Invitation to the 3rd Kurdistan Social Forum in Erbil!
We are pleased to invite you to attend the third Kurdistan Social Forum in Erbil to be held on 25 and 26 October 2019. The forum is an open space for collaboration among civil society organisations, networks and civil activists in the Kurdistan region.
The Kurdistan Social Forum was established in 2016 by Peace and Freedom Organization (PFO) and partners, and its first annual edition was held in 2017 in Erbil, followed by Sulaymaniyah in 2018. It fostered a new space to support social justice and civil movements. The Forum works as a bridge between civil society and social movements advocadting for economic, socio-political and civil cooperation and reform in the Kurdistan region.
The Kurdistan Social Forum works in close collaboration with the Iraqi Social Forum, currently within the framework of of the project Mesopotamian Youth for Democratic Governance, Social Cohesion and Reconciliation, funded by the European Union. It is a collaboration of Peace and Freedom Organization, Waterkeepers Iraq, Solidarity Center, Al-Mesalla, Un Ponte Per (UPP) and the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI). Together they work on the following thematic issues:
- Media promoting tolerance and democracy
- Rights of IDPs and minorities
- Women’s participation in politics and decision-making
- Water rights and the protection of Mesopotamia’s rivers
- Social justice and employment (labor’s rights)
This forum will be held in solidarity with the people of Northeast Syria. It will take place for two days: the first day is dedicated to a marathon for peace, organized by Erbil Marathon, and a civil society festival of the KSF, while on the second day parallel workshops will be organized by participating civil society organisations.
Agenda
First Day, 25 October 2019
| Time | Topic |
| 10:00 | Third Kurdistan Social Forum (KSF) starts with Erbil International Marathon. Location: 60m street, Erbil. Visit the link for more information: http://www.erbilmarathon.org/ |
| 12:00 | Festival and art activities, Sami Abdul Rahman Park, Erbil |
| 14:00 | Third Kurdistan Social Forum speech, Sami Abdul Rahman Park, Erbil |
Second Day, 26 October 2019
Location: Culture and Social Center of Salahaldeen University, Kirkuk Road, besides College of Engineering
| Time | Topic |
| 09:00 | Registration |
| 09:30 | Working groups on topics below: Al Mesalla: Rights of women and IDPs Al Mesalla: Minorities Peace and Freedom Organization: Media Peace and Freedom Organization: Prevention of Violent Extremism |
| 12:45 | Lunch time |
| 01:30 | Parallel sessions: Council for Social Cohesion: Promotion of Social Cohesion in Sulaimani Lanay Zhiyan Organization: Women’s Rights Newa Network: Peacebuilding and coexistence among communities Aso Esma’el: Water and environment Shar Organization: Capacity building for NGOs Kak Dilshad: Educational rights |
| 3:30 | End |
