Third Sector Foundation of Turkey

Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV) was established in 1993 by Turkey’s leading CSOs and has now grown to support a network of over 100 associations and foundations that share a vision of strengthening the legal, fiscal and operational infrastructure of the third (non-profit) sector in Turkey. Over the past fifteen years Turkey’s third sector and grown and expanded and civil society has taken a new and central role in the country. The number of CSOs continues to grow and with growth comes much needed support, funding and most importantly, a more enabling environment. As such TUSEV’s programmes are designed to promote a legally and fiscally enabling environment for non-profit organisations, encourage strategic and effective giving, facilitate partnerships across the public, private and third sectors and support and engage the international community in learning about and collaborating with the third sector in Turkey.

TUSEV is member of AGNA. Affinity groups are groupings of CIVICUS members that exist to take forward CIVICUS’ mission and values. The Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA) brings together national associations from around the world. National associations are those organisations, which provide and give a collective voice to civil society in their countries, serve as interlocutors between civil society and other sectors and struggle for the creation of an enabling environment for civil society at the national level.

Call for participants: Warsaw Euro-Atlantic Summer Academy, 14-28 July, 2013, Poland

WEASA is an educational program for policy analysts, advisers and experts from Eastern Europe and South Caucasus on systemic transformation, European Union integration and transatlantic relations.

We are looking for mid-level career professionals with at least 5 years of relevant experience eager to develop their international networks and expertise.

Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by WEASA. Participants will be asked to cover their visa costs.

The deadline for applications is 26th May at 23:59pm (GMT+1)

Full information: http://www.weasa.org/

Source: http://www.weasa.org/

Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF): Internship Programme 2013

The Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) announces the reopening of its Internship Programme for the year 2013 offering young people the opportunity for a training at the Headquarters of the Anna Lindh Foundation in Alexandria.

The ALF Internship Programme aims at fostering interdisciplinary knowledge as well as practical know-how building, targeting young talented undergraduate and graduate students, willing to gain practical experience in a field relevant to the Foundation through their full involvement in daily work.

Moreover, the Internship Programme seeks to support the internal human resources capacity of the Anna LindhFoundation with students or graduates between 19 and 32 years old, fluent in two or more of the official languages of the Union for the Mediterranean countries, and qualified in areas relevant to the ALF strategic interventions.

The training received at the Anna Lindh Foundation intends to orient and enhance the chances of talented youth in the labor market, as well as to exchange experience or skills with experienced seconded staff.

Applications for internship are welcome from residents of the 42 Euro-Med countries. Any application from a resident outside the 42 countries can be accepted provided that their cost will not be covered by ALF. North-South Regional balance in the selection of the interns will be among the selection criteria.

To apply for an internship position, please click here.

Please send your application and motivation letter not later than Saturday, 1st June 2013 – 5 pm Cairo Time to ALFinternship [@] bibalex.org

Due to the large number of applications received, only selected candidates will be contacted by the ALFSecretariat.

Source: http://www.euromedalex.org/about/job-vacancies

Call for applications: Training course and conference “Democracy, citizenship and youth participation”, Cairo, Egypt

Venue: 30 August - 6 September 2013 | Cairo, Egypt

Do you want to explore different ways of active youth participation in Euromed region? In addition you will have opportunity to discuss about place and role of young people in the democratic process within Euromed cooperation in high level conference!

Activity will consist of training course of 4 days that will be continued by conference of 2 days with additional guests invited! 

Objectives of the training course:

• to share experiences of NGO’s in the field of youth participation (what was going well?, what can be improved?);
• to share, create and try tools for youth participation;
• to develop new projects in the field of youth participation;
• to empower leadership within participants;
• to share values of Euromed cooperation.

Aim of the conference:

To inshore visibility of Euromed cooperation in the youth field and visibility of Youth in Action and Euromed Youth Programmes.

Target group (up to 34 participants from Euromed region):

• youth workers and youth leaders who have some experience with topic of youth participation on local, national or international level;
• have link/interest in development of projects (Youth in Action or Euromed Youth);
• belongs to NGO that has experience in youth field and have capacity to develop projects within Euromed cooperation;
• have good English communication skills.

Available downloads:

• Conference programme.pdf
• Training Seminar EGYPT Programme.pdf

Full information: http://www.euromedp.org/2013/05/16/call-for-participants-democracy-citizenship-and-youth-participation-cairo-egypt/

The equation in Turkey-EU-USA relations

By Fatma Yılmaz-Elmas

There are opinions, suggestions and discussions on the fact that 2013 has been and should be a crucial in terms of Turkey-EU relations. New era is regarded as a new opportunity to revitalize relations between Turkey and the EU which have been stable for a long period of time. Public opinion, based on both the transfer of the helm of EU term-presidency from Greek Cypriots to Ireland and leader change in Southern Cyprus as well as the promises of some politicians such as Hollande giving green light to the opening of new negotiation chapter, is dominated by the opinion and expectation of occurrence of new parameters in relations. In this regard, furthermore, the possible revival of relations with the EU may have Turkey empowered in the face of developments in its region. The possibility of conducting this interaction in the opposite direction is of course another issue at stake. Turkey to provide a unique opportunity as being an effective partner in its region to the EU, which couldn’t play first chair in international politics as far as the desired extent, is something which may increase the glamour regarding the revival of bilateral relations. 

However, it is obvious that a driving factor or power is needed for the implementation of the subject of mutual balance in Turkey-EU relations. Yet Turkey, as Nathalie Tocci indicated, is far beyond just being a foreign policy issue. While the preferences of member states are bringing pressure on policies and interests, and dynamism in relations, the aspect of relations facing the potential of (regional) cooperation becomes insistently obsolete. Hence, while the constructive role and support of the third actors such as the US regarding Turkey-EU relations is important, in fact, it uncovers an equation which has been around since the beginning.

Analysis: Diplomacy Gaming Concept For The 21st Century

By Brett Daniel Shehadey

(May 15, 2013)

The international system is in rut and the archaic Westphalian global system of nation-to-nation dialogue is eroding. Some kind of confused transition for greater short-term self-interest, sporadic technology attempts, and neo-realism appears intent to tear the world apart. It is a time when a nation’s use of diplomacy is either sparing or heavy handed. Cooperation is seen is a lost cause without hope. Militancy is on the rise and war is just over the horizon, which will leave millions dead.

Now, imagine yourself sitting across from an official of another country. Instead of having the standard boring discussion set in the ambiance of the embassy’s 19th century architecture, using protocols only done within the highly ornate and exceedingly structured embassy surroundings, diplomats enter a virtual world of international relations using avatars from thousands of miles away.

Prior to any agreements, dignitaries and envoys act out and run through their options together with open simulations, ensuring themselves the most peaceful outcomes and stable relations. Rival nations compete through the use of war games with their own strategists and military attachés as national players.

Nations evaluate the results of virtual diplomacy and virtual war with a sophisticated team of experts and artificial intelligence arbiters. Peace is achieved. The winners gain fame in annual competitions, prize money or real territory is exchanged—no human beings needlessly lose their lives in the process of international relations.

Стартовал всероссийский конкурс "Журналисты России против террора"

Очередной всероссийской конкурс на лучший журналистский материал по антитеррористической тематике проводится с целью активизации деятельности средств массовой информации в сфере предупреждения террористических угроз и противодействия терроризму. Одна из его задач — повышение роли российских СМИ и журналистского сообщества в борьбе против терроризма и его идеологии и поддержка наиболее талантливых журналистов, пишущих по данной тематике. Конкурс проводится при поддержке Национального антитеррористического комитета.

Среди учредителей конкурса – Союз журналистов России, Центр развития коммуникаций, РГУ нефти и газа им. И.М. Губкина, Российская Ассоциация по связям с общественностью (РАСО). Организационный комитет возглавил Председатель Союза журналистов России – Всеволод Богданов.

Конкурс охватывает все регионы Российской Федерации и завершится в ноябре 2013 года.

Call for applications: School for Political Leaders of Eastern Partnership countries

• School for Political Leaders of Eastern Partnership countries
• School for Leaders Association, Poland in cooperation with
• European Dialogue Society, Ukraine
• Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy – Georgia Representation, Georgia
• National Youth Council of Moldova – CNTM, Republic of Moldova
• Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (ACGRC), Armenia

is pleased to announce the launch of the project “School for Political Leaders of Eastern Partnership countries”.

The main aim of the project is to support the development of civil society in Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan in building of social capital, essential in the process of democratic change, as well as to initiate long-term cooperation between organizations/institutions in the participating countries and in Poland.

The project consists of two modules:

• The first module will take place in Kiev, Ukraine, 28 June -5 July 2013.
• The second module will take place in Warsaw, Poland, 22-29 September 2013.

The project also includes the creation of an online PDF publication that will feature materials developed by the 28 participants. During and after the project the participants will create a network of leaders from the Eastern Partnership countries.

The EU and Europe's East

East of the European Union, people tend to see the EU as a rich and sophisticated partner, a beacon for a better future and a strategic counterweight. Autocratic rulers in Moscow and Minsk are exceptions, yet they are torn. While tightening membership standards, the EU should improve ties with reforming countries in the East.

Views of the EU and its institutions differ across Europe. British Prime Minister David Cameron says support in his country for the EU is "wafer-thin." In Greece, Italy and Spain, unemployment hovers around 25 percent. The deep recession that has blanketed southern Europe is edging northward. The public sector in France is 57 percent of gross domestic product, helping to make its economy the least competitive in the EU. Poor governance and fractious politics in Italy increase risks. Financial bailouts may not be enough to keep Spain afloat.

East of the divide, the EU picture is brighter. A recent Kosovar-Serbian accord over the Serb-dominated area in Kosovo reflects a powerful EU pull. Estonia and Slovakia are prospering in the eurozone. Lithuania is joining, and the Czech Republic, Latvia and Poland may do so. Ukraine is eager for an EU Association agreement but may lose it if former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko remains jailed as a political prisoner. Georgia strives for closer links and admission to the EU.

Women’s Knowledge International (WKI): Report on Egypt

YCSD recommends to review "A Report Back from Research Visit to Egypt of Professor Nayereh Tohidi". This report is a result of the collaboration between the Foundation Culture of Peace- (Spain), the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt) and California State University at Northridge (USA), 01/05/2013. 

Download: http://www.womensknowledge.org

Source: http://www.womensknowledge.org

Our partner sourse: youth-in-action.org

Mention: Integration a Hard Road for Young Chechen Men

Almut Rochowanski of the Chechnya Advocacy Network. 

(Photo courtesy of A. Rochowanski)

Immigrants imbued with traditional values of masculinity and power can run into problems fitting into a different kind of society.

By Almut Rochowanski - Caucasus

CRS Issue 685,

26 Apr 13

When Anzor Tsarnaev, father of Tamerlan and Jokhar, the suspects in the Boston bombings, was asked how they could have committed such an act, he denied that they were capable of it.

“My sons are soft,” he said. “They are like girls.”

I have been working with Chechen refugees for almost a decade now, and my experience among them makes me wonder how often those two boys heard such sentiments while they lived their apparently not-so-comfortable lives in Boston.

Hearing remarks like this every day would teach any young man that he is falling short of the hyper-masculinity, the violent assertiveness, the “show them who’s boss” competitiveness that distinguish a “real man” among Chechens.

Tens of thousands of Chechen boys are now growing up in a huge, new, barely-settled diaspora. And such messages from their elders poison their chances of achieving happiness and integrating successfully in their new homes.

When we started the Chechnya Advocacy Network, we set out to listen carefully to the needs of people from Chechnya before deciding what we should do. That way, we would keep ourselves from imposing any outside agendas, even well-meaning ones.

Мнение: Интеграция - сложный путь для молодых чеченцев

Алмут Рочовански из Chechnya Advocacy Network. 

(Фото: собственность А. Рочовански)

Иммигранты, воспитанные на традиционных ценностях мужественности и силы, приспосабливаясь к обществу иного типа, могут столкнуться с проблемами.

by Almut Rochowanski - Кавказ

CRS Issue 685,

1 Май 13

Когда Анзору Царнаеву - отцу Тамерлана и Джохара, подозреваемых в организации взрывов в Бостоне, задали вопрос, как они могли совершить такое преступление, он заявил, что они не были на такое способны.

«Мои сыновья мягкие, - сказал он. – Они как девочки».

Я работаю с беженцами из Чечни практически десять лет и, исходя из опыта общения с ними, мне стало интересно, как часто эти двое парней слышали такие сентиментальные высказывания за время своей, очевидно, неблагополучной жизни в Бостоне.

Слыша подобные замечания каждый день, любой молодой человек осознавал бы, что в нем нет характеризующих у чеченцев «настоящих мужчин» качеств - гипер-мужественности, резкой напористости и способности «показать кто здесь главный».

Photo Essay: The Hidden War in the Caucasus

Despite the reduction of large-scale military operations 10 years ago in Chechnya, a guerrilla war waged by Islamic fundamentalists rages on, and has brought a striking level of violence and bloody insurgency to the neighboring Caucasus republic of Dagestan.

For decades, and in much of the world’s eyes, all the news coming from the North Caucasus seemed focused on the cataclysm in Chechnya. Now, with Grozny slowly emerging from decades of chaos, Dagestan – the largest, most heterogeneous and, today, the most violent republic in the North Caucasus region – is raising its international profile, but for all the wrong reasons.

With a population of about 3 million people, Dagestan — bordering Chechnya, with the Caspian Sea to the east and Georgia and Azerbaijan to the south — is comprised of more then 40 ethnic groups. Ethnic Russians make up roughly four and half percent of the republic’s total population, while political power is held mainly by the two largest groups: the Avar and Dargin, both of whom practice Sufism, or the region’s traditional brand of Islam. Recently, however, Salafism — a puritanical form of Islam practiced largely in Saudi Arabia — has begun to make inroads, further complicating the already tangled political and religious picture.

Contest: A Sea of Words 2013

The Anna Lindh Foundation and the European Institute of the Mediterranean call the sixt edition of the international competition of short stories and tales "A Sea of Words", aimed at young people from the 42 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area.

The competition is aimed at producing stories or short stories fousing on solidarity and citizenship issues with the purpose of showing different sensibilities and realities lived at the Euro-Mediterranian region from the citizens' point of view.

Participation requisites

The contest is aimed at youths from 18 to 30, citizens of one of the 43 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area.

Format of the works

The stories cannot exceed the maximum length of 2,500 words and can be written in any of the official languages of the participating countries. They must be original and wholly unpublished works. The short stories must address issues related to intercultural dialogue, mainly of a political, socio-cultural, economic and environmental nature.

Летняя школа "Академия прав человека", 2013, Россия, Санкт-Петербург

Американская Ассоциация Юристов (ABA ROLI) в сотрудничестве с Санкт-Петербургским институтом права имени Принца П.Г. Ольденбургского объявляют о проведении Летней школы «Академия прав человека» - 2013.

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION С E E L I CENTRAL EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN LAW INITIATIVE 

(АМЕРИКАНСКАЯ АССОЦИАЦИЯ ЮРИСТОВ)

Санкт-Петербургский институт права имени Принца П.Г. Ольденбургского

Американская Ассоциация Юристов (ABA ROLI) в сотрудничестве с Санкт-Петербургским институтом права имени Принца П.Г. Ольденбургского объявляют о проведении Летней школы «Академия прав человека» - 2013.

Летняя школа «Академия прав человека» будет посвящена вопросам международной защиты прав человека, в частности тех прав, которые гарантированы при осуществлении уголовного правосудия как обвиняемому, так и потерпевшему. Инструкторами школы будут ведущие эксперты из российских и зарубежных организаций с большим практическим опытом работы по обращению в Европейский суд по правам человека. Программа школы будет включать лекции, семинары, мастер-классы и деловую игру (учебное судебное разбирательство).

The first Eastern Partnership Ministerial Conference on Culture: 27-28 June 2013, Tbilisi

The very first Eastern Partnership Ministerial Conference on Culture is foreseen to take place on 27-28 June 2013 in Tbilisi, Georgia. It will give guidance for future work and provide an occasion for a mid-term assessment of the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme.

The high level event will represent an important milestone in the cultural dimension of the Eastern Partnership, a press release said. A limited number of places will be opened up for online registration in a few weeks' time on the Programme’s website.

The €12 million Eastern Partnership Culture Programme aims at assisting the Partner Countries in their cultural policy reform at government level, as well as capacity building and improving professionalism of cultural operators in the region. It seeks to strengthen regional cultural links and dialogue within the Eastern Partnership region, and between the EU and ENP Eastern countries' cultural networks and actors. 

Source: EU Neighbourhood Info Centre

EU and Russia advance over Common Spaces, 2012 progress report says

The EU-Russia Partnership for Modernisation (P4M) continued to be the main policy platform for EU-Russia cooperation activities, according to the new EU-Russia Common Spaces progress report for 2012, which is now available online. The report outlines progress made during 2012 under the EU-Russia Common Spaces Road Maps and sets forth the next steps expected in 2013, with a detailed section devoted to each of the four spaces.

The major bilateral developments include the following:

General

• The EU and Russia continue working on the Common Steps towards visa free short-term travel of Russian and EU citizens, including expert missions;
• Under the Partnership for Modernisation, projects are being implemented in the areas market access improvement and strengthening the rule of law (including a new anti-corruption project implemented by the Council of Europe);
• The Political Dialogue on Counter Terrorism was launched in November in Moscow.