Departamento de Sustentabilidad Democratica y Misiones Especiales

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The Secretariat of Political Affairs, through its Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions, in conjunction with the Government of Suriname and the National Assembly of Suriname, held a Conference on International Experiences on National Dialogue in Paramaribo, on March 5th and 6th.

The purpose of the meeting was to share with all sectors of Surinamese society conceptual frameworks and international experiences, particularly from the Americas and Africa, on when and how national dialogue processes can be established and conducted. The conference provided participants with an opportunity to learn about how dialogue works, exchange information, reflect and understand the advantages as well as the challenges that these processes pose.

The inauguration event was attended by Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary for Political Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS) along H.E Winston G. Lackin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname, and Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simmons, Speaker of the Surinamese National Assembly. Speakers of the Conference included experts from the General Secretariat of the OAS, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Department of Political Affairs, the African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, Interpeace and other international consultants.

As mentioned by Dr. Casas-Zamora, “this conference forms part of the technical work and effort of the OAS all over the hemisphere to improve governance”, considering that, “national dialogue is an important tool in the arsenal of all democracies”.

The conference focused on:

1. The Essential Elements for a National Dialogue, which included discussions on the principles of Democratic Dialogue, how dialogue contributes to change and the role of International Organizations and Civil society in National Dialogues.

2. The Experiences of National Dialogue, particularly in the cases of Bolivia, Guatemala, South Africa and Uganda.

During the event, the “Practical Guide on Democratic Dialogue” -a joint publication between the OAS and the UNDP- was presented and distributed among participants and was received with wide attention.

Miércoles 5 de Marzo, 2014

16:30 -17:30        Discurso de Bienvenida por parte de las autoridades Surinamesas y de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA)

  • H.E. Winston G. Lackin, Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Suriname
  • Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretario de Asuntos Políticos de la OEA
  • Drs. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, Presidenta de la Asamblea Nacional de la República de Suriname

17:30 – 19:00      Recepción ofrecida por la Presidenta de la Asamblea Nacional de la República de Suriname

Jueves 6 de marzo, 2014

9:00 - 9:30            Registro de Participantes

9:30-10:30           Panel de Discusión 1: Elementos Esenciales para el Diálogo Nacional
Moderador: Stella Mystica Sabiiti

  • El Diálogo Nacional en el Mundo: Chetan Kumar, Jefe del Grupo de Prevención de Conflictos, Oficina de Prevención de Crisis y Recuperación del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD)
  • Los Principios del Diálogo Democrático:  Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Director del Departamento de Sustentabilidad Democrática y Misiones Especiales de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA)
  • Cómo el Diálogo Contribuye al Cambio: Giselle Huamani, Consultora Internacional en Diálogo

10:30- 10:45        Coffee Break

10:45:-12:00        Panel de Discusión 1: Elementos Esenciales para el Diálogo Nacional                     Moderador: Stella Mystica Sabiiti

  • El Rol de la OEA en Diálogos Nacionales: Yadira Soto, Asesora política en Prevención de Conflictos y Gobernabilidad del Subsecretario General de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA)
  • El rol de la ONU en Diálogos Nacionales:  Roxaneh Bazergan Jefa de Equipo, Unidad de Apoyo a la Mediación, Departamento de Asunto Políticos de las Naciones Unidas (DPA/MSU)
  • Porqué dialogar: lecciones del caso Sudafricano: Vasu Gounden, Fundador y Director Ejecutivo del Centro Africano para la Solución Constructiva de Disputas (ACCORD)

12:00- 12:30        Sección de Preguntas y Respuestas

12:30- 13:30        Almuerzo

13:30- 14:30        Panel de Discusión 2: Experiencias de Diálogo Nacional en las Américas
Moderador: Christopher Hernandez-Roy

  • La Experiencia de Diálogo en Nacional en Guatemala: Bernardo Arévalo de León, Asesor de Construcción de la paz, Equipo de Asesoría de Construcción de la Paz (IPAT), Interpeace
  • Bolivia: Una historia de Diálogo, Conflicto y Construcción de paz en Bolivia: Gaston Ain, Asesor de Conflictos, Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD), Centro Regional para América Latina y el Caribe

14:30- 14:45        Coffee Break

14:45- 15:45        Panel de Discusion 3: Experiencias de Diálogo Nacional en África
Moderador: Christopher Hernandez-Roy

  • Construyendo reconciliación por medio del diálogo en Sudáfrica: Graeme Simpson, Director, Interpeace USA
  • Un camino personal hacia el diálogo en Uganda: Stella Mystica Sabiiti, Consultora de Paz y Seguridad, previamente miembro del Programa de Fomento de Capacidad de la Unión Africana

15:45 – 16:15      Sección de Preguntas y Respuestas

16:15- 16: 45       Conclusiones y observaciones finales

  • Sr. Ricardo Panka, Miembro de la Asamblea Nacional de la República de Suriname
  • Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Director del Departamento de Sustentabilidad Democrática y Misiones Especiales de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA)
Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary for Political Affairs of the OAS

Panel Discussion 1: Essential Elements for a National Dialogue

National Dialogue in the World
Chetan Kumar, Head of the Conflict Prevention Group, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The Principles of Democratic Dialogue
Christopher Hernández-Roy, Director of the Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions of the Organization of American States (OAS)

How Dialogue Contributes to Change
Giselle Huamani Ober, International Consultant in Dialogue

The Role of International Organizations in National Dialogues
Yadira Soto, Senior Political Adviser on Conflict Prevention and Governance for the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS)

Roxanne Bazergan, Team Leader, Mediation Support Unit, United Nations Department of Political Affairs (DPA/MSU)

Participation of Civil Society in National Dialogues
Vasu Gounden, Founder and Executive Director of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)

Panel Discussion 2: Experiences of National Dialogue in the Americas

Guatemala
The Experience of National Dialogue in Guatemala
Bernardo Arévalo de León, Senior Peacebuilding Advisor, International Peacebuilding Advisory Team (IPAT), Interpeace

Bolivia
A story of dialogue, conflict and  peacebuilding in Bolivia
Gastón Ain, Conflict Adviser, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Regional Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean

Panel Discussion 3: Experiences of National Dialogue in Africa

South Africa
Graeme Simpson, Director, Interpeace USA

Kenya
Stella Mystica Sabiiti, Peace and Security Consultant, Former RECs/RMs/Standby Forces, Capacity-building Program, African Union

Dr. Casas-Zamora during the inauguration of the event
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Dr. Casas-Zamora during the inauguration of the event
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Experts included members of the OAS, the UN, Interpeace and ACCORD
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The Director of the DSDSM, Christopher Hernandez-Roy,
presenting the “Practical Guide on Democratic Dialogue
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