Chairman of National Civil Society Observatory Benbraham sets up body’ short-term priorities
By: Hana Saada
ALGIERS– The newly-appointed Chairman of the National Civil Society Observatory, Noureddine Benbraham, announced, from Illizi province, the official launch of the national civil society forum for dialogue, citizenship and local development in favor of associations and various civil society activities in Algeria. This initiative will provide an opportunity for leaders and affiliates of civil society activities to participate in the development and promotion of associations’ performance in Algeria, and the embodiment of participatory democracy with innovative approaches.
Mr. Benbraham stressed that this forum “materializes the broad vision of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to strengthen the security environment through dialogue and the exchange of ideas in respect of differences of opinion to be expressed freely”, adding that forums will be opened, in less than 6 months, in 58 provinces.
The Chairman indicated that this forum “comes shortly after the meeting of the President of the Republic with the walis, during which he stressed the importance of dialogue”. “The forum will have a character of dialogue and exchange of ideas and opinions to find common solutions to development problems in the wilayas and municipalities”. The forum, he stressed, “will not be limited, within the framework of its activities, to direct meetings in closed rooms, but will also be extended to social networks and digital platforms.”
He estimated, in another meeting in Guelma, that, in the coming months, a network of civil society will be set up to pave the way for debate and fruitful ideas on issues of interest to citizens. The president of the National Civil Society Observatory considered that “the idea of a forum has proven to be the best suited to integrate civil society into participatory democracy for local development, as an alternative to local representation, thanks to the creation of local organic structures of the Observatory which has 62 members, namely 50 representatives of associations and 12 representatives of sectors coming under the government”.
The Observatory is an advisory body, placed under the President of the Republic. This organ comes to reinforce the role of civil society in Algeria, being a framework for dialogue, consultation, proposal, analysis and foresight on all questions relating to civil society and the promotion of its action. The Observatory, whose headquarters is located in Algiers, has legal status and financial autonomy.
According to the article 4 of the presidential decree 21-139, “The Observatory contributes to the promotion of national values and democratic and civic practice and participates along with other institutions in the achievement of national development objectives. It issues opinions, recommendations and proposals on the situation and concerns of civil society and the mechanisms for strengthening its role in public life.
