At the heart of the discussions will be the importance of civil society in bringing about change and in helping to build democracy in the region, as well as current challenges to the democratic transition, such as the rise of Islamist movements. Furthermore, the conference will address the situation of civil rights and liberties in the region, such as women’s rights, the right to freedom of expression and freedom of information. Special attention will be given to the much debated topic of constitutional reform, with an entire session devoted to this subject.

Alongside participants from the two Schools, the conference will bring together renowned academics and experts in the fields of political science and human rights, as well as civil society activists, from Morocco and Tunisia, and from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania and Jordan.

This seminar, with a diverse group of panelists and participants from a variety of countries in the Arab World and drawing from different fields of expertise, is the first in a series of planned events by the Tunisian and Moroccan Schools to develop a regional dimension for the MENA region. The next regional seminar is envisaged to be held in Morocco in 2014.