Justice Africa is extremely pleased to announce the forthcoming launch of a new Civil Project in Sudan, early in the new year.

The Civil Project aims to support Sudan’s peace and democratic processes, as it undergoes major transitions, emerging from decades of civil war. From our experience, working through civil society is the most effective way to support human rights and transitional processes and the project will support Sudanese civil society to become a bulwark for peace and democracy in Sudan. 

The project will achieve these goals by (a) assisting a wide range of Sudanese civil society organizations to work together, advocate for and defend their collective interests; and (b) impressing a civil agenda onto the transition period, that guarantees civil rights, pluralism, social and economic justice and accountability, the rule of law and peace in Sudan.

The Civil Project has been developed in consultation with civil society organisations in Sudan and Justice Africa acts as a representative for the interests of these organisations.

Building on the foundations of Justice Africa’s first Civil Project and years of successful human rights and civil society engagement in Sudan, the programme is formed of three main components:

1.     A Sudan-Sudan Dialogue

We will organise, in collaboration with Sudanese civil society, a series of major debates on important national issues facing Sudan.  The debates will feature prominent panellists including political representatives, civil society activists and experts and each debate will take place in different location around the country, focussed on a distinct theme. The debates will be open to the public and be broadcast across the country on radio and television (where available) to involve all Sudanese citizens in a discussion of the country’s future. 

 2.     Preparing for 2009 Elections and 2011 Referendum

The 2009 elections in Sudan represent an unparalleled opportunity for Sudanese citizens to exercise their democratic rights. Justice Africa will facilitate civil society’s role in election and referendum-related activities through a process of consultation and technical support/capacity building. Justice Africa does not seek to direct the activities of civil society, but merely to act as a financial conduit and support mechanism for them.

 3.     Support Civil Society in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding in Kordofan

Deep rooted conflicts with complex causes, similar to the pre-conflict situation in Darfur exist in Kordofan and as such, it is a ‘tinderbox’ for violence.  Justice Africa will involve all stakeholders in Kordofan in an inclusive process of dialogue and support and strengthen Kordofani civil society and community / tribal leaders to prevent their communities from sliding back into civil war.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 5th, 2008 at 11:30 pm and is filed under Justice Africa News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.