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The SADC
Council of Non Governmental Organisations SADC –CNGO’s Second Civil
Society Forum Meeting MASERU, LESOTHO
FROM 14-16 AUGUST 2006 |
The SADC Council of Non
Governmental Organisations SADC-CNGO’s convened its second Civil
Society Forum meeting which coincided with SADC Heads of State &
Governments Summit. The Forum meeting took place from the 14th –
16th August 2006 in Maseru, Lesotho at Khotsong Lodge.
Civil Society Organisations, met to deliberate on issues related to
the development and integration of our region. Regional integration
is a challenging task the results of which will help create a better
life for all the people’s of SADC member states. The development of
our countries and enhanced regional intergration cannot be achieved
by governments alone. The Minister of Foreign Affairs in Lesotho
feels that “there is a need to support a strengthened Civil Society
which can engage constructively and maturely with governments.
Our region is faced with many daunting challenges including HIV and
AIDS, Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, protection of the
environment and peace and stability among others. The enormity of
these challenges demands that we marshal all our resources and
energies in a strong coalition. The theme for this year was
“Democratic governance and Regional Economic Integration”.
The establishment of SADC COUNCIL OF NGO's in 1998 has put in motion
a process that should ultimately bring together national umbrella
organizations into the mainstream regional development agenda.
However, since 1998, we have not been able to take the Council
beyond our wishes. This first Regional Assembly therefore represents
a very important step and progress in our dream conceived over seven
years ago.
It is important to remind ourselves the objectives that we have set
for ourselves for SADC COUNCIL OF NGO's, which are to:
- Contribute towards
the creation and sustenance of enabling environment for NGOs at
national and regional levels;
- Represent the
interests of civil society in the institutions of SADC;
- Collect and
disseminate information on the activities of NGOs throughout the
region, in order to influence national and regional development
policies, especially with regards to the redistribution of
development resources;
- Create a forum aimed
at sharing best experiences and skills on development issues
affecting the region;
- Encourage its
members to promote and adopt practices that ensure NGOs’
accountability and transparency;
- Keep a databank of
development and related organisations at regional level;
- Encourage better NGO
coordination and networking at national and regional level.
The first Civil Society
Forum was held in Botswana.
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