Events Calendar 2010 Summary Report by Themes
Democracy, Human Rights and Gender
10-11 NovemberDiakonia’s Regional Meeting
Diakonia is a Swedish organization for international development co-operation, supporting more than 400 partner organizations in about 30 countries.
The regional office is in Jerusalem. Together with their partners they form a global network, working towards more people living a life in dignity.
Diakonia's goal is a fair and sustainable development in which living standards for the most vulnerable people are improved, and democracy, human rights and gender equality are respected.
27-29 September"Women in Politics: Are Women’s Rights Possible to Debate in the Political Sphere?"
Co-organized and Co-sponsored by: Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
The Swedish Institute Alexandria and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation gathered on Dec 14th-15th, 2008, at the Swedish Institute in Alexandria, Egypt over 35 women; members of parliaments, politicians from local governments and activists from civil society organizations from 10 countries from The Middle East, European Union, The Balkans and Caucasus for the seminar “Women in Politics: A Space for Social Changes”.
Women’s rights activists, feminists and politicians examined together alternatives and meanings of gender equality politics and produced Conclusions and Recommendations. The general conclusions and the way ahead from the previous Seminar were summarized as follows:
•To improve networking and coordination between civil society organizations, between civil society and political parties and feminists•To change discriminatory legislation as a precondition for social change•To lobby, educate and raise awareness of women’s rights on all levels of societyThese were only some of the questions that have been on the agenda of both female politicians and civil actors for sometime. The objectives of the seminar this year were:
•To continue providing a safe space for empowerment discussions on the opportunities and obstacles for women in politics through exchange of experiences and knowledge regionally and internationally•To debate critically content of politics supportive of women’s rights and the role of politicians and civil society activists; to elaborate possible strategies for provoking such debates in the public and political space from the perspectives of both politicians and civil scene •To strengthen the co-operation between female politicians on both local, national and international level and women’s rights activists from the civil society for a meaningful common engagement towards change•To identify practical steps for a successful implementation
20-21 SeptemberDeath Penalty: Risks, Opportunities, Proposed Tools and Strategies
Co-organized by: Penal Reform International (PRI), Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
This second Alexandria Conference aimed to generate in-depth discussion among human rights experts, decision and policy makers, on the risks of and opportunities for engaging in the death penalty debate in the MENA region.
Participants assessed progress made towards abolition, lessons learnt since 2008, and what tools and strategies were likely to be most effective in achieving this ultimate goal. The conference also focused on the coming UN General Assembly moratorium resolution; contributing to an action plan for increasing the number of Arab countries prepared to vote in favour of the resolution.
Another outcome of the conference would be a tool-kit that would support the work of human rights activists in MENA towards abolition.
2-4 AugustTraining Course “Media for Change”
Co-organized by: Arab Women Media Center, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
22-23 JuneArab Women Think Tank
Co-organized by: Karama, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
The Arab Region is not a homogenous region and Arab Women is not a homogenous group. Countries of the region belong to three different categories; rich countries, middle income countries and poor countries.
The material conditions of women differ from one group of countries to the other. Women in rich Arab countries have much better access to health, education, housing and other basic services. Yet, women in all parts of the region suffer from gender inequality manifested in strict division of labour, less access to decision making positions, less opportunities of participation in political life and less value accorded to the roles they play and consequently inequitable gender relations. Barriers confronting the progress of women and obstructing the realization of gender equality in the Arab countries were partly due to the inability to promote cultural change that could promote women’s equal rights.
The UN Human Development Report of 2009 identified abused and coerced women as one of the most important vulnerable groups who are victimized in their own families and societies. They have little power to defend their own rights and few champions defend those rights for them. Their insecurity lies in being away from mainstream society, which offers them virtually no personal protection.
Objectives:The think tank aimed at building a body of scholarship that could be a platform for advocacy and sharing of strategies on emerging issues that bolstered women’s participation in the different walks of life. The think tank also aimed to help define the main important emerging issues related to women’s empowerment and gender equality in the Arab region through brainstorming, reflex ion, networking and discussion.
Terms of Reference of the Network were:
•To exchange experiences and coordinate work on strategic gender issues with a holistic approach in order to achieve synergy effects•To make recommendations related to the challenges identified to feed into policy and programs•To advocate the need for both governments’ and Civil Society engagement in discussing these challenges and finding solutions•To raise awareness of the public on the importance of discussing such challenges•To network with other think tanks to facilitate the exchange of observations, solutions, expertise and suggestions for women actors to reach up to policy level•To support institutions that are willing to implement programmes that address any of the challenges (establishing virtual databases, collecting good practices…etc)•To continuously be engaged in discussing emerging related issues that can bring major change in the region and evaluating the impact of such changes
30-31 MayLegislations Re Arab Women
Co-organized by: Yemeni Women Union, League of Arab States, UNIFEM, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Hosted by: League of Arab States (Cairo)
This seminar was on the personal status laws and their implementation in the Arab countries, particularly with regards to family law.
The personal status laws represent one of the main legislative areas for women's rights. No one denies the fact that its impact is essential to the position of women in the family and society, humanity and citizenship, and in spite of the many achievements for women during the last two decades, the areas least affected by the development and response to change was the “legislative sphere” and the least area was the “legislation of personal status”.
28-30 MaySocieties in Transition
Co-Organized by: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul
24-26 MaySeminar on Legal Aspects of Trafficking
Co-organized by: Arab Women Courts Center, Swedish Institute (SI)- Stockholm, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
This was a seminar on the "Phenomenon of Trafficking" in women. The seminar was attended by women from the Arab Women Court and a group of women activists from various Arab countries to discuss the issue of "Legal Mechanisms to Protect Women and Children from Trafficking".
17 MayLecture on “Democracy Development-Global Consultation on EU Role in Democracy Building”
Co-organized by: IDEA, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
2-4 MayImage of Women and Men in Media
Co-organized by: Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development (ACT), Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
This was a seminar organized jointly with the Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development (ACT). Participants from Egypt, Morocco, Yemen, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon were invited.
In continuation to the co-operation between the Swedish Institute and Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development (ACT) as the regional co-ordinator of the Network for monitoring and changing the image of women and men in media, and to follow up to the workshop that was held in Alexandria from 27 to 29 April 2009 with the objective of setting strategies to the work of the Network, this seminar was to continue the development of the workshop and achieve the general objective which was to support, empower and enable local and Arab societies (members of the Network) in the field of monitoring women's image in media within the context of promoting principles of democracy , civil society, sustained development and human rights, in order to change the stereotype image of both men and women in the Arab world, by means of co-operation and interaction between media personalities, academics and civil society organisations, as well as creating an alternative media vision that would influence policymakers regarding gender issues.
The focus of this seminar was on the idea of how to produce alternative media and encourage all member organizations of the Network to take steps in this direction, since there were actual realization achieved right after the April workshop. For example there was no monitoring unit in certain countries but they took steps in this direction and created ones.
However, the adverse fundamentalist media was to become stronger, especially with such controversial issues as the burqa, that was the centre of much debate in the end of last year in all media, therefore the aim was to focus on the following issues in this seminar:• How to encourage Independent Media (Alternative Media)• How can Arab Media change their reporting towards the image of Women in general and make it more positive and less stereotype• How to fight the issue of fundamentalism that degrades women's value anddenies the principle of equality between men and women
11-12 AprilRound Table Symposium - Arab Women Judges: Success Stories
Co-organized and Co-sponsored by: League of Arab States (Cairo), Alliance for Arab Women (AAW), Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Hosted by: League of Arab States (Cairo)
The Egyptian Constitution states that there should be no discrimination of any form between citizens on the basis of gender, ethnicity, language, religion or belief. And the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) – which Egypt has ratified – also stresses the fact that there should be no discrimination against women to hold any position.
In spite of the aforementioned facts, the Alliance for Arab Women (AAW) has discovered in the year 1998 that the Egyptian woman is denied her right to judicial posts while in 11 Arab countries – that share the same culture and history – women had access to such posts. Committed to the cause of women, the AAW has therefore carried out a campaign to support qualified women to reach the post of a judge.
The campaign included AAW's first conference "The Arab Woman in Judicial Bodies" in 1998 which was in collaboration with the Judges Club and the UNICEF. Using the shaming strategy, nine women judges attended from various Arab countries: Jordan, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen. This conference has been followed by another in 2002 "The Arab Woman: Years in the Judiciary" in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Culture and the European Union.
As a result of these efforts Hend Tantawy has been assigned the first woman as Head of the Administrative Prosecution, then Tahany El Gebaly as a member in the Supreme Constitutional Court. This has been followed by assigning two groups of women judges in Family Courts and one woman judge in the Appeal Courts. Despite the success of women judges in the judiciary and the government's decision to appoint women in the State Council, the General Assembly of the State Council held a meeting in which it was decided to annul the appointment decision.
The annulment of this decision was not only considered as a regression against women in the judiciary field alone, but an overall regression in the practice of Egyptian women to their rights.
Consequently, the AAW was determined to continue its support to women to have their constitutional right to hold positions in all judicial bodies with no discrimination between genders especially that women have proven great success in their posts which was evident from the reports of the judicial inspection.
The AAW realized the urge to pressure the government to appoint the women who have been previously applied and chosen by the State Council to their posts. Thus the AAW was proposing to hold a round-table symposium for a group of women judges – from both the Arab region and Egypt – to address the justifications provided for the decision of the General Assembly of the State Council refusing to appoint women – which include their lack of success in practicing the responsibilities of their posts.
The objectives and the expected results were:• To hold a symposium for Arab and Egyptian women judges to present their successful experiences in holding judicial posts• To Pressure the Egyptian government to enforce its earlier decision to appoint a group of women who are qualified Law School graduates as judges in the State Council, as well as addressing the arguments raised against their appointment• To Identify the underlying causes and problems leading to the refusal to appoint women by the General Assembly of the State CouncilEmpowering women by raising success stories of female judges in the MENA region• To Create a framework for continuous regional networking and empowerment of women through AAW
25 February Lecture on Water and Gender (World Water Day Festival)Organized by: Arab Environment Association, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
3-4 February “Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings–The Swedish Example”
Organized by: Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement, Swedish Institute (SI), Stockholm, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored by: Swedish Institute (SI), StockholmHosted by: Swedish Institute (SI), StockholmDuring the last decade the efforts towards combating the modern slavery of human trafficking have become an important topic on the political agenda, both on a national and international level.
In July 2008 the Swedish government launched the first National Plan of Action on prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes. A number of authorities, NGO’s and other key actors have, in relation to the plan of action and its 36 measures, received public funding to further enhance the efforts toward combating this transnational problem.
The Swedish Institute has, in connection to this, as measure number 31, been commissioned by the Government to spread information on Swedish methods and perspectives relevant to the work on prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes on an international basis.
Objectives of the seminar:The objective of this seminar was to create a forum where the sharing of experiences and information within the field of prostitution and human trafficking is made possible. The organizers saw this as a good opportunity for both Swedish and international participants to highlight and discuss efforts taken in the respective countries, and further establish good contact points between the participating countries and relevant actors.
The different activities expected to attract employees within the judicial-, police- and social authorities, decision makers, NGO’s, journalists and other experts who may have a specific interest in studying the Swedish efforts in preventing and fighting prostitution and trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes.
Culture, Religion and Value Systems
2 DecemberCelebration in Stockholm of the 10th Anniversary of the Swedish Institute Alexandria
Organized, Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
The Swedish Institute Alexandria celebrated its 10th Anniversary at the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm.
In her address, Mrs Gunilla Carlsson, the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, raised the importance of the institute as a meeting place for people from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Europeans where new ideas and models for public diplomacy could be tested.
The Egyptian Ambassador, Mr Mohamed Osama Taha El-Magdoub, stressed the value of the institute in the dialogue of cultures. Dr Sima Bahous, Assistant Secretary General of the League of Arab States highlighted the importance of the Swedish Institute Alexandria for Arab-Euro dialogue and raised the importance of addressing youth and women in its future activities.
30 October-04 NovemberYoung Leaders Visitors Program (YLVP) 2010
Co-organized by: Swedish Institute in Stockholm (SI), Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored by: Swedish Institute in Stockholm (SI)Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
The first phase of the Young Leaders Visitors Program took place between May 10 and June 1, 2010 at different venues in Sweden. The second phase of the program takes place at Swedish Institute Alexandria during the period from 30 October to 4 November 2010.
The Swedish Institute Young Leaders Visitors Program (YLVP) is an intercultural leadership program with focus on social media as a tool for positive change. The program invites young opinion-makers from Sweden and selected countries in the MENA region who are actively working for social change in their respective contexts. Twenty seven candidates from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank-Gaza, Yemen and Sweden were selected as participants in the Young Leaders Visitors Program 2010. Drive, motivation and commitment to social change were decisive factors in the selection procedure.
Young Leaders Visitors Program 2010 consisted of six modules covering themes such as team building, personal development, leadership training, gender, human rights and social entrepreneurship. For the participants from the Middle East and North Africa, there was also a part of intensive study visits where the participants got hands-on experience with organizations and actors in the opinion making spheres of Sweden today.
During parts of the YLVP 2010 all the participants were divided into smaller teams assigned with a project task related to the areas of the program. The assignment for each project team was to develop an idea and a concept for an innovative information solution through the main support of the social media. The projects task strived to further strengthen the participants in understanding the possibilities of digital and social media and encourage them to explore and create opinion building for social change through digital and social media solutions. The project assignment functioned as a way for the participants to explore group dynamics and leadership to provide personal development and an intercultural perspective.
25-26 OctoberBilateral CSR Education
Co-organized and Co-sponsored by: Swedish Trade Council, Egyptian Corporate, Responsibility Center (ECRC), Egyptian Institute of Directors (EIoD), Alexandria Business Association, Aspero Kompetens, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
The “Knowledge Sharing for the Future” event which took place at the Swedish Embassy in Cairo on the 2nd of December 2009 has lead to another focus on education and training to increase the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) knowledge and expertise in Egypt.
Background:On 2 December, the Swedish Trade Council in Egypt and the Swedish Embassy in Cairo jointly arranged an event on how to build a healthier local business environment, with CSR Sweden and Egyptian Corporate Responsibility as co-organizers. The aim of the event was to create a platform for discussion and exchange for Egyptian industry, official institutions and civil society.
The CSR education that took place in Cairo from 6-8 June 2010 consisted of a 3 day training programme. It included seminars, business cases and workshops with focus on strategic development, sustainable CSR strategies and the impact on businesses, communities, environment, and CSR for democratic values and sustainable development. The goal was to mix SME’s, large companies, NGO’s to share experiences and create a dialogue.
The objective of this event's course was to increase the knowledge on Corporate Social Responsibility and how to build sustainable CSR strategies resulting in sustainable impacts for businesses, communities and the environment.
23 OctoberThe Swedish Institute Alexandria Celebrates 10 Years with a Round-Table Discussion
“How has the perception of the Europeans towards the Middle East and North Africa developed during the last ten years and how has the perception there on Europe changed during the same period?” was the topic of a discussion on 23 October at the Swedish Institute Alexandria.
The period 2000-2010 was a decade of many unpredictable events. The terrorist attacks in USA on 11 September 2001 led to an intensified war on terror and they were followed by the invasion and occupation of Iraq with the subsequent fall of Saddam Hussein as well as the invasion of Afghanistan. The power balance between Sunni and Shia Muslims evolved into what some have called a strengthened Shia Crescent. The role of Turkey in the region and in relation to Europe changed. The Middle East peace process experienced serious ups and downs and appeared to come to a standstill. The train bombings in Madrid year 2004, London in 2006, the 2006 war in Lebanon, the Gaza war in the winter of 2008-2009, the Gaza flotilla raid earlier this year ... the list can be made much longer. What impact have these and other events and subsequent developments had on the perception in Europe towards the Middle East and North Africa and how has the perception there versus western people developed? What role do media play in all this?
Prominent personalities and influential thinkers from the Middle East/North Africa and Europe met at the Swedish Institute Alexandria to discuss how the societies have been affected by the developments since year 2000.
26-28 JulyTraining of Trainers on Climate Change (TOTCC)
Co-organized by: Prevent Air Pollution Initiative(PAP), Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
19 JuneEurope Street Day
Co-organized and Co-sponsored by: Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF), EU Delegation, CEEBA, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Hosted at: Antoniadis Garden (Alexandria)
16-18 JuneInitiatives in Education, Science and Culture Towards Enhanced US-Muslim Countries Collaboration
Co-organized and Co-sponsored by: Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BibAlex), Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Hosted at: Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BibAlex)
6-8 JuneCorporate Social Responsibility for Democratic Values and Sustainable Development
Co-organized and Co-sponsored by: Egyptian Institute of Directors (EIoD), Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center (ECRC), Embassy of Sweden-Cairo, FrontLobe, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex), Swedish Trade CouncilHosted in: Cairo
We all have to behave responsibly and consider the effects of our actions regardless of whether we live in an advanced or a less advanced part of the world. People should be able to influence decisions regarding any ventures that may affect them, for instance, between economic development and environmental protection or between the needs of the current generations and the needs of future generations.
Background:Taking social and environmental responsibility is a prerequisite for building trustful international relations. Therefore, high standards within CSR-related issues will add to the competitive edge of Swedish companies in international business. With a small domestic market, many Swedish companies need to venture into international markets to attain sustainable growth. Companies are expected to act in accordance with internationally accepted norms and principles on human rights, labour law, sustainable development and anti-corruption, to which Sweden has committed itself.
The fundamental relevant documents are OECD´s guidelines for multinational companies and UN´s Global Compact. These documents form the basis for STC´s Ethical Guidelines, approved and laid down by the Board of Directors. In acting as role models, in terms of business ethics, Swedish companies will also contribute to an image of Sweden as an attractive country to do business with.
In counseling to Swedish companies strive is to inspire and guide clients in accordance with the fundamental guidelines and to provide appropriate information and good advice on CSR-related issues and challenges. Work is done continuously to refine the service offer in this regard, but still, the ultimate decisions on how to act and the ensuing responsibilities always rest with the individual client company.
Purpose:The purpose of the education was to increase the competence within CSR for Egyptian companies (Both large and SME’s) • To raise competence and support Egyptian companies on how to integrate a sustainable CSR strategy into their business leading to notable direct impact on the company’s business ethics, on the consumer/society, and on the environment• To promote Swedish business ethics and values leading to an even stronger and increased trade relationship between the two countries• To stimulate a cultural dialogue/exchange between Swedish and Egyptian companies as well as organizations
Goal:The overall goal aimed towards increasing company knowledge and awareness regarding corporate social responsibility and how the companies can use this concept in building a sustainable business and marketing strategy that will lead to sustainable effects on the companies, society and the environment.
Long Term:• Build up a network• Egypt will act as a regional expert within the area of CSR• Education will lead to regional education, involving more surrounding countries• Education will increase business and trade for the attending companies
13-15 MayTour of Female Rock Bands: Egyptian and Swedish
Co-organized by: Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BibAlex), Goethe InstituteCo-sponsored by: Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BibAlex), Goethe Institute, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Hosted by: Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BibAlex)
26-27 April International Conference on the Rights and Duties of Muslims Living in the West
Co-organized by: League of Islamic Universities, Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BibAlex), Alexandria University, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Co-sponsored by: League of Islamic Universities, Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BibAlex), Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
Muslims started immigrating to the Western countries after both World Wars, and shared in the reconstruction of the countries after the destructive consequences of the wars. These people soon became integral parts of the society. Lately after an intense period of conflicts around the Middle East a substantial new wave of immigrants, many Muslims, have reached Europe. The Muslim population in Europe has grown considerably.
At the very beginning, Muslims used to be working in crafts because of minute education. By time, the Muslim communities of the Western countries were composed of people with high professions and others who have reached to the highest intellectual and educational levels. In addition to that, the second and third generations of the old immigrants got merged into the societies they have been residing in and started to learn their languages. They have also perfected in different fields and skills till they have become an integral part of that society.
While the number of Muslim immigrants increased, it lead to some problems like;• Education, in particular the range and choice of Islamic studies• Mixed marriage, whereas the new generations started to get married from the societies they live in although there are some precautions in their religions where Muslim ladies are not allowed to marry non-Muslim men• Integration problems, where a lot of Muslims got isolated and have built large boarders between themselves and the Western communities. Moreover, they reject to get harmonized in those communities or the Western lifestyles in general leading to a barrier between citizens
Other problems have been conveyed lately, these problems were related to the rejection of the Islamic existence in the Western communities. Muslims also refused a lot of the traditions and mindsets of the West where most of them attempted to change them in different ways while a minor group resorted to violence.
This conference aimed at confronting these problems and put the basis of harmonization between the Muslims and the communities they were living in. The aim of this conference was to reach an affirmation for that harmonization.
Objectives were:• Identify the problems of the Muslim immigrants and their children closely, by inviting representatives and spokespersons• Define how the European communities consider the Muslim immigrants, by inviting a group of the European intellects and listen to their points of view, their problems and their identifications• Present success stories and best practices and identify solutions for the problems Muslim living in European countries are facing, especially religious education, mixed marriage and the problems of integration• Identify how to make the Muslims sources of communication and development between the Muslim communities and the Western communities• Identify ways to support Muslims in Western countries to be beneficial and productive components for these communities• Identify code of ethics between the rights of the Muslims and their duties towards the Western countries• Identify the role of the Muslims living in the Western communities by explaining the specifics of Islam and replace the wrong perceptions of Islam and Muslims with correct images• Identify the visualizations of the Muslims living in the Western countries of the concepts that we can provide from the Arab and Islamic communities to help them face their problems and find solutions
31 OctoberThe Mediterranean and the Interaction of Cultures
Mediterranean cultures are at the centre of the Ancient and Modern World. North and South shores were the carriers of Graeco-Roman and Arab-Islamic cultures. Western and Eastern shores were the carriers of Ancient Asian and modern European cultures. Even in times of political and military conflicts cultural interchange did not stop.
Examples were given from:• The Mediterranean, a cultural unit• Ancient Egyptian and Greek cultures• Ancient Asian and Graeco-Roman cultures• Alexandria and Hellenism• The Patristic Fathers between Alexandria and Rome• The translation of Greek culture to Syriac and Arabic in Syria• The translation of Arabic culture to Latin in early and late middle ages• Spain as a model of encounter of cultures• Transmission of modern north Mediterranean culture to the south• Islamophobia or dialogue of cultures
9 March Climate Change and its Effect on Egypt
Co-organized by: Prevent Air Pollution (PAP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Alexandria University and Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Co-sponsored by: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
This was a youth initiative and it was the first lecture of a series of four lectures. The project started in Alexandria, Egypt in 2007 with the motivation of changing people's habits and making a connection between youth and policymakers to prevent what we-as Egyptians-will suffer from as a result of climate change.
Objectives were:• Increase the "Environmental Awareness" internationally• Change people's habits to use renewable-clean-fuels and spread more friendly behaviour to environment• Reforestation, starting from Alexandria then around Egypt
1 - 10 FebruaryThe 7th Creative Forum for Independent Theatre Groups
Organized by: International Association for Creation & Training (IACT)Bibliotheca AlexandrinaCo-hosted and Co- sponsored by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
Since its first edition, the Forum has been an artistic, cultural phenomenon which takes place in the ancient city of Alexandria. One of its major axes is the concept of anti-festival, for the Forum is a space for artists, a space in which there is no place for formalities.
The Forum has always aimed at achieving an interdisciplinary approach in which creativity, education, dialogue, knowledge, publications, translation and building joint projects are blended together.
This was achieved through the following axes: • Performances,• Educational programmes,• Dialogue programmes, and• Publication programmes.
This Forum, therefore, is a mean to highlight and confirm the importance of cultural diversity, knowledge exchange, and the essential role both play in the continuation of life itself, on social, political, educational and creative levels.
Over the past six years, the forum presented varied workshops at different artistic levels, where their aim was to train and enhance the artistic capabilities of the actor. However, since last year, it shifted from the structure of the selective individual training workshop to a well rounded training program, which embraced the methodology of a rounded learning course. The goal was to enlighten and expose the trainee to all the educational experiences present in the program, allowing him/her to benefit from the accumulative knowledge provided by this inter-connected training program.
This program aimed at supplying the trainee with various creative resources to stimulate creative abilities and to develop body movement as well as the skills of building the character. Consequently, supporting and enhancing his/her expressive skills onstage.
Through this program, it directly aimed at forming an informal classroom made up of 20-25 young intermediate-level Actors and Dancers to go through the practical experiences planned for the program. The program was held over a period of 10 consecutive days and it included 5 workshops that revolve around physical movement and expression for Actors and Dancers.
Knowledge Society
14-15 December21st Annual Meeting of the Egyptian Philosophical Society
Organized by: Egyptian Philosophical Society, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
The Egyptian Philosophical Society annual conference is held on the third week of December every year. In the sessions which were held at the Swedish Institute Alexandria, members of the Philosophical Society discussed the "The Critique of the Arab Mind" and "The Concept of Text" in remembrance of Al Jabri and Nasr Abu Zayd.
24 March“Image of the Other” in Textbooks - Guide Book (Partners Meeting)
Organized and Sponsored by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science in the Arab States (UNESCO Mediterranean Programme), Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex), Arab League Education Culture and Science Organization (ALECSO), Islamic Education Science and Culture Organization (ISESCO), Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF)Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
20 MarchLecture on Water and Religions (World Water Day Festival)
Organized by: Arab Environment Association, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex) Sponsored and Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)
14 MarchPainting Workshop for Children (World Water Day Festival)
11 MarchRound Table on the Relation between Water and Health: “Clean Water for a Healthy World” (World Water Day Festival)
Peace and Security
9-11 FebruaryFrom a Liberation Movement to a Modern Democratic Party
Co-Organized by: Olof Palme International Center, Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)Sponsored by: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)Hosted by: Swedish Institute Alexandria (SwedAlex)