Campaigning for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, Democracy, the Rule of Law and International Justice
Rabat Workshop 2007
DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE FOR THE TRAINING OF TRAINERS ON NON VIOLENT ACTION AND STRATEGIES RABAT, NOVEMBER 2007
Description
It seems that the Arab region stands out as one of the very few regions in the world dodging the wave of democracy that reached most of the world regions from Latin America to Eastern Europe, and more recently Western Africa. While positive advancements have been achieved across the region in terms of human development and economic growth, efforts pushing for a democratic reform needs to follow if the region is to experience sustainable growth and stability.
The continuous strive of the governments to crack down on civil society –or impose a tied control in the best scenarios- in order to consolidate their power on the society and on politics has produced weak organizations often dependent on these government and unable to push for the much needed reforms. In deed, these civil society organizations (CSOs) grew weak and often lack clear agendas or realistic action plans for reform. Current civil society reform strategies seem largely to consist of activities with little applicability in order to push for a change. CSOs might have a strong base of talent, but lack the much needed expertise contributing to implement the foreseen changes. Moreover, these organizations are often dominated by static leadership and are often unequipped with the tools and expertise that triggered the democracy transition in many parts of the world.
Learning from these international successful experiences and best practices seems hindered by efforts of the governments -and occasionally the CSO leadership- to put forward the regions’ peculiarities and specificities. The need for homegrown models and tools for democratic transition taking international best practices and adapting them to the region’s settings shall yield better adherence from the civil society and stronger impact for reform.
This knowledge and these experiences will be capitalized upon using civic engagement techniques and tactics in order to maximize impact and trigger a transition toward democracy as it has been successfully achieved in several countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Objectives
Recognising the significance of these issues, particularly at a time when Regional and International actors are increasingly debating on how support democratic reform in the Arab Region, No Peace Without Justice (an international NGO) and the Kawakibi Democracy Transition Centre (KADEM), together with the Arab Institute of Human Rights (AIHR), Freedom House Hungary (FH-Eu) and the Moroccan Organization of Human Rights (OMDH), are working together to develop the use of the civic mobilization techniques and tactics among civil society leaders and activists in the Arab Region and to induce change toward societies more respectful of human rights and democracy principles.
This is to be achieved through the following specific objectives:
- To train a core group of activists from the Arab Region on civic mobilization techniques;
- To disseminate knowledge among the concerned public about civic mobilization and its utility to conduct change;
- To support local civic mobilization initiatives and create a regional momentum around the subject.