FM Alert, Vol II, No. 44

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Subject: FM Alert, Vol II, No. 44

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Paulette Layton <[email protected]>

FM Alert, Vol II, No. 44


FM Alert, Vol II, No. 44
November 6, 1998
 
FMP MEETING PROVIDES BOOST FOR CIS NGO ASSOCIATION
 
Efforts to forge a network of migration-related nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) in the former Soviet Union received a boost at a
recent meeting in Moscow from international foundations. During a
meeting of consultants of the Forced Migration Projects (FMP), held on
November 2, leading local NGO representatives engaged in a substantive
dialogue with representatives of several foundations, including the
Soros Foundation-Russia, the Eurasia Foundation and the MacArthur
Foundation. "Given the current crisis, the role of the independent
sector is becoming increasingly important in the humane management of
forced migration in the former Soviet Union," said FMP Director Arthur
C. Helton. NGO representatives outlined development plans for the NGO
association. Foundation representatives, meanwhile, raised the
possibility of providing technical assistance to the nascent NGO
network. The first stage in the association's formation involves the
compilation of a report, based on an extensive survey of CIS
migration-related NGOs, on implementation of the Program of Action,
adopted at the 1996 CIS conference on migration-related issues. The
report is scheduled to be completed in spring 1999. 
(For background information see FM Alerts of July 2, June 26 and June
19).
 
UNHCR EUROPEAN BUREAU PLANS EVALUATION OF NGO FUND
 
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is planning
to evaluate the effectiveness of the Nongovernmental Organization
(NGO) Fund, a UNHCR-administered activity within the follow-up to the
1996 CIS Conference on migration-related issues. The NGO fund is
designed to stimulate NGO participation in the implementation of the
Program of Action. UNHCR's Bureau for Europe will undertake NGO Fund
monitoring, which will involve interviews with UNHCR staff, as well as
NGO and international organization representatives. In addition, the
evaluation will draw upon documentary research and on-site visits by
an intern under contract with UNHCR. Forced Migration Projects
Director Arthur C. Helton, who has urged a greater role for local NGOs
in the CIS Conference follow-up process, stressed the need to reflect
this approach in the administration of the NGO Fund. "The resources of
the NGO Fund should be used increasingly for projects instead of
meetings," Helton said. "In addition, formal advisory mechanisms
should be established to solicit the perspective of local NGOs in
making such project-oriented grants." Some international
organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe, have raised general concerns about monitoring capabilities
in connection with CIS Conference follow-up. "The issue of monitoring
is not likely to be addressed adequately in the process of the CIS
Migration Conference," OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights, said in a recent report prepared for the Human Dimension
Implementation meeting, held in October in Warsaw. "Both NGOs and
donor countries may be encouraged to consider using the OSCE fora to
voice concerns over shortcomings in the implementation of the Program
of Action." 
(For additional information see FM Alerts of October 23, August 21 and
January 9).
 
UNHCR SHIFTS TBILISI MEETING TO STRASBOURG
 
Citing security threats in Georgia, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees has revamped a meeting on the need for
reform of taxation and registration laws concerning nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) in the Caucasus region. The meeting, originally
slated to take place in mid-November in Tbilisi, has been shifted to
December in the French city of Strasbourg, headquarters of the Council
of Europe, which is one of the sponsors of the meeting, along with the
Forced Migration Projects (FMP). Sources say UNHCR possesses
substantive and credible information that the organization's personnel
in Georgia have been targeted for potential terrorist acts, including
kidnapping, by rogue forces based in neighboring Chechnya. UNHCR has
not offered an explanation as to why it has been targeted by Chechen
terrorists. The inability to hold the meeting in Georgia, a serious
setback for civil society development, has raised questions about the
utility of the meeting. "It is disturbing that freedom of association,
an issue which depends upon the rule of law, cannot even be discussed
in the region concerned because of insecurity," said FMP Director
Arthur C. Helton. "This dilemma underscores the need for investment in
the independent sector." 
(For additional information see FM Alerts of August 28, August 14 and
July 23).
 
For more information contact:
The Forced Migration Projects
400 West 59th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10019
tel: (212)548-0655
fax: (212) 548-4676
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.soros.org/migrate.html

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