Middle East and North Africa
Sharing experiences of democracy
Earlier this month youth leaders from 15 Lebanese political parties (pictured) travelled with International Alert to Switzerland to learn about the Swiss experience of democracy.
The trip, which included representatives from a broad range of political parties in Lebanon, focused on how the Swiss manage plurality in politics and governance.
Transforming Tunisia
This report analyses the activity and influence of civil society organisations in Tunisia over the last two years, identifying the implications and opportunities for the broader Middle East and North Africa region.
Middle East and North Africa
We work on issues surrounding citizenship and governance in the Middle East and North Africa, and also provide guidance on strategic investment to regions affected by conflict.
Tunisia
In Tunisia we work to create the space and opportunity for civil society organisations and political leaders to work together to address the challenges of the political transition. We believe that a strong and vibrant civil society is essential for ensuring a peaceful transition that responds to the needs of the Tunisian public. To this end we seek to strengthen the capacity of civil society to represent the interests of diverse groups at the political level.
Tunisia: from dignity to disenchantment?
The pressure of participatory politics it taking its toll on Tunisia’s ruling Nahda party. Factions within the Nadha party are all the more prevalent after the resignation of Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali on 19 February. The Secretary General of Nahda relinquished his role as prime minister after failing to convince his party of a plan to unite Tunisia.
Youth politics in Lebanon
Last month representatives from the youth wings of 18 political parties in Lebanon shared a joint declaration on the rights of Palestinian refugees. The declaration was the result of a series of discussions supported by International Alert to encourage peaceful debate among the political parties in the country.
Peace Talks
International Alert is proud to present its new annual report, “Peace Talks”, which looks back at Alert’s work and impact in 2011 – when Alert celebrated its 25th year – using dialogue as a theme.
Dialogue is a vital tool we use in our peacebuilding work, and we hope that by showing you in this annual report some of the practical ways in which we use dialogue to bring people together or to improve face-to-face communication in situations where communication has broken down, you will get a good sense of how we work as well as our objectives. The regions we focus on in this report to illustrate our theme are Uganda, South Caucasus, Lebanon and Sri Lanka.
Doing politics differently
From Alert's 2011 Annual Report
"Individuals have to find the courage to say what they fear to say."
Photo credit: © Cluster Munition Coalition (available under a Creative Commons License)
A first step for Alert in Tunisia
From 16th-18th March 2012 International Alert convened a group of 25 civil society leaders from different parts of Tunisia.
What women can do for peace
Emerging Voices: Young Women in Lebanese Politics
Although Lebanon is known in the Middle East for its relative political openness and for the degree of freedom Lebanese women enjoy, it paradoxically has one of the lowest rates of women’s political engagement in the region. This report examines the extent to which women are currently involved in politics in Lebanon, as well as the opportunities for increasing their involvement, by drawing on Alert’s work with the youth wings of Lebanese political parties and a conference Alert held on the topic of promoting gender equality in political parties. The first part of this report presents diverse perspectives from Lebanese and international experts within their conference speeches, and the second part includes an analysis of interviews with Lebanese youth, in which they reflect on their hopes, concerns and ideas for improving gender equality in Lebanese politics in the future.
Lebanon
International Alert’s engagement in Lebanon began in 2009. Alert’s long-term goal in Lebanon is to contribute to a political process that reconciles the desires of its diverse communities for security, freedom and development with the interests of an equitable, democratic and peaceful Lebanese nation. Through our work, Alert seeks to contribute to the management of Lebanon’s multiple conflicts without recourse to, or the threat of, violence.
Location
International Alert at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival
The Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns to London from 24th March – 1st April with a programme packed full of documentaries and dramas set to inspire, inform and trigger debate. This year, in association with the Festival, we are proud to present the opening night film – the UK premiere of Denis Villeneuve’s Academy Award-nominated Incendies.
