PROGRAMME

Day & Time / Activity
DAY ONE
21 Nov 2011
8:30-9:00 / Registration
Session 1 / SESSION 1: OPENING SESSION / Conference Facilitator:
Dr Bhekinkosi Moyo, Programs Director, TrustAfrica
9:00-9:30 / Welcome Remarks
Opening Remarks / §  Mr Neville Gabriel , Executive Director, Southern Africa Trust
§  Ms Sisonke Msimang, Executive Director, OSISA
9:30-10:30 / KEY NOTE ADDRESS / Mr Maina Kiai , UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom on Assembly and Association
10:30-11:00 / TEA/COFFEE
11:00 – 13:00 / SESSION 2: LESSONS & THREADS FROM EXISTING RESEARCH INITIATIVES / Session Chair: Ms Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General, CIVICUS
Panel:
§  Dr Bhekinkosi Moyo, Trust Africa
§  Mr Jonas Pohlmann, OSISA Researcher
§  Mr Mandeep Tiwana, CIVICUS
13:00-14:30 / LUNCH
14:30-15:30 / Session 3: Experiences sharing by CSOs
a.  Ms Irene Petras, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Zimbabwe
b.  Chivuli Ukwimi, Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa
c.  Ms Maximilliene Ngombe, Human Rights Defender Network, Central Africa
d.  Prof Alioune Tine, RADDOH, Senegal
e.  Ms Anooradah Pooran, MACCOSS, Mauritius / Session Chair: Ms Valnora Edwin, Campaign for Good Governance, Sierra Leone
15:30 – 16:00 / TEA/COFFEE
16:00-16:45 / Plenary Discussions: In search of responses / Session Chair
16:45-17:00 / Synthesis of day one / Dr. Bhekinkosi Moyo, Conference Facilitator
17:00 / End of Day
DAY TWO
22 Nov 2011 / Session 4: Dialogue with Pan African Institutions / Moderator: Mr Chris Maroleng, E-TV
9:00 – 10:30 / The constitutive documents of Pan African Institutions provide for spaces for the people of the African continent to participate in policy development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the African Union and its organs. But these spaces are either not well known by citizens or that the institutions have issues that limit the involvement of citizens. On the other hand, CSOs have not been well organized or capacitated to engage in these spaces. To bridge this gap, this session is an interactive dialogue between Pan African Institutions and civil society organizations. It is aimed at analyzing the causes for weak civil society participation in these spaces with a view to come up with strategies that will improve civil society participation in AU processes and platforms. It is also intended to raise the challenges of CSOs shrinking spaces with representatives of these institutions with the intention of proposing strategies for the AU organs to facilitate a more CSO friendly environment in the Member States. / §  Ms Reine Alapini-Gansou, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa, ACHPR
§  Hon Joseph Mbah-Ndam (Mr) Member of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Pan African Parliament (PAP)
§  Dr Moise Nembot, Deputy CEO, APRM
§  Ms Janah Ncube, Executive Director, CCP-AU
§  Mr. Benedicto Kondowe HRCC
10:30-11:00 / TEA/COFFEE
11:00-13:00 / SESSION 5: PARALLEL WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP 5A / Survival Strategies and support mechanisms & structures for CSOs under threat
This workshop seeks to discuss ways to continue activities in politically restrictive environments and share best practices in security and protection of civil society organizations and activists. CSOs operating in severely restrictive environments need to develop creative and resilient strategies for surviving and when under threat, there is need for support mechanisms and structures available for them. Participants will explore options to maintain operations in the face of imposed restrictions, as well as measures that can be taken in advance to mitigate harm when severe limitations appear imminent. They will also explore the kinds of structures, systems and mechanisms needed when under threat. / Workshop Facilitator – Ms Julienne Deyo Association of Women Lawyers Chad
Panel:
§  Ms Stella Murungi East & Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project Uganda: Survival Strategies for CSOs and Activists in Restrictive Environments
§  Mr Otto Saki USAID Zimbabwe: The support mechanisms that can be put in place to support activists under threat
§  Discussant : Mr Celestine Mugisha, Foundation for Human Rights Initiatives, Uganda
WORKSHOP 5B / The Role of Donors in Restrictive Environments-can civil society count on donors?
From the era of cold war politics, through the era of globalisation of economies, the new scramble for African resources to the era of the war on terror, a pattern of global alliances, acquiescence as well as politics of collaboration has meant that human rights abuses and violations can be overlooked in the interest of political and economic interests. Resource rich countries with much sought after natural resources have become major sites of human rights violations. With the exception of a few instances, donors have not always adopted a consistent rights based framework to development support and have therefore proceeded to either support or fund regimes that are autocratic, that are serial violators of basic rights. In many instances the work of human rights defenders has been put at great risk. Additionally, in places where donors stand up to a regime, civil society organisations have been serially accused of being agents of regime change. In both instances human rights defenders working in restrictive environments are under constant risk. Have donors always played a supportive role in restrictive political environments. Has their support weakened or strengthened human rights defenders? Can we consider donors to be civil society’s best friend? In a facilitated discussion a highly resourceful panel will engage with this critical African expereince, drawing lessons and insights that can inform better advocacy for human rights protection in restrictive political environments. / Workshop Facilitator – Mr Deprose Muchena, OSISA
Panel:
§  Mr Abdel Monem Mosalam, Arab Centre for Independent Judiciary & Legal Profession, Egypt
§  Ms Nana Asantewa Afadzinu,WACSI Ghana
§  Ms Brenda Moyfa, FES, Ethiopia
WORKSHOP 5C / Achieving Accountability through Self-Regulation Initiatives
Africa is seeing an increase in laws and regulations relating to CSOs, as governments respond to political changes, an evolving CSO sector, international rules and the so called ‘war on terrorism’ amongst other things. There is a legitimate call for CSOs accountability and transparency and yet this has been manipulated and stretched to controlling, limiting and closing space for civil society. This session will explore ways in which CSOs in Africa can operate in transparency and in an accountable manner through self regulation. Participants can discuss ways and means that can be adopted by African CSOs including models adopted by civil society in other spaces. / Workshop Facilitator – Mr Amir Suleiman, African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies
Panel:
§  Mr Paul Okumo: ACPPP - Principles emerging from the Open Forum Process
§  Ms Francina Mundwa IDASA
§  Discussant - Mr Okay Machisa, ZimRights
Day & Time
22 Nov 2011 / Activity / Responsibility
13:00-14:30 / LUNCH
14:30-17:00
(15:30-16:00 TEA/COFFEE) / Session 6: Parallel Workshops
WORKSHOP 6A / The Role of regional and continental institutions and instruments in advancing civil society
Civil society has been recognized as an important partner that contributes to the development and advancement of the African continent. Have the RECs and the AU put in place structures, mechanisms and instruments that CSOs can access and use to expand their operating space. What role are these region institutions playing in recognizing and affirming civil society especially when civil society in many parts of the continent is working in hostile and limiting environments. This session seeks to explore these issues and propose strategies for the RECs and the AU and its organs to oblige their Member States to improve the operating environment for civil society organizations? / Workshop Facilitator – Dr Chantal Abesalo ODDAC, Gabon
Panel:
§  Mr Ibrahima Kane, OSI AU Advocacy Program: African institutions and instruments
§  Dr Ayokunle Fagbemi WACSOF Engaging the RECs – the case of ECOWAS
§  Discussant: Mr Tutu Alicante, EG Justice Equatorial Guinea
WORKSHOP 6B / Promoting Constructive Engagement between civil society and Governments & Policy Makers
Many civil society actors agree that extensive cooperation between civil society organizations and governments is critical for grassroots impact and policy influence. CSOs are increasingly search for ways to cooperate and institutionalize their partnership with their governments. But what factors make this cooperation successful and real? At this session, participants will first assess the level of cooperation in their own countries. Participants will then analyze the factors that influence success and discuss ways to overcome challenges in developing and implementing various cooperation mechanisms. / Workshop Facilitator –
Mr Neville Gabriel, Southern Africa Trust
Panel:
§  Mr Ezekiel Pajibo Trust Africa Liberia
§  Mr Abie Ditlhake, SADC CNGO
§  Discussant : Ms Jainaba Johm, African Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Studies, Tunisia
WORKSHOP 6C / Building Effective Coalitions for Regional and International Solidarity
Research has shown that the coalescing of various organizations and/or structures around common issues produces better results than organizations working individually. Pressure groups are more likely to effect policy change, especially on rights issues given the power dynamics on the continent and the benefits of synergy gained from being in a coalition. In addition, there is an increasing need for cross border learning and solidarity. This can be achieved by building effective coalitions. This session will look at some case studies where coalitions were effectively used to amplify voices as well as create broad based support for CSOs positions in dealing with African institutions. Bringing into play the dynamics and challenges of building effective collations the workshop will look at lessons learnt as well as why regional and continental solidarity is important. / Workshop Facilitator – Mr Gino Govender, Amnesty International
Panel:
§  Mr Dismas Nkunda IRRI/Darfur Consortium Uganda
§  Ms Naisola Likimani, FEMNET
§  Discussant- Mr. Patrick Mpedzesi, African Democracy Forum
DAY THREE
23 Nov 2011 / STRATEGIES & WAY FORWARD
9:00 - 11:00 / 1. Strategies and way forward from the workshops
2. Overview of issues and ideas emerging from the Conference & Way Forward / Facilitator & Workshop Rapporteurs
1100 – 11:30 / TEA/COFFEE
11:30 – 12:00 / CLOSING SESSION / Ms Janah Ncube, Executive Director, CCP-AU
12:00 – 13:00 / Press Conference / Conference Organisers & Participants
13:00 / LUNCH