Consultation Event - Council Of Somali Organisations : 25/1/10

The Somali Advocacy and Advice Network have been invited to this event; the blurb about it is as follows:

The purpose of the consultation event is to consult on the proposed development of a second tier agency (the Council of Somali Organisations) to provide infrastructure support to Somali led community organisations, and to help address issues affecting the Somali community at a regional and national level.

It takes place on Monday 25th January 2010 at Portcullis House, Westminister between 6-8pm.

The rationale behind the event is as follows:

The need for a more effective and coherent means of articulating the interests of the Somali community, is one on which there is broad and indisputable consensus. Unfortunately, and for many reasons which we do not wish to rehearse here, the Somali community has not been able to achieve this. Attempts to establish a second tier capacity, have either been poorly conceived or arisen from critical incidents. These include the aftermath of the 7/7 terrorist attacks and murders of young Somalis in London.

Whilst it is entirely understandable, that the Somali community seeks to respond to crisis situations, the total absence of a cohesive approach to national issues underscores the paucity of unity and leadership within the Somali community.

WHY IS THIS INITAITIVE TAKING PLACE NOW

Whilst it is inevitable that future critical incidents will arise, it is also important to recognise that current social, economic and political developments are likely to have a substantial effect on the Somali community in the immediate future. It is essential that the Somali community is in a better position that it has been in the past, to deal with the challenges and opportunities ahead. These factors include, but are not limited to the following.

· Social: Growth of BNP, and anti Islamic, and anti Somali sentiment in mainstream media. The Somali community is targeted for being Muslim, black African, and as a community with a large amount of asylum seekers. Add to this issues related to counter extremism, and it is clear that the Somali community is potentially liable to attack from a number of quarters. The stigmatism, which arises from this, may often be translated to direct, indirect and institutional discrimination, and can have a deleterious effect on community cohesion, and the ability to integrate into society.

· Economic: In the context of a severe economic crisis, Somali voluntary sector organisations will find an increasingly challenging operating and fundraising environment.

· Political: In 2010, there will be General and local authority elections, which will result in substantial political and social change, whoever forms the next government. The growing electoral strength of the BNP, will mean that mainstream politics will inevitably be dragged further to the right. In any event it is highly likely that the political atmosphere will militate strongly against multiculturalism and the social cohesion which this brings. The Somali community is likely to be an early victim of such changes

A report on the outcomes of the event will be posted on Tuesday 26th January .