The first annual Community-In-Conversation Women’s Month Series

1. The first annual Community-In-Conversation Women’s Month Series Panel Discussion & Community Dialogue: Women Human Rights 08.07.14

2. 4:135  O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for God can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that ye do.42:38-39 Those who hearken to their Lord, and establish regular prayer; who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation; who spend out of what we bestow on them for sustenance; And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, (are not cowed but) help and defend themselves.

3. Vision of C-I-C Expand the conversation on Gender Justice to create awareness of Women Human Rights 1 Engage all stakeholders in the collective conversation Bring the dialogue to the center/heart of the community in a sustainable way 3 2 What do we need to execute this?

4. Key ingredients for a successful C-I-C Collective Participation (co-hostings & single theme ‘nationally’) Sustainable Community Orientation (Diversity of views) Contemporary Human Rights Challenges Honest & Robust Discussion Popularizing expert knowledge Ulama, Scholars, Activists, Community Workers, Community everyday lived experiences

5. Slow Opening Process W.M 2014-W.M 2015 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 a. Negotiating & Creating Bridges b. Panel Discussion & Community Dialogue Publication on presentations & summaries of community dialogue Local workshops to further discuss issues arising for greater understanding Media Outreach: Radio/TV Panel Discussion, Op Eds * WM: Women’s Month

6. “That's not Islam!”So, how did we get here?”Rights based reflections of extremism in the Muslim world. THEME 2014 Girls education Extremism Honor killings Slavery as an Islamic practice State’s duty as custodian of human rights Under age marriage Shariah & Safeguarding Women’s Rights Kidnappings Men superiority Compulsion in religion Apostasy Stonings Forced veiling

7. C-I-C Format Respondent: Critical reflections Panelists Presentations Welcome address Group discussions Report back Closing remarks

8. " There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about" Margaret Wheatley… in Allah’s name.

9. Guidelines • The C-I-C is constituted as follows: • Each dialogue series focuses on a single theme replicated in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town. • Each locality constitutes its dialogue through a panel of speakers representing a cross section of concerns on the selected theme. The panel of speakers is followed by a respondent who raises critical reflections on speakers’ presentations. The respondent’s critique is followed by workshop style small group discussions facilitated by experienced facilitators, with report back and closing remarks. • Panels may deal with international discussions in local context, but should refrain from apologetics, avoid a defensive stance and move toward rich, nuanced discussions.

10. Guidelines • The Islamic etiquette of debate/disagreement will be followed throughout proceedings. • The facilitators necessarily pay attention to the difficulty participants have embarking on these discussions and facilitate a way forward that suites the participants. • The C-I-C process can be used as a dialogue format that other groups can adopt to promote similar local dialogues since the power of this process is igniting circles of dialogue everywhere. • C-I-C is not a women’s event, it is a community dialogue, with active participation from both genders, youth etc.