The Somali Civil Society in Rome, a conference to restart

Successful conclusion today of the first Somali civil society conference,
with the presentation of the “Rome Statement”

Rome, 8th of February 2008

The first Somali civil society conference ended this afternoon with the presentation of the “Rome Statement”,
For four days 40 Somali delegates representing associations, academic and business communities, and coming from several Somali regions and from the diaspora, have shared their worries and discuss their ideas about the future of the country and the role that Somali civil society can and must have in the reconciliation and reconstruction of Somalia.

The final statement underlines how the four days of work have been useful in order to “identify constraints and opportunities for a long lasting peace and dialogue and the important role Somali civil society can have”. The “Rome Statement” goes on listing the requests and positions of the conference on six themes: the humanitarian crisis, dialogue and reconciliation, human rights, the roles of civil society, and its strengthening and its relation with the international community in order to be supported in the promotion of dialogue.

In presenting the final document of the conference, Khadija O. Ali, member of the organizing committee, underlined how, during the session days, all the delegates “decided to put away our differences while putting together all the ideas, positions and things we have in common”. Abdullahi Shirva, coordinator of the civil society in Mogadishu, expressed his wish that the content of the final statement will be fulfilled. That is why, as Nino Sergi, the secretary general of INTERSOS underlined in his conclusive greetings, delegates foresee the setting up of a “follow-up committee” to guarantee continuity so that “this conference is not just an episodic event without any continuation”.

Today, the Foreign Affairs deputy ministry Patrizia Sentinelli, Armando Sanguini, director general for sub saharian Africa at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Stefano Manservisi, director general for cooperation and the European Commission and Mario Raffaelli, special envoy for Somalia of Italian government took part to the conference, as representative of both Italian and European Institutions. Unanimous agreement was expressed on the importance of a conference whose successful goal was the synthesis among different and distant positions, confirming the fundamental role of the Somali civil society in the reconciliation of the country.

For information:
Irene Panozzo
347-1622578
press@somaliaforum.org

Third day of meetings for the first conference of the Somali civil society,
an opportunity of dialogue among members of Somali associations, university and business communities.

Rome, 7th of February

Third day of meetings today for the forty delegates who are taking part to the first conference of the Somali civil society, under way in Rome from February 5th to 8th. The representatives of Somali associations, of academic and business communities from Somalia and the diaspora met today with Italian and European civil societies. The issues raised in the debate went from education to the humanitarian situation of the country and from the needs of emergency and reconstruction to the insecurity in Somalia.
Today discussions served the purpose of stressing the existence of a Somali civil society, which is the one that “till today has allowed life to go on in Somalia”, said in the opening address Nino Sergi, segretary general of Intersos, the Italian Ngo that, on behalf of Italian Ngo’s Association, helped organising the conference. “Now it needs”, Sergi went on, “the support of international community to be legitimated and be able to play a leading role in the country reconstruction”.

Many Somali delegates took part to the debate during the working sessions, which the Somali community residing in Italy attended too. Hawa Aden, director of a Puntland Ngo which promotes women’s rights, said that this conference is the proof that Somali civil society “exists, works and reaches goals”. A similar opinion was expressed by Maryam Yusuf Sheikh, director of a Mogadishu based women’s associations network, who emphasized the fact that many Somali Ngo’s are completely accountable and transparent in doing their job. “None of those who have been so brave as to raise money for Somalia has ever been disappointed by our work”, she said.

The seriousness many Somali Ngo’s show has been underlined in some other speeches. Abdi Ali Raghe, director of a Kismayo based organisation, explained how Somali Ngo’s have become “ripe for a real partnership with international organisations, strengthened by their local dynamics knowledge”. Delegates stressed also the urgent need for creating stable and representative political institutions. Their activity is required to build the State framework that can allow a civil society to operate in a more successful way.

The conference will end tomorrow when Somali delegates will meet Italian and European institutions representatives at CNEL “Parlamentino” (via Lubin 2).

Second day of meetings for the first conference of the Somali civil society,
an opportunity of dialogue among members of Somali associations, university and business communities.

Second day of meetings today for the forty delegates who are taking part to the first conference of the Somali civil society, under way in Rome from February 5th to 8th. The representatives of Somali associations, academic and business communities from Somalia and the diaspora appreciated today this rare opportunity to meet, share ideas and information, building a dialogue that brings together people with different geographical, clanic and political backgrounds.

Today sessions began from the confrontations between different experiences and analyses about subjects such as the humanitarian situation, the human rights issue and the different peace-building strategies needed for a successful conflict management and solution. Delegates also talked about the relevant role of the business community in promoting and developing peace and reconstruction of Somali society, about the challenges facing the Somali women’s organitations, an important part of Somali civil society, and about the impact on development and social dynamics of demographic change under way in the country and in each Somali region.

The conference expressed  its deep concern about the growing humanitarian crisis in Somalia and a peculiar apprehension for the growing insecurity which affects both civil population and humanitarian workers. Delegates emphasized the need for an inclusive and open to confrontation dialogue, a necessary tool to find a durable solution to the conflict and to achieve peace.

The conference will go on tomorrow, February 7th,  at the UNICEF conference room (via Palestro 68), where Somali civil society will dialogue with Italian and European civil society members. The convention will end on Friday February 8th, with the meeting of Somali delegates with Italian and international institutions representatives.

Rome, 6th of February

The Somali Civil Society in Rome, a conference to restart

Today, in Rome, the first conference of Somali Civil Society started.
It is an occasion for dialogue among outstanding representatives of associations, universities and business of Somalia

This morning, in Rome, the first conference of Somali Civil Society started. It is a meeting wanted and organized by outstanding representatives of associations, academic world and enterprise of both Somalia and Diaspora with the support of INTERSOS, operating as representative of the Italian Association of NGOs. For four days 40 Somali delegates, coming from different experiences, political positions and belonging to different clans and communities met to discuss and put the basis for a new dialogue within the Somali civil society in sight of its important role in the reconciliation and reconstruction of the country.

For 17 years in war and in the absence of durable governmental institutions, Somalia is usually presented as one of the failed states and feeds the news with dead, injuries, destruction and refugees since long time. But, in spite of the going on of the political crisis, the civil life in the country has been going on. Among all kind of difficulties, during the last years, schools, vocational training centers, universities and hospitals have been continuing working and the formal and informal economy has been active. 

The conference of Rome represents an arrival point of a dialogue and exchange process that has been developing during the years among Somali actors and the Italian NGOs operating in Somalia. On the other side it is also the starting point for a renewed action inside the country. During the today conference sessions the delegates faced the core of the objective: the possible role of the civil society in promoting dialogue and peace in Somalia. Split in different working groups, intellectuals, social workers and businessmen operating in Somalia or from the Diaspora, have been starting discussing about the “Roma Declaration of the Somali civil society”, a new unitary platform to start counting on the future of Somalia and actively talking to institutions and the different Somali forces.

Rome, February 5th 2008