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Commission on Full and Active Citizenship: the Contribution of AE to Increasing Citizens’ Participation in Governance and Democratization ICAE World Assembly 17-19 Jan 2007 Commission on Full and Active Citizenship: the Contribution of AE to Increasing Citizens’ Participation in Governance and Democratization Draft Program & Call for Participation ASPBAE, a regional member of ICAE, has been invited to prepare and facilitate a Commission for the ICAE World Assembly entitled: ‘Full and Active Citizenship: the contribution of AE to increasing citizens’ participation in governance and democratization’. ASPBAE’s Perspective and Involvement in ‘Cit Ed’ Education for active citizenship and good governance is indeed one of the most urgent tasks of our time. Across the world there is a desire by citizens to be more actively involved in the decisions that affect their lives and at the same time a desire for more responsive, inclusive participatory forms of governance. For the past 6 years ASPBAE has coordinated a program entitled ‘Education for Active Citizenship and Good Governance’ (Cit Ed) in recognition of the importance of ensuring all peoples have access to decision making processes in their respective countries and localities, recognise their rights and responsibilities and are empowered to participate effectively in those processes. In the Asia Pacific region, ASPBAE’s Cit Ed activities include the development in 2001 of a Learning Circles Kit on Citizens Participation in Democracy for Vanuatu and a Citizens Participation in Elections Project in Papua New Guinea with member organisations in each country. The outcomes of these projects were included in the Commonwealth Foundation’s Citizens and Governance Toolkit, a comprehensive resource for CSOs working on these issues. A Melanesia sub-regional Cit Ed Workshop was held in November 2002 while in October 2003 ASPBAE held a Regional Workshop on Engendering Citizenship Education in Nepal. In 2003-4 training workshops were held in the PNG Highlands and a video was produced of the experiences of women who had nominated as candidates in elections in PNG. At the international level apart from participating in the Commonwealth Foundation’s (CF) Citizens and Governance Program, ASPBAE facilitated an international Workshop organised by Montreal International Forum (FIM) in 2001 which focused on increasing CSO participation in UN decision making processes. International participation continued in June 2002 at a Seminar on Democracy and Education in Hamburg, Germany organised by the UNESCO Institute of Education (UIE) and the Conference on Global Governance in Montreal (October 2002) organised by FIM. In 2004 ASPBAE drew on experienced trainers from member organisations to produce a Citizens Education Action Learning (CEAL) Guide funded by the Commonwealth Foundation (CF). The CEAL Guide adapted some of the rich material found in the CF Citizens and Governance Toolkit and fashioned it into a training tool for civil society facilitators to assist them in their work of building citizens and community knowledge and skills to become more active in the process of governance. In order to validate the CEAL Guide modules and provide feedback on how to improve it and how it might be used in different contexts, ASPBAE held a Regional Workshop in Indonesia in 2004 and a South Asia Training Workshop in Sri Lanka in September 2006. Over the next 3 years ASPBAE and CF intend to collaborate along with in-country CSOs in utilizing the CEAL Guide to provide Training of Trainer (TOT) opportunities for civil society facilitators in the Pacific, South East Asia, East, West and Southern Africa and the Caribbean. Invitation to ParticipateASPBAE would like to encourage adult educators with an interest and experience in this area to participate in this Commission and to comment on the draft program below. We would like to ensure perspectives from all regions are included in this Commission. From the ICAE Terms of Reference for Commissions at the World Assembly, ASPBAE is responsible for:
1. Program Topic: Full and active citizenship: the contribution of AE to increasing citizens’ participation in governance and democratization Draft Objectives of the Commission: a) Analyse the current impact of Cit Ed and other adult education that has Cit Ed components (including a recap of statements and recommendations in CONFINTEA V and significant developments since) b) Highlight new & innovative Cit Ed approaches and contributions at local, national and international levels with the aim of building a global perspective c) Introduce the Citizens Education Action Learning (CEAL) Guide and experience one of its modules, as an example of a recent training resource d) Discuss to what extent AE contributes to increased citizens’ participation in governance and towards democratisation e) Identify Opportunities and Strategies for Future Action by participants and by ICAE, especially in light of EFA and CONFINTEA VI Commission Approach: a) Participatory b) Within a social justice and rights based framework c) Network building & connecting participants to resources d) Visual and interactive Draft Program Design 3.5 hour Commission on the afternoon of 17 January 2006 (2.00 pm to 5.30 pm). 2.00 pm Welcome & Introductions: Participants are asked to mingle and then in twos or threes with people they don’t know tell why they have come to this Commission and one thing they are doing in relation to Cit Ed. 2.15 pm Setting the Scene: 10 minute video / PowerPoint highlighting Cit Ed efforts in different parts of the world and the importance of full and active citizenship for governance and democratization. 2.25 pm Painting a Picture: Presentations from a Panel of high profile speakers including Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS (3 x 10 minutes) to: · paint a picture of the current impact of Cit Ed & the contribution of AE to increasing citizens’ participation in governance and democratization · provide a recap of relevant statements and recommendations in CONFINTEA V and significant developments since · highlight innovative approaches at local, national and international levels Questions & Comments from the floor including brief examples of new & innovative approaches and impact 3.30 pm Afternoon Tea 3.45 pm Facilitate one module of the CEAL Guide (ASPBAE to Facilitate) including brief feedback from participants 4.45 pm Plenary discussion identifying opportunities & strategies for future action in light of EFA and CONFINTEA VI 5.15 pm 1 or 2 Respondents asked to comment on suggestions made, add new ideas and recap on the main outcomes 5.30 pm Close 2. Moderators / Facilitators / Speakers A balance will be struck between gender and regional considerations and levels of operation (local, national and international)
3. Materials to Hand Out Each participant to receive:
4. Fundraising ASPBAE is likely to secure funds for 2 or 3 places only, so we will be reliant on participants finding their own funding to come. We encourage other regions and organisations to seek resources to enable relevant people to participate. 5. Liaise with GEO This draft and future updates will be sent indicating how women have been / are involved in the Commission design, facilitation / speaking / responding 6. Coordinate with other Commission Organisers This draft and future updates will be sent around for comment. Comments on the draft program are welcome & confirmations of participation in the Commission can be sent to Mr. Bernie Lovegrove, ASPBAE Program Manager, email: bernie@aspbae-oz.org
FULL AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP: THE CONTRIBUTION OF AE TO INCREASING CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRATIZATION
Some of the
panelists are:
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