Overview/Introduction
Eritrea Focus is holding this conference as part of its contribution to building democracy in Eritrea. The aim is to provide papers on key issues like justice, foreign policy and the economy, which would be useful to a government once the current dictatorship has ended. Our first conference – held in April 2019 – opened the discussion and identified what were seen as important issues to explore. The current conference will receive and debate papers from working groups on the subjects identified in conference one. This is primarily a working group conference, which will help to prepare a Draft Blueprint document for broader consultation and a third conference, which will be essentially participatory. Conference three, later this year, will produce the final Blueprint document.
Working Groups
Day 1 Monday 29th June 15.00-18.00 hrs London Time (GMT + 1)
The Rule of Law and Administration of Justice
Day 2 Tuesday 30th June 15.00-18.00 hrs London Time (GMT + 1)
Topic: The National Economy in an Integrating Region
Day 3 Wednesday 1st July 15.00 -18.00 hrs London Time (GMT + 1)
Foreign Policy Rapprochement between Eritrea and Ethiopia
Day 4 Thursday 2nd July 15.00-18.00 hrs London Time (GMT + 1)
Lessons from other countries’ transitions
Day 5 Friday 3rd July 15.00-18.00 hrs London Time (GMT + 1)
Engaging with international democracies
Day 6 Saturday 4th July 15.00-18.00 hrs London Time (GMT + 1)
Eritrean diaspora working together, including religious groups, youth and women
Daily Format
| BASIC STRUCTURE OF VIRTUAL (ZOOM) MEETINGS | |
|---|---|
| Start time 15.00 hrs (GMT+1) | |
| 15:00 – 15:05 | Welcome and guidance for participation from the host. |
| 15:05 – 15:10 | An outline of the session by the Moderator. |
| 15:10 – 15:15 | An Introduction by Expert Group Lead: membership, challenges, caveat etc |
| 15:15 – 15.35 | Presentation/s by member/s of the Expert Group. |
| 15.35 – 16:15 | Questions, discussion and exchange. |
| 16:15 – 16.30 | Comfort break. |
| 16.30 – 16.50 | Presentation/s by member/s of the Expert Group. |
| 16.50 – 17.30 | Questions, discussion and exchange. |
| 17.30 – 17.40 | Comfort break. |
| 17.40 – 17.50 | Summarise issues outstanding, differences of opinion, challenges to be met by the group, facilitated by the Moderator. |
| 17.50 – 18.00 | Conclusion and thanks. |
| ( Please note: some working groups may vary in structure) |
