Seminars

International Seminar

Ethnicity and Conflict in Eastern Africa

25 September 2008 Helsinki

SHALIN Suomi ry, KIOS and A.R.R-AMAHORO ry and in collaboration with Coalition for Environment and Development are organising an international seminar on Ethnicity and Conflict in Eastern Africa in Helsinki on 25 September 2008.

The seminar will shed light to issues of ethnicity and land in different countries of Africa, which are currently experiencing internal conflicts or are beginning to emerge to a post-conflict era. The seminar will bring together experts from different countries to share experiences and knowledge from their respective countries, and to network with international actors in democracy and conflict issues. Representatives of NGOs, government institutions, media and students are warmly welcome to take part in the seminar!

The seminar will concentrate on Eastern and Southern African countries: Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi. It will also borrow experiences from Europe and specifically Kosovo.

Date:           25 September 2008,         9 am - 3:30 pm

Venue:        Hotel Arthur,                    Vuorikatu 19, 00100 Helsinki

Seminar is held in English.

The participation in the seminar is free of charge.

Please confi rm your participation by 23 September 2008 to shalinry@gmail.com.

For more information, please contact Peter Kuria at shalin@shalinry.org (040 768 3440)

The seminar is organised by SHALIN Suomi ry in technical collaboration with the A.R.R-AMAHORO ry and the Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights KIOS. A.R.R-AMAHORO is a young Finnish NGO that focuses its work on creating awareness of the post-conflict situation in Rwanda, with the aim of bringing genuine reconciliation and peace. KIOS is an NGO foundation that provides financial support to local human right organisations in developing countries. One of the geographical focus areas of KIOS is Eastern Africa. The seminar is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Date:                                   25 September 2008
Venue:                                Hotel Arthur, Helsinki

08:45 Registration

09:00 Opening words and remarks
Ms. Helena Airaksinen, Head of Unit,
Unit for East and West Africa , Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Background
Humans are ethnic by nature. Ethnicity has spawned language, culture, identity, politics and formulated the construct of hierarchy in society.

Kingdoms have been built on ethnicity, economies have been constructed on ethnic grounds, nation states have been formulated on ethnicity, ethnic identity has lead to popular uprisings ….. Politicisation of ethnicity has also lead to mass murder and to the slaughter of the innocents.

Today ethnic identity has become a topical issue in politics, in religion, in security, in conservation, in human rights and in every mentionable dimension of humanity. It has also been central to geo-political crisis in Africa, Europe and the Asia continents.

Is ethnic identity a right that should be defended at all levels of society?

When should ethnicity be viewed as an asset or a risk to life?

What is the role of different institutions in defining ethnic identity and mitigating potential conflicts?

Should Ethnicity be a considered factor in the global democratisation processes?

Welcome to this seminar where the issue of Ethnicity, Democracy and Conflict will be explored by the different speakers from diverse backgrounds.

The first session concentrates on issues of media, democratisation and political processes.

Ms. Jjuuko Margaret N. Lwanga (Uganda):
The role of media in defining ethnicity, democratic processes and promotion of human rights. The case of Rwanda and Burundi.

Prof. Kimani Njogu (Kenya):
Ethnicity, media and democratisation – human rights, land and political processes. The case of politically negotiated settlements and future of Kenya.

Dr. Sabelo Ndlovu (Zimbabwe):
Ethnic dimensions of politics and democratisation – the case of land and human rights in Zimbabwe.

10:45 Break

The second session discusses issues of ethnic and religious identities in politics.

Mr. Boniface Rutayisire (Rwanda/Belgium):
The role of ethnicity, religious and land issues in times of war; the case of Rwanda.

Prof. Joseph Matumaini (Tanzania):
Religion and Ethnicity- The impact of religion on ethnic identity and the role of religious affiliations in defining cultures of conflict and developing communication pathways.

Mr. Arefaine Mengistu (Ethiopia/Switzerland):
Ethnicity and the north-south link – Understanding the case of ethnic dimension in Ethiopia and working for ethnic integration in Kosovo.

12:30 Lunch Break

The last session focuses on the situation of the landless and stateless, especially the indigenous people
and the refugees.

Mr. Jean-Christophe Nizeyimana (the Netherlands/Rwanda):
The impact of negative ethnicity on civil liberties – A displaced person working for the displaced. Reflections on Rwanda and challenges of new context of ethnicity.

Mr. Bambanze Vital (Burundi):
The role of civil society in promoting and defending the space for the rights of indigenous people the case of the Batwa Indigenous community in Burundi/Uganda.

Mr. Adam Hussein (Kenya):
Stateless Ethnicity! World citizen or pariah?

15:00-15:30 Final discussion

Mr. Adam Hussein

Program coordinator for the Africa citizenship and stateless advocacy project, Kenya.

Mr. Boniface Rutayisire

President of of the Association for Rwandan Hutus and Tutsis Victims of Genocide (TUBEHO TWESE ASBL) and President of International Committee for Victims of Rwandan Genocide (CIVHEMG) based in Belgium

Ms. Jjuuko Margaret N. Lwanga
Media & communication specialist and Educationist, Uganda/Rwanda.

Prof. Kimani Njogu
Researcher in Media, Ethnicity and democratisation, Kenya.

Prof. Joseph Matumaini
Seniors/Researcher lecturer – Social Communications, Journalism and Mass Media, Tanzania

Mr. Bambanze Vital
Indigenous Peoples of Africa Campaign and Advocacy Leader, Burundi.

Dr. Sabelo Ndlovu
Researcher in African Conflicts and Hot spots, Zimbabwe.

Mr. Arefaine Mengistu
Decentralization / Community rights advisor, International Civilian Offi ce / EU Special
Representative (ICO/EUSR), Ethiopia/Switzerland Mr. Jean-Christophe Nizeyimana

Digital Content Manager – Ethnic Conflict Activism, Netherlands/Rwanda

Jjuuko Margaret N. Lwanga
Jjuuko Margaret N. Lwanga is a citizen of Uganda and holds the degrees of Master of Arts degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University, South Africa, a Bachelor of Mass Communication degree (Honors), Makerere University and a Diploma in Television Production for Education and Development, BBC Open University, UK. She is a senior lecturer, teaching Broadcasting (Radio and TV Production including new media), Communication for development, Public Relations, Media theory, Research Methods, and Environmental Journalism and Communication. Besides teaching, she does consultancy for local and international organizations.

She has published numerous papers on media practise in Africa. Jjuuko Margaret is currently lecturer and Deputy Director School of Journalism and Communication, National University of Rwanda, Butare. In her paper she will be discussing for the role of media in defining ethnicity, democratic processes and promotion of human rights referring to the case of Rwanda and Burundi.

Democracy is not only about news freedom: It is also about responsibility. Indeed, responsible or unethical conduct by the media will put their freedoms at risk. The responsibilities of the media include duties of accuracy, balance, fairness and decency.

Democracy is essential not about agreement: it is about how we handle disagreement.

Democracy is not simply the rule of majority-though the majority vote is one of its essential tools. It follows that, while responsible governments and responsible media should share a common aim, in the best interests of their society, their roles are different. In a healthy democratic society, the relationship between politicians and the media is, quite properly, like to be wary, questioning and skeptical, rather than close, cosy and adulatory. The media should therefore be enabled to operate freely at arm’s length from government and their legitimate duty should be disclosure in the public interest and the holding to account of public institutions and individuals. For countries-in-transition the media can be one of the most powerful weapons in the development armoury-but that means they should be agents for every aspect of development, including the promotion of accountability, good governance and the enablement of the people. So broadcasting licenses need to be properly demanding in terms of serving the public interest and compliance with their provisions has to be assured. That requires regulatory institutions and processes which are constitutionally empowered and representative of civic society but independent of direct government control. This presentation will consider the generic aspects common to any form and style of media practice, distinguish between ownership and management, and discuss special aspects of media practice, explore pressures and challenges in defining ethnicity and conclude as to the importance of a free press in the promotion of human rights and press freedom.

Adam Hussein Adam
Adam Hussein Adam graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree. Adam has worked extensively on citizenship, land and diversity issues ranging from discrimination, exclusion and conflict in Kenya. He has worked with the Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE) in Kenya where he rose from head of projects to the position of senior program officer in charge of diversity programs. He has also developed and coordinated projects for the Islamic African Relief Agency (IARA) in Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. He is currently the program coordinator for the Africa citizenship and statelessness advocacy project at the Open Society Justice Initiative/Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA).

Stateless Ethnicity! World citizen or pariah?
In his presentation, Adam poses the simple question- when you are a persecuted ethnic person and a refugee who are you?

Professor Kimani Njogu
Kimani Njogu holds the degree of Master of Linguistics from the University of Yale, USA. He has held academic positions at Kenyatta University. In 2006 he received the Head of State Commendation (HSC) for contribution in the development of indigenous languages and education in Kenya.

He is the Recipient of The 2000 Noma Award for his book: Ufundishaji wa Fasihi: Nadharia na Mbinu (The Teaching of Literature: Theory and Methods) Jomo Kenyatta Foundation. This is an All-Africa award presented annually.

Professor Kimani Njogu has widely presented papers on topical issues. Kimani Njogu holds the position of Director at Twaweza Communications and at the Africa Health & Development International (AHADI)

Ethnicity, media and democratization – Human rights, land and political processes. The case of politically negotiated settlements and future of Kenya.

Human rights have always been very indistinct with different media practices, having both public as well as personal characteristic. Their significance focuses on the success of their sociopolitical and cultural values. This session focuses on the fundamental role of engaging the media in promoting human rights, democracy and ethnic harmony in transition Kenya. The media is often ignored by organizations freighting to champion human rights due to the cultural setting, which determines the conduct, performance and practical language used, by the various organizations involved in political processes. The proliferation of the media saw with it the coming in to being of privately owned media which included the likes of Kameme fm (a privately-owned vernacular radio station with a predominately Kikuyu audience), Shoro fm (a state-owned vernacular radio station also broadcasting in Kikuyu), Radio Ramogi (a privately-owned vernacular radio station broadcasting in Luo) and Murembe fm (a privately-owned vernacular radio station broadcasting in Luhyia). There is also the flooding of the alternative press commonly known as the ‘gutter press’ in the free market economy i.e. Citizen Weekly, Kenya Confidential, Faith Daily, The Independent, and The Post among others. The other main actor has been the rural press, which promotes vernacular news sheets and drama. This presentation will examine pressures and challenges in report conflict in an ethnically protracted country and will underpin the role of the media in post-conflict era.

25 September 2008 Ethnicity, Land, Democracy and Conflict!

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22 August 2008 Public Seminar/Workshop

Click here for Programme in Finnish

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Forests Climate and People

“Taking stock of Forestry, good practice in Participatory Forest Management”

Organizers: SHALIN ry, KEPA ry , Friends of the Earth Finland, Coalition for Environment and Development ry, with support from Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland.

Date: Friday 22nd of August 2008

Time: 9:45-15:45 Venue:

Place: Helsinki, Auditorium

Address Töölöntorinkatu 2 B (1st floor)

The seminar will be in English. Kepa will reimburse travel costs beyond 17 Euro for those traveling from outside Helsinki. Original receipts must be attached to the travel/claim form. Please confirm your participation by sending an email to -sanna.rekola@kepa.fi / 09 584 23 214.

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The seminar will discuss various emerging issues related to forestry and climate change on a global scale and how these issues impact on local communities.

For example, the changing climate has raised the profile of biodiversity and environmental integrity to a mainstream issue, however, has there been a fundamental shift in Industrial Forestry (monoculture) in response to this? Are there bridges between Industrial forestry and Community Forestry (biodiversity rich)? Are there practices that are being transferred in either direction?

With climate change and forestry being very topical issues at the moment in August, the world lead by the UN will be negotiating its way through the UN REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) framework on climate change. It is not clear how the REDD framework will work, as well as there is no clear guidance on how the issue of climate change should be handled globally. The speakers will discuss how various approaches and initiatives have been implemented and the challenges they are facing.

Tentative Programme/Speakers and Content

Facilitator: Hanna Matinpuro, Director Siemenpuu Foundation

Programme: Introduction to the seminar

Closing and wrap up (End of Seminar) the start of follow up Workshop on Climate Change and REDD to draft a key message on REDD. Working title -“How do forests, people and climate change the UN REDD?”

Background to the Seminar

The Finnish Embassy in Kenya and the Kenya Forestry Services (the forest regulatory body) are supporting 5 individuals on a working/study visit to Finland in the month of August. Finland is especially supporting the recovery and development of the Forestry sector in Kenya.

At the same time, representatives of Indigenous healers’ Guni Network from India are in Finland for herbal production and healing practice exchange with Frantsila herbal farm. This exchange is part of their campaign on developing indigenous health care, herbal production & delivery systems, traditional knowledge sharing and documentation supported by Vastedes project.

AL Gore on New Challenges