المؤتمر الرابع لملتقى أيوا (٣-٥ سبتمبر) نيو جيرسي USA

Conference of Iowa Forum for Democratic Transformation in the Sudan
September 3-5, 2011
KEAN University
1000 Morris Avenue
Union, New Jersey 07083
908-737-KEAN (5326)


Conference Program

Friday, September 2, 2011

Reception of arriving participants by hosting committee

19:00-20:00 – Reception Dinner - Registration during the evening

20:15-21:15 – Meeting of Organizing Committee

Saturday, September 3, 2011
Registration before the start of sessions and continues during the day

9:00-10:00 - Speeches and Messages from Sudanese Political Leaders
First Panel:
10:00-12:00 – Governance Crisis in the Sudan and US Policy
• Keynote speakers:: Congressman Donald Payne; Mr. Tom Andrews, President of Genocide Intervention Network/Save Darfur Coalition
• Crisis of Governance in the Sudan: Root causes, possible solutions and the way out
• US policy toward the Sudan: principals, objectives, impact, current and future trends
• Role of the International Community: The UN, AU and other organizations in addressing the crisis
Moderator: Amb. Abdelmajeed Ali Hassan
Speakers: Linda Bishai, Senior Program Officer, US Institute of Peace; Dr. Sharon Silber; Ambassador Mohamed Elmakki Ibrahim; Omer Gamar Ismail (Enough),

Second Panel:
12:00-13:30 – Independence of the South, wars in Darfur and Southern Kordofan and Situation in Eastern Sudan

• Independence of Southern Sudan: Its implications for the two states, pending issues, future relations and challenges ahead.
• Issues of Southern Kordofan, Darfur, Blue Nile and Eastern Sudan: urgency of action and prospects of resolution in the light of current situation

Moderator: Osman Abou Jenna

Speakers: Representative of SSG; Amin Zakaria for SPLM North Sector ; Abdelgadir Kurba for Nuba Mountains Solidarity ; Dr. Amir Idris, University of Fordham, NY, Dr. Motassim Ahmed Salih, Mohamed Tahir Abou Bakr

13:30-14:25 - Lunch will be served at premises

14:30 – 15:15 - Paying Tribute to the late Abdallah Eddabi and Hassan Mostafa Elfaki - dedicated members of the Iowa Forum

Third Panel:
15:15-17:15 – Human Rights and Transitional Justice
• Abuses of human rights in the Sudan: Genocide, killings, torture, rape as a weapon of war in Sudan.. Where is the UN Special Raporteur on human rights in the Sudan? Where are the people who pledged, “Never again”?
• Transitional Justice: challenges and possibilities, the role ICC.

Moderator: Dr. Osama Osman
Speakers: Dr. Suleiman Baldo, Jackie Wilson, Neimat Ahmadai; Representatives of Amnesty International, Africa Watch, AAFAT, SHRN
Forth Panel:
17:25-19:25 – Creating a Sudanese American Network for Action
• Creating a vigorous nationwide network of Sudanese and American advocacy groups to inform the public opinion and decision makers on the Sudanese issues. Bringing about peace, support of democratic change, rule of law, respect of human rights and protection of civilians in war zones and refugees. Role of Concerned Sudanese and American scholars

Moderator: Bashir Bakkar
Speakers: Dr. Ahmed Tarawa, Nasreddin Hajjam, Omer Ismail, Mohamed Jad Kareem, other representatives of civil society groups

Sunday, September 4, 2011

First Panel
10:00-11:30 – Press and Information

• Continuous suppression of freedom of expression. Prosecution and torture of journalists. Role of the press and the media in the struggle for change. Ways of access to the media
Moderator: Najat Abdessalam
Speakers: Salah Shu’aib; Abdelfattah Arman; other journalists

Second Panel:
11:30-13:30 – Role of religion, Future of democracy

• Sudan Islamists, violence and politics, future direction for Sudan
• Future of opposition action and Sudanese opposition in light of Arab uprisings
Moderator: Hisham Habbani
Speakers: Dr. Abdullahi Gallab, Arizona State University; Dr. Hisham Osman; Osama Khalaf Allah;Mujahid Hassan Taha; Adil Ali Salih

13:30-14:15 - Lunch

Third Panel:
14:15-15:45 – External Threats
• Threats of foreign interests in the Sudan: land Graps, El Gezira Scheme problems, lands of the Northern Providence, dams, problems of Nile waters, Egyptians Sudanese relations
Moderator: Waleed Ibrahim
Speakers: Siddig Abdelhadi, Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim, Nureddin Mannan

Forth Panel:
16:00-17:30 – Status of Women in the Sudan
• Terrible status of women under the current regime. Violence against women. Flogging, rape. How to stop oppression of and violence against women
Moderator: Dr. Hanan Ettahir
Speakers: Dr. Souad Ali, Arizona State University, Eman Badreddin, Ithar Abou Taha
17:30 – 18:00 Honoring Dr. Omer Elgarray and writers and journalists who are giving voice to the people’s conscience and defending human rights
Fifth Session:
18:00-20:00 – Conclusion and Recommendations
Moderator: Dr. Jamal Ballal

21:00-23:00 – Musical Concert

Monday, September 5, 2011

Final Session:
9:00-10:00 – Endorsement of Conclusions and Recommendations; Final Statement


Note on accommodation:
The perpetration committee has made an agreement with a hotel close to the conference venue which offered a discount rate of $ 79 for a room that can accommodate 2 or 3 persons. The hotel is:

Kenilworth Inn (908) 241-4100
D-DBL/DBL Non-Smoking
IOWA, FORUM
60 south 31ST ST.
Garden State Parkway exit 138
KENILWORTH, NJ 07033

Contact: 973-444-3536
Email: [email protected]