The Foundation Extends Operations by Establishing its New Arm in Tunisia
March 29, 2012
Since the beginning of the Tunisian revolution in December 2010, the Foundation for the Future has made relentless efforts to ensure the appropriate building of the capacity of civil society and be able to assume its significant role in making their country’s history trough the ongoing political transformation of democratic transition.
The opening of a sub-office for the Foundation in Tunis is an important mechanism on the ground to ensure direct consultation and interaction with the respective counterparts with the purpose of coordinating activities and projects targeting women association, nascent associations, policy makers and the media. This would not have been possible without the support the governments of Switzerland and Denmark and the confidence they have rendered to the Foundation for its commitment to enhance the role of civil society organization in Tunisia and Libya in support of the political change underway in these countries.
Among the first activities on the Action Plan of the new Foundation’s team in the Tunis office will be the organization of a capacity building training workshop in April 2012 targeting at least 20 participants representing emergent civil societies in the country. While the special attention will be given to raising awareness among the Tunisian women and youth, the main objective behind holding this workshop is to enhance a civil society network advocating for civic participation, human rights, local democracy governance and women empowerment.
Other activities will be focusing on youth exchange and seminar on society participation will help implementing capacity of activists’ leadership in Tunisia in the field of advocacy and lobbying for women rights.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for establishing an office in Libya to oversee the Foundation’s work and contacts in the country as well as the implementation of related activities. A team has been assigned from staff-members, currently in Tripoli, to take charge of all administrative requirements and develop the milestones and networks necessary for ensuring an effective initiation of the operations there. This comes as part of the efforts the Foundation is launching in its support to the Libyan revolution and the important role local civil society is assuming.
Foundation for the Future
The Foundation for the Future is an independent, multilateral, not-for-profit organization which aims to support civil society organizations’ efforts in promoting democracy and human rights in the BMENA region, while maintaining cultural characteristics of individual countries.
"The Foundation for the Future is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 2011"
Tunis Office Address:
Le Palace building
Third Floor Apartment B 3.5
Centre Urbain Nord-Tunis
Tel: 00216-71822137
Contact Information:
Hosni Mouelhi
Liaison Officer
hosni.mouelhi@foundationforfuture.org
For more information or a statement from our team, please contact Dima Masri, Communication Officer on dima.masri@foundationforfuture.org/www.foundationforfuture.org
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Revolution+ 1: Tunisian civil society optimistic, committed, vigilant and prudent according to FFF survey findings
January 14, 2012
La version originale de cet article est disponible en français.
On January 14, 2011, Tunisian President Ben Ali left office, after a month of protests and popular uprisings that would sow the seeds of a political tsunami, the Arab Spring. While the country is celebrating the end of the "year zero", where the entire political system has been overhauled by a process of democratization and the election of a Constituent Assembly, it is interesting to explore the perceptions of one of the major players in this transition, civil society. Building on a successful similar experience in Egypt in August 2011, the Foundation for the Future invited representatives of NGOs, associations, unions, etc. to take part in a voluntary and web-based survey. Between December 22, 2011 and January 7, 2012, more than a hundred participants enthusiastically shared their opinions.
Tunisian civil society demonstrates cautious optimism when gauging the achievements of a first year of democratic transition. Civil society members have themselves taken an active role in the various episodes of the transition - demonstrations, dismantling of the Ben Ali regime, institutions of transition, elections, etc. - It makes sense then that optimism is the first and dominant reaction.
This context of optimism is also marked by greater freedom of expression and space for action for civil society. This is an important result, as a civil society free of its words and opinions is both a sign and a precondition of a viable and tangible democratic process. As one of the survey participants put it, "we live fully our freedom on all fronts". A majority of respondents noted a significant improvement in their environment and context of action: in fact, indisputable progress is perceived by the respondents on each of the six main factors of constraint or restriction (censorship, libel, imprisonment, harassment, logistical or administrative constraints). In other words, the January 14 Revolution has opened a more conducive context for CSOs to act. A clear example is that of censorship: it was, according to 73.9% of the respondents, the main constraint before January 14; it now impacts their work less than material and administrative obstacles. However, it is a concern that nearly 1 in 3 respondent states that the administrative and logistical constraints, as well as defamation and harassment, continue to be barriers in their daily activity.
Like the Tunisian population itself, civil society interviewees do not hide, beyond a more positive perception of the events of 2011, their disappointment, frustrations and doubts. Only 58% believe that the results of the transition are up to mark with the commitment of Tunisians in the Revolution and respond to their demands: insufficient and slow progress, post-election concerns, behind-the-scenes political deals seem to feed this disappointment. Two findings also sound as a strong warning: the place of youth and women in the democratization process is widely viewed as insufficient considering the level of engagement of these categories of population in the popular protest movement which has led to the departure of President Ben Ali.
A factor of hope, however: in the present context, 95.6% of respondents stated "[that] as a member of civil society, [they feel] more likely to be a factor for positive change for Tunisia”. They are even over 68% to "agree completely" with this statement. Signs of trust between authorities and civil society, and consultation efforts during the transition have placed civil society in a position of influence vis-à-vis the government. By perceiving itself unanimously as a "catalyst of change", civil society takes a conquering and confident attitude in the transition. It sees itself as a "political educator" of citizens (98%), champion of human rights (97%) and sentinel of democracy (90%). So it's no surprise that civil society wants to be associated or have a role in drafting the new constitution (91%).
On this matter, opinions are determined and strong. The respondents expressed a strong attachment to constitutional principles of “safeguard” such as the establishment of a Constitutional Court, a supra-constitutional Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and a formal recognition of the democratic nature of the State in the text the new Constitution. Independence of the judiciary, freedom of press and information, and balance of powers are the main "constitutional absolute priorities" for civil society. This can be interpreted as an attempt to assert formally the role of the “counter-powers” (Justice, media) and place above it all the principle of popular sovereignty by specifically demanding the adoption of the Constitution by referendum, in contrast to the recent vote of the Constituent Assembly on the subject.
Finally, on another hot debate of the moment - the place of religion in Tunisian society and politics - civil society expresses a clear preference for a political and constitutional system that is fundamentally secular, thus being in clear antagonism with the general population if one considers the results of the elections of October 23 and various opinion polls. 91.5% of respondents agreed that there must be a clear separation between religion and politics, and religion and government, and that the separation must also be mentioned at a constitutional level. 74.6% think that secularism is an “absolute constitutional priority”. The preference for a secular system does not stop there, as more than 9 in 10 respondents do not agree with the fact that political parties could have a “religious” color.
Constitution, election, transition, politics, and religion: all issues of major importance. However, civil society does not forget that if the Revolution could take place it is also because it was fueled by the frustrations and economic exclusion of large segments of the population. On civil society’s public policy agenda, the economy dominates: there is a unanimous understanding around the fact that job creation, employment and sound economic development should be the number one priority for any future government in Tunisia.
Without claiming victory, Tunisian civil society approaches the end of the first year of transition with a constructive attitude, ready to be a driving force and an incubator of ideas in a country that is reinventing its institutional and political identity. This is the message that today, the Foundation for the Future wishes to voice and spread.
The full report is available here (in French)
Foundation for the Future Receives Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council
Press release
14 September 2011
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During its last Substantive Session of July 2011, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) has granted to the Foundation for the Future a “Special Consultative Status”. Special status is granted to organizations with a specialized knowledge in one subject or geographic area pertinent to UN activities.
ECOSOC was established under the United Nations Charter as the principal organ to coordinate economic, social, and related work of the 14 UN specialized agencies, functional commissions, five regional commissions and 11 UN funds and special programmes. The Council serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States and the United Nations system in regards to economic and social progress; cultural and educational cooperation and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
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For the Foundation for the Future, the privilege of being granted special consultative status comes as a reward for internal efforts, but also as recognition of the work of the Foundation and its particular significance. Ms. Nabila Hamza, President of the Foundation, declared that “the Foundation is honored and proud to receive this decision from ECOSOC. It is a testament of the work done over the last five years and the acknowledgement that the Foundation is capable of contributing to international policy-making and dialogue”. The Foundation will now have the privilege to engage with the United Nations on issues such as human rights, freedoms, gender equality and justice. “At a time when the Arab world is undergoing unprecedented transformation, it is important that voices like ours are heard in international fora, to bring democratic governance matters at the heart of discussions and advocate for civil society support in the Arab world”, added Ms. Hamza.
Consultative status confers a series of privileges to the Foundation, and noticeably the possibility to participate in various UN gatherings and intergovernmental decision-making bodies; to make recommendations and written statements relevant to the work of the Council on subjects in which the Foundation has a special competence; to gain access to various international human rights mechanisms and UN bodies, including ECOSOC subsidiary bodies such as the Commission on the Status of Women, the Annual Civil Society Development Forum, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights or the Beirut-based Regional Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), which comprises 14 Arab countries of the Levant, Mashriq and Arabian Peninsula.
This also allows the Foundation to join a network of over 2,400 non-governmental organizations with UN consultative status.
“We are also well aware that this recognition comes with important responsibilities and obligations” concluded Ms. Hamza, as the Foundation will have to engage in UN activities and events, cooperate strongly with UN agencies and contribute effectively and positively on issues pertinent to the UN mandate and work.
Click here to read the letter granting Special Consultative Status to the Foundation for the Future.