The forum was held in Damascus on March 7, 2016, sponsord and organized by the Nation Building Movement at the Sheraton Hotel, with the attendance of activists, civil society organizations, independent figures, and experts from Damascus and a number of Syrian governorates, who were distinguished by their affiliations, backgrounds, opinions, references, and various and diverse fields of work.
The forum activities began with an opening speech by Mr. Anas Joudeh, Chairman of the Nation Building Movement. Then, Mr. Maan Al-Himma, Director of Training, gave an explanation of the progress of the forum’s work. During the three days of the forum, the participants discussed the reality of civil work and its priorities in the following topics:
The role of media in peacemaking - Local economic development - National reconciliations and peacebuilding - The legal and legislative structure and ways to reform it - Community development and the culture of citizenship - The role of the cultural movement in building the Syrian identity - The vision of civil society in building Syria.
Speech of the co/chairman of the NBM, Anas Joudeh, at the opening of the Syrian Civil Society Forum, which was launched by the Nation Building Movement on March 7
First day of the Civil Society Forum
The attendees were divided into three groups distributed over three pillars: the role of the media in peacemaking, the second pillars, local economic development, and the third pillars, community development and the culture of citizenship.
Second day of the Civil Society Forum
The participants on the second day of the forum were divided into three other pillars: nation reconciliations and peace building; the second pillar: the role of the cultural movement in building the Syrian identity; and the third pillar: the legal and legislative structure and ways to reform it.
Third day of the Civil Society Forum
The last day included a general discussion for all groups on three main pillars: agreement on a mechanism for dialogue, proposals for new pillars and future plans. At the end of the session, the participants evaluated the effectiveness of the forum and presented their opinions on the pillars and how to work in the future.