We are one of the pillars of democratic, social and cultural life.

"The State cannot do everything". This is one of the arguments generally evoked to justify, if not claim the existence of the associative movement. It is true that, in many respects, associations, NGOs, cooperatives, foundations, to name but a few, are, among civil society organizations (CSOs), those whose vocation is not to replace the State but to accompany it in the implementation of development policies for the people, it being understood that if the problems of the people are not necessarily problems of development, the problems of development are always problems of people.

And many associations and NGOs are agents of development. This is the essence of the rationale for community-based organizations (CBOs). Through their commitment, CSOs invest in fields where government action is supposed to provide answers to populations (education, health, environment, employment, social and solidarity economy, etc.). This is why it is inevitable that in the long term, there will be an examination of the public-private partnership type of relationship that the State would benefit from establishing in a formal and sustainable manner with these actors who work in the field to offer public utility services to the population.

This being said, it would be simplistic to consider these components of the associative fabric solely from the point of view of their contributions to tasks that are "complementary to the action of the State".

Indeed, the association is first and foremost a crucible of democracy. People join freely, after having been informed of the aims and objectives. One chooses its leaders in a democratic way, one expresses oneself freely to give one's points of view and one bows to the decisions having obtained the assent of the majority. Associative life is also, in essence, the place where solidarity and voluntary commitment are inscribed. We learn not only how to live together but also how to do things together and how to act in a disinterested way. It develops team spirit to the detriment of individualism. It is therefore a space for education in citizenship and generous solidarity.

Finally, associations develop activities that strengthen social ties and the development of individuals. They convey values based on solid cultural and societal foundations.

In short, associations are first, and perhaps foremost, places where human rights are expressed and promoted in a thousand and one ways. They can serve as spurs to public action, just as they are capable of being vigilant sentinels of the directions our societies are taking.

If we look closely, and because they target, first and foremost, those who are left behind, the voiceless, the underprivileged or the destitute, many of our associations appear to be bulwarks against the development of inequalities and social injustices. And very often, if they are not able to repair the irreparable, they are alerting people who would benefit not only from being heard but also listened to. We would then realize that the associative movement, for all the reasons mentioned above, is indispensable in the search for innovative solutions to the challenges of our societies, if we want to build a more just and human world.