action support centre 2 2013.pdfaction support centre newsletter issue 2, march 2013 donec interdum...

ACTION Support Centre Newsletter Issue 2, March 2013

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ACTION SUPPORT CENTRE

Welcome! The ACTION Support Centre (ASC) would like to

extend a warm welcome to all our readers as we

reconnect with you all through this month’s newsletter!

Our last newsletter received numerous encouraging

and positive responses and we would like to thank you

for taking the time to reach out and strengthen the ties

that bind us. It is through this continued connection and

shared sense of purpose that we all remain a part of a

strong and dedicated movement seeking to bring about

the change we wish to see in the world.

March saw the ASC fostering new connections and

opportunities, strengthening long-held relationships,

renewing old commitments, branching out into new

arenas, providing unique spaces for dialogue and

solidifying our solidarity transformation agenda.

Below you will find an account of the various initiatives

that have been keeping us so busy. As always we ask

that you keep a look out for any opportunities for

collaboration that you might be interested in exploring

with us. It is by working together, hand-in-hand, that

we will realise our binding global purpose of a world

where human and people’s rights and dignity are

respected, where diversity is acknowledged as a source

of strength and where we put people before profits.

Inside this issue

The Zimbabwe Referendum 2

Dialogue Processes in Lebanon 7

Infrastructures for Peace- Launch News 4

South African Somali Women’s Network Launch in

Johannesburg 3

Transforming Conflict in Communities Workshop 7

BRICS CSO’s Meeting 5

COSATU International Relations Workshop 5

Joint Media Briefing on Zimbabwe 6

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The Zimbabwe Referendum

The queue to vote at the Harare Central Polling Station

The ASC, as part of the South Africa Forum for International Solidarity (SAFIS), sent an accredited delegation of observers, under the banner of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF), to observe the 2013 March 16th Zimbabwe Referendum. The delegation comprised of South African civil society and various Diaspora’s movements representatives, including two ASC staff.

Apart from observing the Referendum, the visit sought to re-affirm and strengthen existing regional solidarity networks, national civic and solidarity formations and deepen efforts towards building a culture of regional people to people solidarity. This was also taken as an opportunity to consult with Zimbabwe

civil society on the implications of the Referendum for the people of Zimbabwe and the regional solidarity movement.

Coming out of this visit, a comprehensive report providing useful and credible alternative information on the Zimbabwe Referendum and the general political situation in Zimbabwe has been developed. The report includes practical recommendations and strategies that inform regional and local solidarity actions that have direct impact on the people of Zimbabwe.

Several sectoral consultation meetings and information exchange sessions were organised with key organisations and institutions including, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the office of the Prime Minister, Ecumenical Support Services, Women’s Coalition, Constitutional

Parliamentary Co-chairpersons (COPAC), Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe (CRISIS), Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR), Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai Youth League (MDC-TYL), Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN), and the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA).

The comprehensive report is available for viewing on our website: www.asc.org.za

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Over the 19th and 20th of March the ASC, with support from the Southern African Liaison Office (SALO), coordinated and facilitated the first South African Somali Women’s Network (SASOWNET) meeting in Johannesburg.

The meeting was the second leg of the launch of a national SASOWNET, the first meeting, detailed in our previous newsletter, having taken place in Cape Town in February.

SASOWNET is a platform through which to support Somali women in Somalia, across the Somali region and within the Diaspora, in their efforts to ensure that gender issues are addressed and that women’s representation and participation is assured in this critical transition phase.

This two-day meeting was held at the Nura Hotel in the traditionally Somali community area of Mayfair. It was well supported with approximately 25 women in attendance. A

South African Somali Women’s Network Launch in Johannesburg

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diverse group of students, young mothers and the elderly were represented which added a wide-reaching and unique dimension to the group.

The workshops focused on confidence building and empowerment in an effort to address the lack of women’s representation within traditionally male-dominated decision making spheres. Together the group brainstormed possible challenges to participation and various solutions that may be facilitated by a women’s network.

It was an invigorating experience to work with such an outspoken, vibrant and determined group of women. The outcomes were rich and the proposed way forward held a promise for great things to come from this Network. Through the efforts and commitments of all involved, the meeting was forward-looking and productive. The ASC is excited to continue this working relationship as the SASOWNET continues to grow and expand.

Founding members of the SASOWNET Johannesburg Chapter

SASOWNET Members

taking part in an exercise to illustrate the

effective functioning of

a network

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Donec interdum

Pellentesque:

Consectetuer:

Infrastructures for Peace- Launch News

Over the past few months ACTION has been collaborating with a range of civil society organisations from around the world, including the European Centre for Conflict Prevention, to realise this initiative of constructing collaborative relationships amongst civil society organisations working on building and empowering local peace committees.

Infrastructures for Peace have been defined as the “dynamic network of interdependent structures, mechanisms, resources, values, and skills which, through dialogue and consultation, contribute to conflict prevention and peace-building in a society.”

The Infrastructures for Peace network initiative emerged out of the recognition that local peace infrastructures are powerful players in the prevention and de-escalation of conflict. These local actors have the ability to bring about sustainable and long-term change.

By creating a space where members and practitioners can come together, Infrastructures for Peace seeks to strengthen their coordination and share best practice so that their contribution to building peace can be even greater. The platform will also seek to ensure that Infrastructures for Peace and Local Peace Committees become more

widely recognised nationally and internationally and that multiple stakeholders are introduced to the value of such institutions.

The process of inviting Local Peace Committees (LPCs), NGOs, practitioners and scholars to join the network began in December 2012. The ASC and ACTION for Conflict Transformation’s global network have been involved in the collaboration since the beginning planning stages, and are committed to further strengthening the membership base and developing of the network.

There has been a great deal of interest in the network thus far with over 70 member organisations from more than 30 countries around the world. Creating the network is a work in progress and we are committed to ensuring all members have an opportunity to influence and shape the network as it develops.

We encourage each of you to visit the site to learn more about this unique initiative and to consider how you or your networks might become involved. If you are interested in joining, please contact us by email: [email protected] or circulate the weblink www.I4pinternational.org to all those who may be interested!

The ASC is delighted to share news of the launch of the Infrastructures for Peace network (www.I4Pinternational.org)

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COSATU International Relations Workshop

BRICS CSO’s Strategic Meeting

The Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF) is hosted and coordinated by the ASC. Both the ZSF and ACTION were invited to take part in the recent COSATU International Relations Workshop. This Workshop was held at the Elijah Memorial Training Centre in Midrand from the 4th to 6th of March.

The purpose of this workshop was to determine COSATU’s key priorities for 2013 and to ensure that the international work of COSATU Affiliates is complementary with those of the Federation. The workshop explored innovative means of collaboration with significant role players, including international solidarity campaigns and key movements such as the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum, Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and the Swaziland Democracy Campaign.

A decisive plan of action for 2013 was formulated. This plan will be presented to the COSATU Central Executive Committee later in the year. Further outcomes of the workshop included a call for the rejuvenation of relations between COSATU and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). On the solidarity agenda the ZSF was tasked with hosting an all stakeholders forum to consolidate all work done across the solidarity movements and to plan for the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe.

ASC Staff Sipho Theys with Sipho Mantula and Rasigan Maharajh at the BRICS CSO’s Strategic Meeting

The ASC, as an affiliate member of the South Africa Forum for International Solidarity (SAFIS), and in collaboration with ActionAid International, BASIC South Initiative (BSi), Vasudha Foundation and Groundwork-South Africa, hosted a BRICS Civil Society Organisation’s (CSO) Strategic Meeting on the 25th of March. This meeting was set to take place alongside the Fifth BRICS Summit taking place in Durban over the 26th and 27th of the month.

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Joint Media Briefing on Zimbabwe

The meeting addressed the rapidly growing economies of Brazil, Russia, India China and South Africa as a major force influencing the changing landscape of the global economy, environment, governance and geo-politics. As a result of this influence these countries are perceived to have the capacity to challenge the current world order, both through the threats and opportunities that the BRICS coalition presents.

During the meeting four key themes were identified as the pillars around which a civil society programme of action needs to be developed. These pillars included the promotion of transparency within BRICS countries; the closure the information gap between CSO’s and national governments; the development of tools for monitoring and evaluating the proposed BRICS Bank; and finally, the formation of strategies to promote the

recognition and furthering of basic human rights through the BRICS policies.

The meeting presented an opportunity for networking and relationship-building between various international CSO’s, each advocating for civil society to be recognised as an integral stakeholder in the BRICS coalition and demanding adequate representation within the associated decision-making arenas.

The ZSF participated in a joint media briefing on the 27th of March, at the Sunnyside Park Hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg. The briefing was organised by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition regional office, the International Commission of Jurists and the Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA).

Speakers for the briefing were drawn from the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum, International Commission of Jurists, Human Rights Institute of South Africa, Zimbabwe Civil Society Leaders from the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Zimbabwe NGO Forum and Zimbabwe Institute for a Democratic Alternative (IDAZIM). The ZSF took this opportunity to present a report by the regional election observers that

participated in the Zimbabwe Referendum.

Key briefing and discussion points focused on unpacking the motives behind the continued arrests of human rights defenders and opposition members in Zimbabwe and debating the prospects of Zimbabwe embracing the new constitutional dispensation and creating a conducive environment for a free, fair and peaceful election.

The ASC joins progressive civil society organisations in Zimbabwe and around the world in demanding the immediate release of all political prisoners languishing in Zimbabwe’s prisons and supports the demand for immediate deployment of SADC and AU election observers.


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Al Amir Mansour Assaf Mosque, Beirut

Dialogue Processes in Lebanon

An ACTION staff member attended a two-day dialogue process hosted by the Beirut-based Common Spaces Initiative and the UNDP Bureau for Conflict

Prevention and Recovery. Discussions centered on the theme ‘Peacebuilding in the Arab States Region: Building National and Local Capacities for Mediation and Dialogue’.

Participants represented a wide range of countries from across the Middle Eastern, North African region including Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Sudan, Qatar, Lebanon, Bahrain and Palestine. The result was a highly informative discussion on the importance and limitations of the shifts in power and calls for new forms of government that have spread across much of the region.

The ASC contributed to this valuable meeting by drawing on experiences from the initial formation of the African Insider Mediators Platform. The two-day process culminated in an agreement between participants to establish a loose network for experience sharing and learning that would seek to develop an agreed upon action plan aimed at strengthening the capacity of peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts across the Middle East and North Africa.

The meeting was a useful opportunity for networking and information sharing. Many of the contacts that were established will feed into and contribute towards future initiatives of the ACTION Support Centre.

Transforming Conflict in Communities Workshop

The ACTION Support Centre is excited to be hosting a four-day workshop on ‘Transforming Conflict in Communities; Exploring Conflict and Structural Violence,” from the 8th to the 11th of April in Johannesburg.

The ASC, through its Skills and Strategies for Change programme, strives to be a resource for African wisdom and expertise, able to respond effectively to the deep-rooted social conflicts across the continent. It connects people working for peace and development, human rights and social transformation.

Using examples from Southern Africa and across

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the continent the course has been designed specifically for active members of civil society whose actions are focused on building and strengthening peace at the community level. The group will include ASC volunteers, local peace committee members, human rights and solidarity campaigners and women’s networks representatives.

The course will include an analysis of recent events that

have taken place in South Africa, as they relate to longer-term approaches to transforming social conflict in Southern Africa and beyond.

A workshop approach to learning uses a diverse range of methodologies including analysis from specialist resource people, conceptual frameworks, detailed case studies and creative participatory exercises.

Its enriching content will unpack a variety of skills and strategies that will inform the work that community volunteers and conflict practitioners are involved in.

ACTION looks forward to sharing the lessons and best practice emerging from this workshop, with more information to come on upcoming learning events welcoming your participation!

ACTION Support Centre: The Africa Regional Hub of a global network of individuals and organisations committed to positive action

to transform conflict

Close Once again, the diversity and wide reach of a Conflict Transformation approach to peacebuilding is noticeable when documenting ones work altogether like this. This months accounts demonstrate the numerous avenues through which we approach conflict; linking peacebuilders to policy makers, providing unique spaces for organizing and mobilising, facilitating complex and often difficult dialogue processes and continuously pursuing a strong solidarity agenda; all driven by an over-arching belief that another world is possible.

In 2012 the ACTION Support Centre celebrated its ten-year anniversary. In commemoration of ten years of people-centred approaches to transforming conflict on the African continent we produced a short documentary film. In order to take a look, follow this link to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dcenVOPwNY

For more information on the ACTION Support Centre and our various campaigns please visit our website at www.asc.org.za You can also access information by liking our Facebook pages.

action support centre 2 2013.pdfaction support centre newsletter issue 2, march 2013 donec interdum...

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