The added value of participating in the Commonwealth People s Forum 2015: What are the opportunities for Maltese civil society?

Transcription

1 The added value of participating in the Commonwealth People s Forum 2015: What are the opportunities for Maltese civil society? Vijay Krishnarayan, Belisario Nieto, Jacqueline Micallef Grimaud, (Dr.) Claire Baluci, Silvana Camilleri, Rita Vella, Sylvia Gauci, Mauro Pace Parascandalo, Angela M. Psaila, Mario Gerada Michelle Chehab (KOPIN), Daniela Grech (JCI Malta), Christian Vella (JCI Malta), Sonia Azzopardi Axiak (ASLP), Matthieu Camilleri (Drachma LGBTI), Chris Vella (Drachma LGBTI), Marion Cilia (The Duke of Edinburgh International Foundation Malta), Bernice Casha (M3P Foundation), Toni Sant (M3P Foundation), Ahmed Bugre (FSM), Marcelle Bugre (FSM), Censu Caruana (TCI), Gabi Calleja (MGRM), Josephine Camilleri (ARAM), Mary Vella (ARAM), Vivien Cassa (YWCA), Mary Gaerty (National Council of Women), Marie Demicoli (National Council of Women), Addey Boyo (Alliance Foundation), Marthese Vitale (Prince of Wales Own), Neil Falzon (Aditus Foundation/PHROM), Maria Pisani (Integra Foundation), Charles Bartolo (Touring Club Malta), Ahmed Shembesh (Libya Foundation for Rehabilitation), Maurice Said (Critical Institute), Shaun Grech (Critical Institute), Joseanne Peregin (Drachma Parents Group), Philip Chircop (Grand Parents Malta Foundation), Richard Muscat (Grand Parents Malta Foundation), Rose Muscat (Grand Parents Malta Foundation), John Gauci (Malta Youth in Agriculture), Antonella Sgobbo.

2 Information re meetings thematic (opportunities: networking and funding) Updates from the Content Design Committee Sharing of preliminary programme Discussion followed by networking Official invitations were circulated to all registered NGOs in Malta and Gozo, including organisations and individuals who participated in the preliminary meetings, 2 in Malta and another 2 in Gozo. The invitation was made public through the Commonwealth Foundation website, facebook, twitter and other related social media, targeting anyone with an interest in Development issues and the People s Forum, to be able to attend and participate. Networks and platforms were asked to disseminate invitations among their membership. The meeting was held at the Volunteer Centre, Valletta, 18:00hrs. Key stakeholders (including NGDOs/Food Security/Migration) showed interest in both the People s Forum and continued meetings in the run-up to the CPF2015. Over 30 participants/organisations were present and participated actively. A background to the Commonwealth People s Forum was presented. Networking and funding possibilities were touched upon. Preliminary indications about the programme content were also shared. Time for discussion was allocated. Some critical thoughts emerged during discussions: Aditus/PHROM offered financial support to sponsor civil society representatives who have difficulty with registration fees. Gender was questioned. While the importance of discussing women issues within the whole gender/migration/development/resilience discourse was acknowledged, it was pointed out that masculinities should not be excluded or sidelined. Aditus felt that since there is going to be a Women s forum looking at aspects of the women dimension to gender discourse, the People s Forum could offer some focus on masculinities (and LGBTI particularly focusing on the TI).

3 Celebrating Democracy (without offering a critique) was perceived as problematic by Integra Foundation. Maria Pisani mentioned the non-citizen and illegal body, who are excluded from all forms of democratic processes. While democracy is a system that offers better participatory opportunities, many are excluded from those processes. JCI asked if the discussions held within the People s Forum are going to be linked or somehow reflect discussions held at CHOGM level. CF Director pointed out that the link is established through various topics such as the discussions held on Climate Change and encounters such as the recent Commonwealth Education Ministers Meeting and the Foreign Ministers Meeting following the CPF and in anticipation of the CHOGM. Many present requested that meeting notifications are published in the local newspapers apart from social media or sent by . Following the pattern of past meetings, further reflection on the methodology and aims for future meetings was deemed necessary. Realistic funding opportunities and capacity building are key interests. Engaging at policy level is another key interest registered by some of the organisations present. The presentation of clear opportunities, such as policy forums, engaged the interest of stakeholders indicating that a stronger policy focus is to be developed. One way of achieving this is through the organisation of thematic sessions with the outcome based objective of generating recommendations to the CDC. Local NGOs and NGDOs need clarification as to the networks available at a Commonwealth level, particularly in relation to Small Island Developing States, thereby giving added value to local civil society. The conceptual framework on resilience is to be revisited to reflect the process and work carried out so far. Questions posed during the presentation may be re-examined in light of the interests raised and outlined above: How is resilience discourse useful for civil society? What critique can civil society bring to resilience discourse? How can resilience discourse serve those who are excluded by development discourse? How can resilience discourse be located in governance?

4 Development of the methodology and aims for future meetings has been addressed in the interim as outlined below. A number of thematic colloquiums are to be organised. Building on the work of Knowles, (1984), the sessions will acknowledge and valorise the huge reservoir of experience and knowledge that the attendees bring with them; an important resource of peer and mutual learning 1. The colloquia will start with short (10 minute) inputs by a number of experts/resource persons in the selected field, purposefully chosen to include a variety of perspectives and experiences and to serve as stimuli for further discussions. These will be followed by the inputs from the attendees. The colloquia will be chaired by the nominated delegate, who also forms part of the CDC, to ensure that the debate remains focused on the Commonwealth People s Forum process and channelled, where relevant, towards the priorities identified by the CDC. The sessions will be mainly problem-centred and advocacy-centred rather than content-oriented. This will ensure immediate relevance and impact to the People s Forum process. The last half an hour of each colloquium will focus on filling in a simple template as recommendations to the CDC that will capture the main strands identified during the session which can form the basis of further elaboration and policy dialogue with the relevant stakeholders. 1 Malcolm S. Knowles & associates, (1984), Andragogy in Action: Applying Modern Principles of Adult Learning, 1 st Edition, The Jossey-Bass Higher Education Series. Malcolm Knowles, informal adult education, self-direction and andragogy, [online],

5 The first colloquium is to be held on the 31 July, 2015, 18:00hrs. Invitations have been sent out as agreed. (Regrettably, the press release for the newspapers, although drafted as requested by civil society members and submitted to the CHOGM TaskForce, has not been approved for publication. However, apart from invitations being sent by , information related to this colloquium should be accessible on social media). Thematic: Is resilience discourse useful for migration policy analysis and advocacy? Suggested participants (contacted): a) CDC, 1 Representative: Chair of meeting b) Migrant s Platform, 1 Representative: The lived experience c) Migration NGO Network, 1 Representative: Policy & Advocacy, NGO perspective d) The President s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, 1 Representative: Unaccompanied and Separated Children perspective e) The Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants, Dr. Ahmed Bugre: Service delivery (Open Centre) Perspective f) The Critical Institute: Critical Perspectives g) SOS Malta: Migration and Development h) 1 Rapporteur: Supporting the chair of the meeting to use the recommendations template for the CDC committee. Representatives are invited to offer perspectives on Resilience, Policy Analysis and Advocacy from an NGO perspective as well as the lived experience of (forced) migration thereby contextualizing the questions listed below within migration experience/discourse/policy. How is resilience discourse useful for civil society? What critique can civil society bring to resilience discourse? How can resilience discourse serve those who are excluded by development discourse? The aim of the meeting is to stimulate discussion and come up with a set of recommendations for the Content Design Committee, who are working on the programme for the People's Forum, 2015.