Democracy News

ISC/CD Members Hoda Chalak and Mohsen Marzouk Address Doha Forum Civil Society Meeting
By Josh Silva
June 9, 2009 | Printer Friendly

With assistance from the International Steering Committee, the Arab Democracy Foundation (ADF) organized an Arab-Latin American Civil Society side meeting at the ninth annual Doha Forum, held 3-5 May in Doha, Qatar.  The meeting was moderated by ISC/CD member and ADF Secretary-General Mohsen Marzouk, and featured a presentation by Hoda Chalak on the importance of women and youth in the democratization process.  CCD Administrative and Program Josh Silva also participated in the event.  Below is the official press release from the conference.

 ‘Learn from Latin American experience of democracy’

An Arab-Latin American Civil Society meeting organized by the Arab Democracy Foundation (ADF) was held here on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 9th Doha Forum for Democracy, Development and Free Trade. The meeting was addressed by ADF Secretary- General Mohsen Marzouq, former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo, former Moroccan minister of human rights Mohamed Ojar and Lebanese law professor Hoda Chalak. Welcoming the guests, Mohsen Marzouq said, “We can really benefit from the Latin American experience, where people had fought for a long time to earn their democratic rights.” He said that leaders of Latin America have always supported Arabs in their need of hour. “They have taken firm positions in support of Arab causes, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” he added. Marzouq said that the current democratic concepts in the Arab region must be reviewed. “Democracy is not just getting a right to vote freely in elections. It entails ensuring basic rights to each citizen and free them of humiliation, fear and exile,” he added. Former Peru president Alejandro Toledo shared the opinion of Mohsen Marzouq. He said that democracy that does not get people rid of poverty and inequality is not a complete democracy. “If we cannot provide clean water, decent education and medical aid to people, we are missing our goals. Political democracy must be associated with social and economic democracy,” he added. He said that freedom of press, respect of human rights, rule of law, and accountability of governments towards their people are the main components of democracy. Toledo said that an annual Arab-Latin American meeting for civil societies must be held for exchanging opinions and experience. Former Moroccan minister Mohamed Orja said that Arabs and Latin Americans share a long history. “Morocco has the largest number of Spanish speaking people outside Latin America, estimated at 10 million. Both societies have suffered from colonialism and had to struggle hard to gain freedom,” Orja added. He said that Moroccans have benefited a lot from the Latin American models of democracy. Hoda Chalak urged Arabs to pay more attention to the brain drain taking place in the region. She also pointed out to the increase of ignorance and violence among Arab societies.

References:

Press Release: Learn from Latin American experience of democracy

Press Release: Workshop on Arab-Latin American Dialogue (Doha, 4 May 2009)