People’s Forum, a key component of event:

CHOGM will showcase Lanka’s potential to global community

By Manjula Fernando

One of the three key components of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be the civil society represented by the Commonwealth People's Forum (CPF) to be held in the run-up to the main CHOGM summit.

As well as the Youth Forum and the Business Forum, which would play an important role in shaping the outcome of the Commonwealth Heads main summit - the policy document that outlines the goals of the Commonwealth states during the next two-year term - the People's Forum has its unique say.

The CPF this year will be held for five days from November 10 to 14. It lasted just two days in Perth, Australia in 2011. The reason for the extended 2013 agenda is, first, due to the enthusiasm shown by international civil society groups to visit Sri Lanka and tour the country to see what goes on in this tiny island which has gained a lot of publicity lately due to the successful ending of decades-old terrorism and also negative propaganda. Secondly, to give an opportunity to project the country's true potential to the world.

Two days have been allocated for field visits by the delegates to four areas of the country; North, South, East and Uva.

Head of the Commonwealth People's Forum Subcommittee Dr. Lalith Chandradasa spoke to the Sunday Observer last week on the forthcoming event to enlighten the readers as to what the CPF is and the significance of the event.

Q: What is the Commonwealth People's Forum?

A: Commonwealth institutions have various other sub-sectors - the youth sector, business sector and community-based organisations which comprise civil society.

The People's Forum represents the civil society sector, which is neither government nor political.

The Commonwealth considers civil society as an alternate government. The common man elects the government, but his role shouldn't stop at that, is the underlying message. In the West or developed countries, the civil society looks after the rights of the people. The People's Forum will foster this objective.

In the run-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the three fora; Business, People and Youth will have their own sessions as side events, to take stock of what is relevant to each sector and come out with a set of recommendations for the Heads of State to ponder at the main summit, from November 15 to 17.

We will deliberate on various subjects relevant to the Commonwealth countries and we will come up with a document to be presented to the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers. They will, in turn, submit it to the Heads of Government.

It consists of civil society suggestions as to what should be the direction of the Commonwealth during the next two years.

This year, Sri Lanka is the hosting country, and also by virtue of the fact of being the host, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the Chairperson of the Commonwealth for the next two years. What we will deliberate at the People's Forum will outline the actions the civil society expects of the leaders to consider when the Commonwealth policy for the next two years is finalised. This is the basic idea of having the people's forum.

Growth with equity

Q: What is the theme of the CPF this year and what are the reasons behind selecting this particular theme?

A: Our theme for this year is ‘Growth with equity, exclusive development beyond 2015'. By 2015, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will have to be achieved. The first deadline for MDGs proposed in 2000 was in 2010.

Since many countries did not achieve this target, the deadline was extended by another five years, till 2015. By 2013, most countries still haven't achieved the MDGs. Sri Lanka too is yet to realise the targets, though it is far ahead of most other countries.

Now is the time for us to look back and reflect on the adjustments needed to make the development goals achievable.

From the MDGs, the world community will move into Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A committee has been appointed by the UN to discuss what the SDG goals should be. The MDGs could not be achieved since they lacked reference to governance among other things.

A section of the audience at the Commonwealth People’s Forum held in Perth, Australia in 2011.

Therefore, the failure of MDGs will be our broad topic. It will be covered under governance, women's empowerment, migration, reconciliation and creative expression

There will be world-renowned speakers on each topic to lead the sessions followed by panel discussions and deliberations. Finally, a declaration will be put together.

Q: Is there anything unique about the Forum this year? Is the Sri Lanka agenda different from the four CPFs held before?

A: This is not a discussion on Sri Lanka. The topics will cover issues affecting the Commonwealth of nations. However, since this is held in Sri Lanka, we will take special measures to showcase the country to the delegates and via them, to the world. The intention of hosting CHOGM in Sri Lanka is to showcase its true picture and potential to the global community.

We will take the delegates to four parts of the country and let them experience the culture, the lifestyles of the locals and the efforts under way to develop the country after nearly 30 years of terrorism.

One group will go to Jaffna. They will have the opportunity to witness how the reconciliation process is taking its course and the magnitude of the infrastructure development.

Another group will go to Batticaloa in the Eastern Province. They will witness the peaceful co-existence of people of the three communities; Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim. Jaffna is yet to get there.

Another team will go to Uva. Human development in the plantation sector will be one component of this tour. The plantation sector workers, brought by the British during the colonial era to work as slaves, have now been empowered and given recognition. Their representative is in Parliament today. These are the positive developments the country would want to showcase. They will also be taken through the tea manufacturing process and the popular tea tasting session.

A second group to Uva will witness rural development in Moneragala, which is the least developed district in the country.The fourth group will go to the South, to Galle and Hambantota, where they will be exposed to how women's empowerment takes place, non-governmental organisations' participation in this sector, on micro-credit schemes and home-based industries.These visits will take place on November 13 and 14, after the main sessions.

More enthusiasm

Q: How many participants do you expect for the CPF this time?

A: There are already applications for registration from nearly 170 international delegates, and 120 local delegates. So we are expecting between 300 and 350 delegates. I have been told that there is more enthusiasm shown by the civil society for the People's Forum in Sri Lanka than for those held before. Four People's Forums had been held before.

Q: Who will be the notable invitees for the CPF?

A: People who are renowned in their fields will take part. Each session will be led by one keynote speaker, who will take about 30-40 minutes. Then, there will be a 45-minute question and answer session.

Q: What will happen on the opening day?

A: The Forum will be inaugurated by President Rajapaksa on November 10 at the Galle Fort. The sessions will continue at Chaaya Traanz, Hikkaduwa.

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat Kamalesh Sharma will also attend this event.

Several Heads of State have shown interest in taking part in the People's Forum. It is expected that Prince Charles will also attend at least one session.

Q: Who are the organisers and sponsors of the event?

A: There is a fee of US$ 120 for registration for the CPF. Most local NGOs cannot foot this bill and are therefore sponsored by the Telecom Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka upon President Rajapaksa's request.

The event is organised jointly by the Commonwealth Foundation and the People's Forum Subcommittee from Sri Lanka. It is hosted by a number of NGOs - Sarvodaya, Seva Lanka, Federation of Local Government Institutions and others - with Government assistance.There is a cultural component to the Forum where performances featuring the eight provinces will be held. This too is sponsored.