No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the support of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), coordinated the participation of civil society leaders from the MENA Region to the First Coordination Meeting in preparation of the Forum for the Future of 2009, which was held in Rome on 15 December 2008. The first priority for NPWJ was to ensure that key players in the bMENA civil society can be involved from the very earliest moment, so that the design of the FfF2009 process can incorporate the priorities of civil society from the beginning.
The meeting provided a venue for civil society leaders from across the bMENA Region to discuss and exchange ideas with the relevant government officials on specific reform initiatives and issues relating to the preparation of next year’s Forum. This was the first time that the co-chairs of the Forum for the Future consulted with civil society leaders aiming at identifying a common platform of themes and activities to be implemented in the Forum for the Future program and the meeting represented the first concrete implementation of the principle contained in the “Partnership between G-8 BMENA Governments and Civil Society” document adopted in Abu Dhabi by the participants to the fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum for the Future.
This project is funded through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). MEPI supports efforts to expand political participation, strengthen civil society and the rule of law, empower women and youth, create educational opportunities, and foster economic reform throughout the Middle East and North Africa . In support of these goals, MEPI works with non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and academic institutions, as well as governments. More information about MEPI can be found at: www.mepi.state.gov.
For further information, please contact: Gianluca Eramo, email: geramo@npwj.org, phone: +32 2 548 39 10
