The Aswatona Fund for Media Development, a 1.5m Euro multi-partner regional funding initiative to enhance independent media sector in the Maghreb and the Mashreq, was launched June 5.

This project is part of the European Union funded programme “Media and culture for development” which supports the efforts of the Southern Mediterranean countries’ in building deep-rooted democracy and to contribute to their sustainable economic, social and human development, through regional co-operation in the fields of media and culture.

When Libya won this year’s African Nations Championship on 1 February it had a rare uniting effect on the troubled country. But only for that one evening. Three years on from the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi, divisions in Libya are deepening and putting the nascent media sector under severe pressure

Division and tensions
Libya’s politicians have so far been unable to deliver progress in several much-needed areas. This is due in part to a Congress deadlocked in continued political infighting between those who sympathise with the Muslim Brotherhood and the leading nationalist party.

As the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Libyan National Congress should adopt a law recognising victims of rape during the conflict as victims of war crimes. The adoption of this law represents an opportunity to recognise the gravity of these offences and to provide some redress to victims.

Since the World Social Forum that was held in Tunisia, significant political and social changes have taken place in the region and the world. These developments challenge the social movements, and we require more consultations to determine our future strategies, particularly concerning the dynamics of social forums.

At the same time, it is important to make an assessment of the organization of the WSF, Tunisia in 2013 and draw lessons for the Maghreb-Mashreq region, and our positioning in the process of social forums.

Therefore, we invite you to a meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Maghreb-Mashreq Social Forum on September 6th, 7th and 8th, 2013 in Tunis.
The agenda proposal is the following: