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CIVICUS EIGHTH WORLD ASSEMBLY WAS REALIZED

CIVICUS (World Alliance for Citizen Pariticipation) Eighth World Assembly was realized in Scotland Glasgow between the dates 17-21 June 2008. TUMIKOM General Coordinator Mr. Mustafa Durna attended the assembly and then prepared a report about it. The report is below. Subject: The Report of CIVICUS 8th World Assembly that is realized on 17-21 June in Glasgow/Scotland Background: I was invited to CIVICUS 6th World Assembly first time in 2006. When I went the second time in 2007, I had meetings with the delegates from several different countries and informed them about TUMIKOM's purpose and activities. We discussed about democracy process and voters right in Turkey. The idea of forming Global Voters Initiative (GVI) introduced by TUMIKOM found acceptance in the meeting. After the Assembly, communication between Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Chile, Philippines carried out by e-mail and we reached the decision to have meeting in Bangladesh and Uganda. But, the lack of finance made an impossible to realized the meeting. The meeting, I participated this year was the third and the last meeting in Glasgow organized by CIVICUS. TUMIKOM Program Assistant Ferdane Sibel ERDUMAN assisted me to the CIVICUS assembly and acted as a translator. CIVICUS 8th WORLD Assembly In one of the meeting that TUMIKOM participated this year, there were other NGOs from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan. We discussed the issues about difficulties that NGOs have to face in their countries. In this Assembly there was only one NGO from Azerbaijan that participated last years GVI's meeting. By the invitation of Azerbaijani delegate we participated in the meeting of the Eurasia Civil Society Practitioners. Apart from us, NGOs from Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan were in the meeting. We discussed the way of forming a regional support network. There were nine delegates from seven countries. Some of the suggestions were listed below: "Nobody can hear our voices because we are not united. We only concentrated our own issues. But we have got many common problems in the region. We need to develop common platform." "In the region, development of civil society organizations about human rights and freedom obstructed and attached" "We as civil society organizations have to make our voices heard in meetings like that and the other international platforms. That can only be achieved with our commitments and making ourselves responsible towards our united struggle" My suggestion about organizing a meeting in Istanbul accepted by the other participants. At the end of this informal meeting we agreed upon, making our voices heard and being able to have a support in global level and forming an international network. Evaluation CIVICUS 8th World Assembly realized with the participation of 400 delegates from 112 different countries. In the Assembly there were NGOs from different area of interest, sponsors and the government representatives. Participation in the assembly was important in terms of having an perspective and gaining experience in international level and realizing how big and complex the issues that the sector come across. It provided a platform that we all had an opportunity for getting touch with the other NGOs. For me, to learn how other NGOs work in international and national level and how do they make connection with the sponsors and government representatives and what are their problems and how do they deal with the problems, were quite useful and opened up new frontiers. In the meeting, delegates introduced themselves and their NGOs and explained their activities. TUMIKOM activities introduced by me. Global Voters Initiative was also discussed in the meeting. TUMIKOM activities aroused interest among the participants. One of the delegate said "We have got a lot the learn from Turkey". In the meeting my suggestion about having a meeting in Istanbul and determine a common ground for united platform accepted by the others. In the meeting delegates said, organizing regular meeting in Istanbul would be facilitate their own activities and a good opportunity for presenting their work in international platform and strengthen a regional solidarity and cooperation. After the assembly, by e-mailing group decided to organize the meeting in Istanbul in Spring and TUMIKOM would be responsible for finding a sponsor. We as a TUMIKOM started to find a sponsor for the event.. We are still searching for it. TUMIKOM is always making an effort to present its work and try to contribute for democracy development in national and international level. If the meeting is realized in Istanbul, TUMIKOM believes, it would be a good opportunity for showing solidarity between NGOs from the region. As in the last year that Bangladesh and Uganda invited TUMIKOM to come and present its work in their countries, this year Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan specially invited TUMIKOM . These developments give hope to and encourages TUMIKOM for spreading its project around the world. Ps. In London we met with TUMIKOM Kars volunteer Mahir GUNDOGDU and exchange the views on the new developments. Best Regards Mustafa DURNA TÜMİKOM General Coordinator