| Posted: April 27 2005,17:50 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
Yes :
* Concrete progress in training programmes on skills of dialogue.
*
Concrete progress in issues pertaining to understanding the other in
the media corps and among students of mass communications and different
human sciences.
* Creating groups of Arab and foreign young civil activists to promote communication and dialogue.
* Publishing prints, magazines and informative material to develop communications with the other.
* Social interaction with project developers, such as the media, educational, political and economic bodies.
* Forming a follow-up committee to review the outputs of the conducted workshops.
*
A regular plan to evaluate the project outcomes and benefits received
by the youth (a survey conducted on a sample target group)
Measures of success:
* Public surveys
* Arranged interviews with target audience
* Discussions with the target audience
* Social interaction with project developers, such as the media, educational, political and economic bodies.
* Forming a follow-up committee to review the outputs of conducted workshops.
* A regular plan to evaluate project outcomes and the benefits received by youth (a survey conducted on a sample target group)
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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Major obstacles:
* Extensive funding constraints.
* Regional and international political instability, which reflects on the performance of the AICO.
*
The field of operation of the AICO is a new trend to the Arab society,
which requires more collaboration from the Arab elite supporting the
Organization.
* Mutual misunderstanding and lack of accurate
information between the Arabs and the West, which has created an
unhealthy environment for the achievement of our goals.
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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Action areas :
*
Promotion of dialogue and cooperation that is based on equality and
evenness to achieve human and institutional development. The AICO also
advocates freedom of knowledge being central to the enhancement of
civil society, and promotion of public participation, social justice
and equality of all levels of society. The AICO believes partnership
and change of expertise to be of paramount importance to sustainable
development and creation of understanding, harmony and cooperation
among the various cultures, peoples and countries.
* Offering
services and expertise, nationally and internationally, in counselling
services, conducting feasibility studies and various human development
fields, as well as providing databases for the different projects.
* Boosting Arab human development and promotion of partnerships and change of expertise nationally and internationally.
*
Creating a healthy environment for active participation of the
community by providing job opportunities and vocational training.
*
Advocacy of human rights and democracy, and cooperation between
Egyptian, Arab and international non-governmental organizations
* Correcting the stereotyped image of women and creating qualitative equality for women empowerment.
* Boosting international cooperation and change of expertise to promote human achievements.
*
Correcting the distorted image of Arabs and Muslims, who are being
subject to a vicious smearing campaign clearly reflected on western
media broadcasts, entertainment production and cultural activities
which severely damages our welfare in the world. Following the laws
enshrining the right to answer back, the AICO organizes a series of
seminars and conferences nationally and internationally, and releases
statements and regular bulletins encouraging individuals to take action
by writing back in defence of the reputation of Egypt and the Arabs,
and urging the civil societies abroad to stand up to whatever damages
the image of Arabs.
* Providing moral and technical support in
case of filing legal charges against the bodies that purposely damage
the image of the Arabs in the West, based on western countries’ laws
incriminating all acts of racism and degradation of other races or
religions.
Fields of operation:
* Training programmes for human development and promotion of leadership skills.
* Organization of conferences, exhibitions, forums, seminars and cultural festivals.
* Conducting field researches.
* Conducting marketing, economic, and communicational feasibility studies and engagement in their implementation.
* Providing academic services to Egyptian, Arab and foreign students.
*
Data processing and conducting studies about specialized experts
through the international bibliography exclusively owned by the AICO,
which comprises names of Arab and international experts in various
fields, together with notable titles of books and publications. Experts
are contacted and invited to show on media interviews and public
seminars, according to field of specialization.
* Organization of
regular training workshops for applicants to civil work and
institutions requiring special skills (such as diplomatic corps, mass
communications, military colleges)
* Providing services for civil institutions and governmental bodies.
* Planning election campaigns, as well as advertising and publicity activities.
* Planning for media campaigns for governmental and non-governmental institutions.
* Production and local and international promotion of radio and television material.
* Providing advertising services such as news editing, press reports, etc.
* Establishing news agencies.
* Publishing books, prints, bulletins and newspapers.
Most important activities :
* Conducting studies and researches, such as:
* Arab-European Dialogue 2005 (The German Friedrich Neumann Association)
* Image of Arab expatriates (Arab Labour Organization 2005)
* Egyptian Culture and Monuments: A bridge of Dialogue with the Other (2004)
* US Failure to Contain the Arab World (2004)
* Role of Arab Media in the Promotion of Reform Initiatives and correction of the Other’s Distorted View of Arabs
* The Arab World: Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair (2004)
* Arab Reform: Arab and Western Initiatives
* Arab-Muslim Image in Europe (2004)
* Collapse of the American Dream: 911 Fahrenheit (2004)
* Arabs and Islam in Spain (2003)
* Rise of Muslim Oppression in the United States (2003)
* American Hatred Development (2003)
* Who Hates Peace in the Middle East? (2003)
* The New American Cloak (2003)
* Muslims in Middle Asia (2002)
* Human Rights in the Arab World
* Human Right Abuse in Palestine
* Zionist Myths (2002)
* Publishing articles, books and miscellaneous prints, such as:
* The Media and Politics
* Communication Technology
* International Media
* The Arabs’ Image in Western Media
* Ta’ el Ta’nith (the ta- feminine suffix in Arabic, denoting women)
* Partners in Dialogue of Civilizations
* Arab Media and the Problem of Dialogue with the Other (Al-Ahram gazette, 2004)
* Reform Ssenarios: Youth, Civil Society and Democracy (Al-Ahram gazette, 2004)
* Soft power and the Road to Arab Reform (Al-Ahram gazette, 2004)
* Conferences:
*
Implementation of mechanisms for joint Arab and international
media efforts to correct the image of Arabs and Muslims (The Radio and
Television Festival 2002)
* The role of Arab media in
non-Arab Communities (American University in Beirut, Media and Arab
Community Development Conference, 16-19 March 2004)
* "Arab Media stations and the Nation’s Causes" seminar (9-10 October 2003, Beirut, Lebanon)
*
Factors of corruption and its impact on culture and media
(Corruption and Healthy Government in Arab Countries seminar,
20-23 September 2004, Beirut, Lebanon, Centre for Arab Union Studies)
* 4th Conference on Democracy and Free Trade (Doha, Qatar April 2004)
* Arabs and the World: Friends not Enemies (Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University, October 2001)
*
The Arabs’ Image and the 23 July Revolution (an international
celebration in cooperation with the American University in Cairo 2002)
* The Arabs’ Image: from Occupied Iraq to the Arab League (Cairo 2003)
*
Correcting the image of the Arab World in foreign media: a
strategic overview (Stereotyped image of the Arabs conference, American
University in Beirut 2001)
* Freedom of the press and
information in the Arab World (Arab TV journalism, a case study,
Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Information seminar at the
International Academy for leadership in Germany, march 2003)
* Lectures and workshops:
* Scientific Strategies for Public Relations and Measurement of Public Opinion (2004)
* Theories of Mass communication (7 march 2004, Radio and Television Institute)
* Role of the Media in the Promotion of Political Participation (Cairo, 2004)
* Principles of Writing Journal Columns (Centre for Education and Training Technology 2003)
* Creating News Stories (Radio and Television Institute, 21.1.2002)
* Social Marketing (11.4.2002, Cairo Demographic Centre)
* Message Design (11.4.2002, Cairo Demographic Centre)
* Relations on a Client (11.4.2002, Cairo Demographic Centre)
* Interpersonal Communication (11.4.2002, Cairo Demographic Centre)
* Audience Analysis (11.4.2002, Cairo Demographic Centre)
* Psychology of Watching (a lecture in a direction course, Radio and Television Institute, 2001)
* Psychology of Watching News Material (a lecture in a news programmes course, Radio and Television Institute, 2001)
* A statement expressing solidarity with the victims of the 11 September tragic events in the USA
*
A statement of support for the 3rd World Conference Against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
(Durban, South Africa 2001)
* The First African Girls Conference (Tripoli 2003)
*
Development of a training programme to improve local media in
the Radio of Marsa Matrouh (2003), Radio of South Sinai (tor),
Radio of el Arish
* Awards received:
* Certificate of Merit from the German Friedrich Neumann Association (Cairo 2005)
* Certificate of Merit from the Arab Labour Organization (League of Arab States, Cairo 2005)
* American Fraternity Certificate (Washington 2002)
* Shield and Certificate of Merit from the Arab Intellectual Forum (Yemen/Egypt 2004)
* Certificate of Merit from Germany for the Organization’s contributions to freedom of expression (2003)
* Shield and Certificate of Merit from the Arab-African Civil Societies Forum (Tripoli 2003)
* Partners:
* Ministry of Defence
* Egyptian Ministry of Communication, different sectors, the State Information System
* Arab Ministries of Communication
* Arab Ministries of Culture
* Ministries of Higher Education (cultural exchange and attaches Department)
* Arab Foreign Ministry (Arab ambassadors in the West)
* League of Arab States (standing committee for Arab Media)
* Arab Media stations
* Arab media (journalism, radio, media centres)
* Arab-Islamic communities abroad
* Foreign media establishments
* Revolutionary Committees movement in Libya
* The Green Book Study Centre
* General Secretariat of Libya’s radio broadcasts
* Al-Marqab University
* Al-Fatih University (Faculty of Arts and Communication ) in Libya
* Higher Academy for Partnerships in Libya
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
*
The AICO calls for establishing dialogue and cooperation that is based
on equality and evenness so as to achieve human and institutional
development. It also advocates freedom of knowledge being central to
the enhancement of civil society, and promotion of public
participation, social justice and equality of all levels of society.
The AICO believes partnership and change of expertise to be of
paramount importance to sustainable development and creation of
understanding, harmony and cooperation among the various cultures,
peoples and countries.
* The AICO aims at correcting the distorted
image of Arabs and Muslims, who are being subject to a vicious smearing
campaign clearly reflected on western media broadcasts, which severely
damages our welfare in the world.
* Hence, we call for the
establishment of an international network uniting Arab civil
organizations and individual efforts with national and international
research centres, in an organized mechanism to implement that
programme.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
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Postal address of organization
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E-mail address of organization
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aico_eg@yahoo.com
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Website address of organization
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www.aicoegypt.tripod.com
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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