Virtual Forum Announcement: February 13th, 2021

Forum Topic: United States Senate Resolution 684: The International Implications, Opportunities

and Contribution of Parliaments to Peace and Security.

Date: Saturday, February 13, 2021                      Time: 11:00 am Eastern Time

The ongoing civil war in Anglophone Cameroon has been an epicenter of human right violations in Africa for over three years, with the potential of triggering instability across the border with Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. Fighting between Cameroon Government forces and separatists armed groups has resulted in the murder of over 3,000 reported civilians and thousands of others unreported or undocumented. More than 700,000 internally displaced persons, and over 70,000 refugees. More than one million children are out of school, over 400 villages razed, and more than two million are in need of humanitarian assistance. In January 2021 alone, the killing of at least 40 unarmed civilians including children, women and students in the English speaking parts of the country were reported.

The passing of U.S. Senate Resolution 684 provides an opportunity to engage international actors towards a sustainable solution to the armed conflict in the English speaking regions of Cameroon. This virtual forum will explore the implications, leverages, and opportunities for international stakeholders to engage in achieving the objectives laid out in the resolution.

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The panelists for this forum are:

Opening Remarks: Representative Karen Bass, Chairperson, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, House Foreign Affairs Committee, United States Congress.

Panel 1:  Overview of U.S. Senate Resolution 684 and Potential Next Steps      11:00 am Eastern Time

1. John Tomaszewski (“JT”): Lead Professional Staff Member on Sub-Saharan Africa at the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Panel 2:   International Advocacy on Resolution 684: Prospects and Actions       11:30 Am Eastern Time

1. Senator Beatrice Makori: Member of the National Security, Defense and Foreign Relations Committee of the Kenyan Senate;
2. Hon. Darren Bergman: Member of the Foreign Relations and Cooperation Committee of the South African Parliament, Vice-Chair: Democracy, Governance & human rights, SADC Parliamentary Forum, Member of Liberal International Human Rights Committee;
3. Hon. Sebastien Nadot: Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French Parliament;
4. Gambian MP: TBC

Panel 3:  Salient Aspects of Resolution 684 for Ending the Conflict & Restoring Justice and Peace.  12:20 pm Eastern Time.

1. Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh: Senior Associate and Regional Director for West and Central Africa at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Member of the CDN’s Advisory Board;
2. Dr. Chris Roberts: Foreign Policy Analyst and Political Science Instructor, University of Calgary, Canada;
3. Ms. Iffat Rahman: Human Rights Advocate, Special Representative of the African Bar Association;
4. Kyra Fox: Research Assistant: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Center for the Prevention of Genocide.

Moderators:

Judith Nwana: Co-chair, Coalition for Dialogue and Negotiations, Senior Telecoms Officer leading the delivery, contracts and vendor management of global telecoms links at the World Bank Group.

Henry Atem: Steering Committee Member, Coalition for Dialogue and Negotiations, Executive Director at the United States Center for Electoral Support (USICES) and directs the programs and projects of the organization globally.