Serageldin Inaugurates the Third Arab Reform Conference
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Alexandria— Dr. Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, inaugurated the Third Arab Reform Conference, on 1 March 2006, entitled Challenges and Concerns Facing the Civil Society. During the opening session, Dr. Serageldin summed up the themes of the conference: microfinance, women empowerment, and youth employment. Stating that the conference will also discuss transparency, human rights, the environment, and the importance of such issues in correlation with the reform of Arab countries. Dr. Serageldin added that freedom of expression, which is now a controversial issue through out the world, is a crucial aspect of reform. He referred to the Prophet cartoons published by a Danish paper, and the Jews holocausts, which raise the question of what is freedom of expression and is it permissible to ban someone from expressing his/her views.
Dr. Serageldin added that the conference will also tackle the economic relations between Arab countries. He also referred to the BA efforts to the benefit of successful models of reform and development, through hosting international figures and discussing their experiences including Michel Rocard’s reform model in Europe, and former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahtir Muhammed’s reform model in Malaysia.
Dr. Serageldin stated that the BA is following up on the implementation of the Second Reform Conference recommendations, most important of which was the Arab Info-mall Project, comprising now more than 200 civil society organizations in the Arab world. During the Second Reform Conference, the BA studied more than 120 successful reform models in 15 Arab countries and efforts are underway to study more models through the participation of civil society organizations from developed countries.
The opening session was concluded by showing a documentary film on the proceedings and recommendations of the Second Reform Conference. Dr. Serageldin mentioned that the Reform Forum will give out copies of the film to all participants as a souvenir in recognition of their valuable role in reforming their societies.
Click here for detailed program.
(Please note that an additional panel (Organizational Framework for Civil Work: Legislation – Management – Funding)has been added in parallel to the others, names of the participants are yet to be disclosed)
Click here event poster.
Click here for list of attendees (Current list to be updated).
N.B. Programs and lists are subject to amendments according to requirement.