Presented by: Ms. Joyce HAKMEH

1. Fostering Dialogue between CSOs and Local Authorities in the MENA Region:The FoA project, a Case in FocusBaku-Azerbaijan, February 2011 Presented by: Ms. Joyce HAKMEH

2. Rationale of the Project & Brief History • Despite developments in legislation, Freedom of Association in the MENA region is least protected and respected. • The authorities’ respect of the right to Freedom of Associationhas not seen any progress, and rather suffered further setbacks. • An international political climate characterized over the past years by tension and wars only served to further complicate the already existing complicated conditions.

3. Rationale of the Project & Brief History- Cont’d • With very rare exceptions, NGOs, Political Parties and Labor Union Laws in the majority of the MENA countries are very restrictive and impede the creation of vibrant CSOs. HENCE, • Arab civil society has neither been empowered by an adequate legal framework, nor has it been able to succeed, under strict government supervision and internal divides, to emerge vibrantly and to fulfill its developmental mission.

4. Rationale of the Project & Brief History- Cont’d • In view of this situation, the FriederichNauman Foundation (FNF) in partnership with the Arab Center for the Rule of Law and Integrity (ACRLI) and other national partners initiated a 3 year project (from 2007 to 2010) on: “Enhancing the legal framework of Associations in the Arab World through national dialogue and empowerment of civil society” www.arab-laws-reform.net

6. Rationale of the Project & Brief History- Cont’d • The project covered 5 Arab core countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria, with an outreach component to Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. • The project’s main objective was to build partnerships between Arab CSOs and between them and their governments on a national and regional level through the promotion of an active ongoing dialogue focusing on the 3 laws: the NGO, the political parties, and the labour union laws.

7. What were the Project’s Achievements in Contributing to a better Political Dialogue and in Promoting an Enabling Environment?

8. The Project was able to initiate dialogue on FoA between Civil Society representatives and Local Authorities representatives on the national and regional level. • The project contributed to initiating very much needed alliances between CSOs on the national and regional level. • The project produced Codes of Conduct for NGOs, A Charter on Democratic Practices for political parties and A Code of Conduct for workers associations.

9. The project has provided each component of the CSO community with forums to meet and reach minimum common ground but also the three components too with platforms to coordinate their efforts and to unite under the cause of FoA. • In 9 countries, National Councils for FoA were initiated with equal representation of NGOs, political parties and labour unions and with the membership of academics and independent activists with clear bylaws and action plans. • The Project was able to initiate a regional platform for dialogue: the Arab Council for Freedom of Association (ACFA) with the support of the League of Arab States.

10. What were the Project’s Impediments in Contributing to a better Political Dialogue and in Promoting an Enabling Environment?

11. The Project did not achieve major progress in translating the outputs of the established dialogue between the CSOs and LAs into concrete actions that would promote an enabling environment. • There was no sufficient motivation from the CSOs who signed the codes to abide by its content fearing that these codes will constitute an additional source of pressure along with the already existing Governmental censorship.

12. The established National Councils on FoA, with the exception of Lebanon, could not be registered due to the existing restrictive laws. • The difficulty of having an effective National Dialogue with the absence of responsiveness from the government and parliament who were hesitant and sometimes reluctant in taking part in this dialogue.

13. What are the Lessons Learned and Recommendations for the Future?

14. Lessons learnt & Recommendations • The importance of understanding that the achievements are only a first approach towards reform, and the creation of an effective dialogue between the various parties of the society needs to be met with collective action accompanied by a great degree of perseverance and continuity. • The importance of focusing on the legal frameworks that governs Human Rights in the MENA region and the importance of maintaining the lobbying for their amendments in line with international standards and conventions.

15. Lessons learnt & Recommendations - Cont’d • The need to ensure realistic expectations out of such projects and accordingly set SMART objectives that are aligned with the Democratic, Social, Economic, Political and Security situation in the countries in question. • The importance of focusing projects on the economic, social and cultural rights in addition to the civil rights, since poverty, unemployment and ignorance are conditions that greatly affect the way civil and political rights including the right to Freedom of Association are claimed.

16. Lessons learnt & Recommendations - Cont’d • The need to keep supporting activities that foster and encourage dialogue among the various actors of the societies in the MENA region not only as related to FoA but also to the Human Rights in general. • The need to work on building the capacity of Civil Society Organizations in making them more aware of the needed reform in their related contexts, and accordingly set up strategic plans that would translate these needs into concrete actions.

17. Thank you… For more information, please contact: Dr. Ali DABBAS, Rights and Liberties Commissioner at the National Center for Human Rights (NCHR), Jordan on ali.d@nchr.org.jo Ms. Joyce HAKMEH, Project & Communication Specialist at the Arab Center for the Rule of Law & Integrity (ACRLI), Lebanon on jhakmeh@arabruleoflaw.org