Dual Master’s in CRAMS_Successfully Completes First Month of Academic Year 2016-2017
The Dual Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution and Mediterranean Security (CRAMS), which SCAR offers in cooperation with the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies(MEDAC) in Malta, is currently celebrating its 7th year. The new 10-member cohort, comprising a diverse team of young conflict analysts, just completed successfully their first month in the Program. A busy, yet rewarding month, which started with a three-day Orientation, and was followed by four weeks of coursework. During these first four weeks, group members had the opportunity to meet and discuss with local civil society actors, as well as representatives from international organizations working in the region; visited an art exhibition which centered on refugee narratives; and actively participated in the Mediterranean Forum organized by the Anna Lindh Foundation in partnership with the Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Naturally, if Malta’s strategic location is taken into consideration, a key theme that keeps emerging in the Program’s coursework, as well as in extracurricular curricular activities, is that of the current migration movements in the region of the Mediterranean -a phenomenon, which in the frames of the Program is subject to systematic study in all its dimensions, from current manifestations and relational dynamics, to its structural underlying causes and conditions.
More analytically, on October 7th, Marcelle Bugre, a Program alumna and active member of the Maltese civil society, talked to the group about the work she and her organization, the Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants, have been doing over the past years providing relief and empowering migrant communities in Malta. Group members found the discussion with Marcelle “informative, interesting, and attention grabbing”, and really appreciated the stories she shared from her personal experience working with migrant groups.
On October 13th, the group visited the Bodiless Exhibitionat the Malta Maritime Museum -a visual art exhibition organized by KOPIN, centered on reconstructing and retelling African migration and refugee narratives. The group was offered a tour by KOPIN’s Deputy Executive Director, Dominik Kalweit, who had an engaging discussion with our group about the complexities of current migration movements in the Mediterranean and the responses of the European societies.
Moreover, the head of the UNHCR’s mission in Malta, Beat Schuler, joined our group on October 19th for a two-hour session. In his presentation and subsequent discussion with group members, Dr. Schuler provided information of the facts of the current migration movements in the region, and offered insights on legal instruments safeguarding the rights of refugees. Among others, the discussion touched upon the work of the UNHCR in Malta and regionally to respond to the current crisis; the underlying causes and conditions of migration; and the question of whether and how the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ principle may be applied to the ongoing crisis.
On October 24th-25th, members of the new cohort also had the opportunity to participate in the 2-day Mediterranean Forum organized by the Anna Lindh Foundation, the largest civil society gathering in the region, which brought together 600 civil society representatives, policy-makers, media, and international donors from 42 countries, working in the field of intercultural dialogue, youth empowerment, gender equality, social entrepreneurship, and more. The Forum’s agenda was to “accelerate and scale-up the impact and reach of intercultural action to counter forces fueling polarization and extremism”. Through their active participation, CRAMS group members not only got exposure to the workings of an important forum at the international level, where cross-fertilization of ideas and practices takes place, but were also able to contribute through their active engagement to the Forum’s overall mission.
Finally, on October 28th, Mario Gerada, from the Jesuit Refugee Service delivered a presentation on the JRS work on Reconciliation, followed by a lively discussion based on his long and diverse experience as an activist on refugee issues, as well as on issues of the LGBT community in Malta. One student noted: “Mario’s presentation took us one step closer to truly understanding what true reconciliation is”, with another one adding: “Mario's presence and discussion felt more like a conversation, and I especially enjoyed his presentation of how humanity is necessary if you want to be effective in communicating in conflict situations.”
These first weeks have been just the beginning of a wonderful journey for the members of the new CRAMS cohort who, although they have spent just a few weeks together, have formed a lively community of young conflict analysts. Subsequent coursework, out of campus activities, field trips, and social events (such as the upcoming Thanksgiving Dinner!) will make this educational experience richer. We wish our new cohort a great year ahead, in this pioneering Dual Master’s Degree Program.
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Official Launch of ‘Gender Liberation’ in Malta
On Saturday, April 25th, the official launch of ‘Gender Liberation’, an NGO that works toward informing, connecting, and empowering gender diverse communities in Malta and Gozo, took place in Valletta. The launch comes a few short weeks after Malta introduced the Gender Identity Act, a law that provides transparent and readily accessible gender identity recognition procedures for trans individuals. The historic law also safeguards the bodily integrity of intersex people from the moment of birth, and protects the right to free gender expression for all the people of Malta and Gozo.
H.E. the President of Malta with the Board of Gender Liberation
Pyt Farrugia, a student in the Dual MA Program in Conflict Resolution and Mediterranean security, is one of the founders of Gender Liberation and currently serves as the Organization’s Outreach and Advocacy Officer. Pyt has been for the past years an active member of civil society in Malta, particularly working on issues of gender equality and social justice, with a focus on the gender variant community. He hopes that the work of the organization, which was founded under the auspices of the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, will instigate a real and sustained commitment among social constituencies in Malta to secure the wellbeing and self-determination of the trans* community, and all minority groups in the country.
The mission of ‘Gender Liberation’ is “to connect, inform, and empower gender diverse, intersex and trans people in Malta and Gozo through community-led initiatives, and explore established categories of sex, gender, and sexuality in the Mediterranean region, through respectful and fruitful public dialogue”. Among other objectives, the organization focuses on “building communities, reaching out to individuals who are marginalized, and prioritizing voices that are ignored, in order to empower people who have been rendered powerless by stigma and other strategies of social exclusion”. Despite being in the first months of its existence, the organization, through its much-needed and inspired work, has managed to already make an impression on the island and has been invited by Social Dialogue and Civil Liberties Minister, Helena Dalli, to participate in the country’s LGBTIQ Consultative Council, a body that has been set up to advise the government and prepare policy and legislation addressing LGBTIQ concerns.
Pyt Farrugia Addressing the Audience
While speaking to a lively audience of more than 100 people, Pyt, made reference to 3 pillars which the Organization’s work will center on, so as to bring about positive change: the intersectionality of oppression, the difficulties inherent in a rigidly enforced gender binary
, and the need for solidarity in order to strengthen the trans* community from within, and build bridges to society at large. "It is our duty to make ourselves instruments and signs of the kind of society we believe must exist," said Pyt, "to establish solidarity, and ultimately to identify with one another... There’s nothing quite so beautiful as the moment when somebody steps outside of fear and shame, to live in the fullness of their truth."
The launch of ‘Gender Liberation’ took place in the presence of the President of Malta, Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coliero Preca, who also addressed the audience. In her speech the President stressed the importance of the necessary work that the organization carries out, and sent a powerful message noting that “we have a lot to learn from the experiences and the bravery of the trans, intersex, and gender diverse community. I hope that through Gender Liberation... we shall send a message about the dignity of all people in Malta and Gozo, in the Mediterranean region, and in the world”.
The SCAR community, in its turn, hails the founding of the organization and wishes the best to Pyt and the other members of ‘Gender Liberation’ in their future efforts.
More on the work of ‘Gender Liberation’ may be found on the organization’s webpage, as well as their Facebook page:
http://www.genderliberation.com/
https://www.facebook.com/genderliberationNGO
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Dual Degree Students have a "Dual" Day of Career Development and Exploration
by Jackie Finch
On Friday, February 27, 2015, the cohort from the USA-EU Collaborative Dual Degree Program in Malta had a “dual” of a day! To start out their Career in Diplomacy exploration day, they visited the U.S. Embassy in Malta, where they observed the multi-faceted work of the U.S. Diplomats in action. They returned to campus to meet with U.S. Diplomat in Residence Terry Davidson, via Skype. They explored with him further the advantages of a career with the U.S. Department of State and learned how to apply for employment and other job options available to them upon graduation. Thanos Gatsias, the teaching coordinator explained: “The session lasted for more than an hour and the students seemed to be genuinely interested in it.” A student, Joshua Maynard, said that it was a most useful and helpful event.
The Dual Degree program combines the faculties of two renowned educational institutions: George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, the oldest and largest program of graduate conflict studies in the United States, and the University of Malta's Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, which has been offering advanced degrees in diplomacy and building bridges between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East for the past twenty-five years. The program is delivered over the course of three semesters on a full time basis beginning every September. Throughout the first two semesters, classes are held on a block basis; the third semester is devoted to the completion of dissertation/project work. If you are interested in more information, please check out the website: scar.gmu.edu/academics/maltaprogram or www.um.edu.mt/imp
###Photo: From left to right: Jenna Maynard, Nicole Eisenschenk, Durrell Quarles, Joshua Maynard, Jared Purkey, Peter Farrugia, Lauren Corboy, Roksolana Burianenko, Dr. Omar Grech from the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, Thomas Schmidt, Political, Economic, and Commercial Officer at the US Embassy and Thanos Gatsias, Teaching Coordinator. Photo: Thanos Gatsias.