ICAR Working Groups - Diverse in Focus and Target Regions
ICAR Working Groups - Diverse in Focus and Target Regions
ICAR supports a number of working groups dedicated to discussing and proactively addressing regional conflicts, governmental issues and other subjects of concern involving conflict related issues. The working groups highlighted here are the Middle East Working Group (MEWG), the Latin America and Caribbean Working Group (LACWG), the Africa Working Group (AWG) and the Media Working Group (MWG).
The MEWG is comprised of ICAR and George Mason University students and local community members interested in discussing and proactively addressing the different issues/conflicts existing in the Middle East Region. MEWG aims to present lectures, dialogues, working group papers and other events to promote the understanding of the complicated issues existing in the Middle East. On September 11th 2006, MEWG held a Forum called “Five Years Later, Where Are We Now?”. The event’s purpose was to bring together different perceptions and opinions from several renowned experts on 9-11, who served as panelists and it provided an opportunity for the public to express their opinions in a constructive environment. After the presentations, the panel participated in a dialogue with the audience, which led to a deeper analysis and understanding of the events of September 11th. In the upcoming year MEWG is planning to hold a variety of events on specific countries within the Middle East that are dealing with conflict situations.
The LACWG was established in the 1990s and primarily focuses on both structural and violent conflicts in the Latin America and Caribbean Region. The group also addresses issues of importance to Diaspora communities from Latin America and the Caribbean.
The group has hosted speakers and conducted several brown bag events on topics related to the Latin American and Caribbean region, as well as specific countries. LACWG events conducted to date include annual summer training sessions in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS) through an OAS Fellowship program. The most recent event was a presentation on the conflict in Colombia, by representatives of the Columbia Christian Peacemaker Team. Projects planned for 2007 include an event on Immigration, a dialogue with the Cuban Diaspora in Miami, and a Haitian - Dominican Republic Dialogue.
The AWG is a George Mason University-based association of students of conflict analysis and resolution, activists, and academic practitioners interested in fostering an in-depth understanding of contemporary Africa in the global community. Through advocacy, activism, and research the AWG explores both the emerging challenges facing Africa as well as the role of various agents in mitigating conflict and promoting peace, justice and sustainable development.
The AWG presented a career-focused panel discussion on the topic, “Making a Difference, Making a Living.” This highly interactive expert presentation featured senior representatives from key Washington DC-based organizations dealing with various components of peace, justice and development in Africa. The program is part of a series of activities organized by the Africa Working Group to introduce students to recent trends in the management and resolution of conflict in Africa and career choices available upon graduation. It is also a unique opportunity for participating organizations to share their work with a wider audience and to build a resourceful constituency among graduate students interested in the nexus between peace, justice and development.
The MWG recently hosted Ferial Masry, who presented “Experiences of a Saudi- American Woman”. Masry related accounts of her life, which began in the Holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and spanned the continents of Africa, Europe, and the United States. The complexity of Ferial’s multi-identities as a mother, a Muslim woman, an anti-war activist, high school teacher; and candidate for the California State Assembly, were touched on during her presentation. She also shared the personal story of her son going to fight in Iraq under the American flag. Masry ultimately failed in her bid for a seat in the California State Assembly, however, she captured the imagination of many in the Arab world who were inspired by her candidacy, to forge their own path in the pursuit of democracy.
At another event, the MWG invited, Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim of Egypt to facilitate a discussion at ICAR, on democracy in the Middle East and the United State’s key role in the region. Many Arabs are committed to improving the political climate in their respective countries and most pay a hefty price for their work in advancing democracy. Dr. Ibrahim was imprisoned as a result of his advocacy of human rights and equality in the Egyptian political system. However, neither imprisonment nor the destruction of his Ibn Khaldoun Center by the Egyptian security forces have curtailed his efforts in this arena. Though he was saddened by the loss of a lifetime’s work at the Center, he is more determined to forge ahead. Dr. Ibrahim concluded his presentation with a reminder to the U.S. Government of it’s responsibility toward the advancement of democracy in the Middle East.