The workshop on identifying standards for regional civil society organizations (SCOs) to be engaged in peace and security issues was held in Tunisia, 22 to 24 October 2022, with the participation of delegations of all Member States, NARC Executive Secretariat, the Planning Element as well as experts from the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).
NARC Planning Element Chief, addressed the participants welcoming all delegates, stressing the importance of issues to be addressed by the workshop including identifying the criteria for the selection of CSOs to be engaged in peace and security issues according to the “Maseru” and “Livingstone” outcomes and based on the items on the agenda of the workshop.
He also expressed confidence that the workshop would produce the required out comes and positive results geared towards enhancing the role of regional CSOs in peace and security issues, in order to have an effective role in cementing the foundations for peace, security and stability at regional and continental levels.
Representatives of Member States stressed the importance of studying such important issues, specially, in terms of the role that these organizations may play in various fields especially in peace support missions.
In their opening speeches, experts of Member States stressed their readiness to drive this issue forward by having a draft document that includes criteria for selecting the eligible CSOs to be engaged in peace and security issues in the region.
Experts of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC), who participated in the workshop made presentations on the ECOSOCC structure, mandate, work progress and the proposed projects to activate the database on the registration of civil society organizations and the method of accrediting these organizations at the national, regional and continental levels, referring to the programmes and activities organized by ECOSOCC, including coordinating the participation of civil society organizations in meetings of the PAU eace and Security Council.
The workshop concluded with several recommendations aimed at engaging regional civil society organizations in peace and security issues at regional and continental levels.
