Afar conférence

Afar Forum conference program 17–19 October 2008, Brussels

Afar regions face daunting challenges; among others in health, education, infrastructure, recurrent drought due to environmental degradation, political mismanagement (lack of good governance), inter and intra-tribal conflicts in the Regions.

The Afar Forum is now hosting a conference in Brussels with the following objectives:
To address the socio-economic and political challenges of the Afar regions and explore a comprehensive vision and strategy, within the specific context of current Horn of African regimes, that delineates the geopolitical issues of the Afar people. Furthermore, to establish a network among Afar Diasporas that could support and contribute to the regional development such as an improved institutional and administrative functioning in terms of policy, management, planning and administrative capacity building, be the role models in mobilizing the civil society towards societal development.

PROGRAMME:

Moderator: Amine Moussa,USA
Friday, 17/10 Speaker
9.30–10.00 Registration, Tea/Coffee
10.00–10.05 Opening statement Omar Hiyse, Afar Forum
10.05-10.20 Afar traditional dance
10.15–10.20 Conference objective and general overview Amine Moussa, usa
10.20-10.50 presentation on Afar land, people, and culture Abdallah Abdo, Sweden
10.50-11.00 Questions and remarks
11.00-11.15 Tea/ Coffee break
10.15–11.45 Democracy in Ethiopia and the negation of self rule in Afar region Yussuf Yassin, Norway
11.45-12.15 Health and education as human rights- the case of Afar Region in Ethiopia Kontie Moussa, Sweden
12.15-13.00 Discussion
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14-00.14.30 Human rights issues in Eritrea Ahmed Yussuf, Canada
14.30-15.00 Human rights issues in Djibouti Kassim Ahmed Dini, Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains, France
15.00-15.30 Drought effects on the Afar and expected role of Diaspora Hamad Yacin, Sweden
15.30-16.00 Tea/ Coffee break
16.00-16.10 Diasporas and Peace. Patterns, Trends and Potential of Long-distance Diaspora Involvement in Conflict Settings Ms. Andrea Warnecke, diaspeace, Germany
16.10-16.30 Messages of solidarity The audience
16.10-17.00 General discussion and public opinion
17.00 Closing