, October 18, 2019, Chile has been experiencing social upheaval against the prevailing neoliberal economic model. The country has risen up due to accumulated frustration with the privatization of public services and as a protest against those who have prioritized profiting from water, electricity, transportation, education, sports, and other essential services over improving people's lives.  

These events follow those already known in other countries of the continent resulting from repressive decisions and extreme violence experienced in Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Brazil, and the current plebiscite in Uruguay tending towards the militarization of security and the deterioration of human rights.

In this context, the CLACSO Working Group on “Sport, Public Policy, and Society” calls for reflection and self-criticism from political decision-makers. We recall that Latin America’s recent past is rife with political-military alliances used to repress and punish workers, students, and marginalized sectors of society, and we warn that if we continue to cede areas of civil life to the military, we will continue to experience violations of basic rights. To date, the Chilean government’s discourse has focused on emphasizing the disturbances and skirmishes that have occurred.

The death toll is already rising, the number of wounded is increasing, and so far, there is no clarity regarding the changes the people demand. For this reason, we maintain that the development of our countries must be peaceful and based on regional agreements aimed at improving the conditions of civil life. This includes the free movement and association of people, ending injustices, and structurally improving work, leisure time, health, education, and life in general. We know that the coming days will be difficult for the Chilean people, and also for all of Latin America. Nevertheless, we are convinced that the changes demanded are just and necessary to transform into rights what for many years has been a privilege for the few. We, the inhabitants of this continent, demand a change in the way we govern; we ask that the focus be on people and not on business. To this end, we make available the scientific societies that bring us together, to collaborate and to be aware of what is happening in Chile and in our countries.

October 2019
CLACSO Working Group
Sport, public policy and society