Civil Society, Reality and Future Horizons [Archives:2000/51/Local News]

What is Civil Society? What hinders its development? How can those hindrances be overcome? Can we consider the Yemeni society with qat, tribalism, arms and blood revenge a civil society? When was the idea of civil society established? And why civil society organizations were aborted before unity? Why the government is trying to limit and control activities of those organizations through the Law of Societies? Answers to the above questions and many others were elaborately highlighted by the working papers presented during the Civil Society Symposium organized by the (HRITC) during December 13-14 at the Taj Shamsan Hotel in Taiz.
Discussions centered on problems of civil society organizations and means of improving their activities. The participants also discussed the Law of Societies adopted by the Ministry of Social Affairs without participation of societies and organizations concerned. They described it as intending to abort civil society organizations.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Izzaddin Saeed Al-Asbahi, chairman of HRITC welcomed the participants and then gave the floor to the First Secretary of the Dutch Embassy who hailed the timing of the symposium which coincided with the issuance of the Societies Law. She expressed hopes for a law that would enhance and improve activities of organizations and societies.
Deputy Minister of Insurance and Social Affairs Mr. Ali Saleh Abdullahs paper, presented on his behalf by Mr. Lutf Al-Alaya, Assistant Deputy Minister, pointed to absence of democratic practice in many organizations, unions and syndicates. It also highlighted the importance of training cadres, especially those in administration. The other papers were presented by advocate Jamal Addin Al-Adimi, Secretary general of Civil Society Forum, Mr. Mohammed Bahjat, Director of legal Affairs in the Ministry of Culture, Mr. Mohammed Ali Sad, Chief Editor of Al-Jumhoryah Newspaper, Dr. Ali Mohammed Zaid, Dr. Ahmad Al-Qaseer and Dr. Salahaddin Haddash. All papers stressed the need for civil society organizations and a law to enhance them.
Mr. Izzaddin stated that the event was a continuation of other symposia in which the law was discussed.
At the end a committee was set up of HRITC, Civil Society Forum, Arab Sisters Forum and a number of advocates to further study the law and present a report to the parliament before it is endorsed with its current version.


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