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The International Civil Society Forum went well beyond everyone's expectations, with pro-active and inspiring sessions, smooth organisation, and excellent media coverage.
Cypriot CSOs have the chance to become increasingly important actors in policy influencing both at home and abroad.
Two critical areas that underpin the island’s development and present new opportunities for CSOs were at the centre of the forum: European policy influencing and peace building.
The Cypriot Civil Society Strengthening Programme has written two colourful booklets, available below, around these critical areas.
The European Union and Council of Europe have taken an increasingly prominent role on Cyprus since 2004, with new opportunities for Cypriot civil society to engage both within EU institutions and in Cyprus-focused EU programmes. The EU offers the possibility of linking with Europe-wide CS networks; of engaging in civil dialogue and advocacy with EU institutions, and of access to EU/Council of Europe initiatives and funding sources. How can Cypriot CSOs seize these opportunities?
Booklet 1 deals with opportunities for Cypriot CSOs to engage with European institutions.
Booklet 1 English.pdf (1470Kb)
Booklet 2 is about civil society in peacebuilding - worldwide and on Cyprus.
Civil society has a critical role in addressing issues of trust, conflict and peace building. This takes place both in specific, peace-focused civil society activities but also more indirectly as part of working together for different purposes.
Some questions discussed at the forum included: What are the opportunities for civil society to shift the political stalemate? Through what mechanisms can civil society peace building happen – at home and internationally? What can be learned from other contexts such as Northern Ireland and South Africa? What is the Cypriot civil society experience of peace building?
Booklet 2 English.pdf (1164Kb)
Press Release - International Civil Society Forum.pdf (156Kb)
International Civil Society Forum.pdf (2136Kb)
Feedback on the forum:
"Congratulations on a very well designed and professionally executed event. The number of participants, quality of speakers and level of interaction at the Forum was impressive along with the breaking of new ground in Cyprus with the awards ceremony". -UNDP-ACT, Cyprus