Arab Democracy Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Arab Democracy Foundation (ADF) is an independent international Arab civil society
organization advocating democracy
as a culture
, a way of life, and the best system for good governance
. ADF was established on May 27, 2007 at the initiative of Arab democracy advocates, and with support from the State of Qatar
which accepted to host ADF's headquarters. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned
announced the birth of ADF and currently chairs its Board of Trustees.
and to increase the citizens’ awareness of, and commitment to, their legitimate rights. ADF uses all ways and means that fall in line with its objectives. It does not side with, or acts against, any Arab regime.
ADF resources come from the contributions of its founders, as well as from donations, grants, endowments
, subscriptions, earnings, and other forms of financial support approved the Board of Trustees.
Board of Trustees
The highest executive body of the ADF. It is currently composed of 15 members.
The Board of Trustees (BoT) draws the ADF general policy, adopts its plan of action and budget
, appoints its senior officials, and regularly reviews the programs and projects included in its Plan of Action.
The BoT meets at least once a year. An Executive Committee, composed of Board members, acts for the Board during the interim between BoT meetings.
Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned
is currently the Chair of the Board with Dr. Salim El Hoss as her Vice-Chair. Until 26 January 2009, the late Dr. Aziz Sidqi was the Board’s Vice-Chair.
The other trustees are: Dr. Ali Fakhro, Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Emma Bonino
, Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Mary Robinson
, Dr. Hasan Al-Ibrahim, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall
, Dr. Mohammed Abed al-Jabri
, Joschka Fischer
, Sadiq al-Mahdi
, Dr. Azmi Bishara
, and Amat Al Alim Alsoswa
.
Executive Committee
The Board members choose from among them a five-member Executive Committee, headed by the Board president or her deputy, or by any other member chosen by the Board. The Secretary-General of ADF is also member of the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee has the full authority of the Board of Trustees, and is directly responsible before the Board. The Committee meets at least four times a year, upon the invitation of its president or his deputy.
The Executive Committee follows up the work of the Secretariat General and the ADF, and submits periodic reports to the Board of Trustees. For the purposes of its work, the Executive Committee may create specialized, ad hoc or standing, committees.
Dr. Ali Fakhro currently chairs the Executive Committee which includes: Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Dr. Hasan Al-Ibrahim, and Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, as well as the Secretary-General.
Secretariat-General
The executive body of the ADF, headed by a full-time Secretary-General
, pursuant to a Board decision. The Secretariat-General includes divisions in charge of program and research, financial and administrative affairs, public relations and information.
Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh al-Marry served as ADF's first Secretary-General (May 2007-March 2008). Mohsen Marzouk is ADF's second and current Secretary-General (March 2008–present).
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
organization advocating democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
as a culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
, a way of life, and the best system for good governance
Good governance
Good governance is an indeterminate term used in development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. Governance describes "the process of decision-making and the process by which...
. ADF was established on May 27, 2007 at the initiative of Arab democracy advocates, and with support from the State of Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
which accepted to host ADF's headquarters. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned
Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned
Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, DBE is the second of the three wives of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.-Early life and education:Sheikha Mozah was born in the coastal city Al Khor in northern Qatar...
announced the birth of ADF and currently chairs its Board of Trustees.
Mission & Resources
ADF aims at promoting democracy in the Arab region. It provides material and moral support to organizations and activists in this field, by using all possible peaceful means, and by channeling all human and financial resources available at the local, regional and international levels. ADF also seeks to disseminate the culture of human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and to increase the citizens’ awareness of, and commitment to, their legitimate rights. ADF uses all ways and means that fall in line with its objectives. It does not side with, or acts against, any Arab regime.
ADF resources come from the contributions of its founders, as well as from donations, grants, endowments
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
, subscriptions, earnings, and other forms of financial support approved the Board of Trustees.
Management
The Forum on Democracy and Reform in the Arab World, held every three years, serves as a general assembly from which the ADF Board of Trustees emanates.Board of Trustees
The highest executive body of the ADF. It is currently composed of 15 members.
The Board of Trustees (BoT) draws the ADF general policy, adopts its plan of action and budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
, appoints its senior officials, and regularly reviews the programs and projects included in its Plan of Action.
The BoT meets at least once a year. An Executive Committee, composed of Board members, acts for the Board during the interim between BoT meetings.
Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned
Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned
Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, DBE is the second of the three wives of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.-Early life and education:Sheikha Mozah was born in the coastal city Al Khor in northern Qatar...
is currently the Chair of the Board with Dr. Salim El Hoss as her Vice-Chair. Until 26 January 2009, the late Dr. Aziz Sidqi was the Board’s Vice-Chair.
The other trustees are: Dr. Ali Fakhro, Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Emma Bonino
Emma Bonino
Emma Bonino is an Italian politician, former Member of the European Parliament and current Member of the Italian Senate. She is a leading member of the Italian Radicals, a political party that supports economic and social libertarianism, and human rights...
, Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
, Dr. Hasan Al-Ibrahim, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall
Ely Ould Mohamed Vall
Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall is a political and military figure in Mauritania. He served as the transitional military leader of Mauritania following a coup d'état in August 2005 until 19 April 2007, when he relinquished power to an elected government....
, Dr. Mohammed Abed al-Jabri
Mohammed Abed al-Jabri
Mohammed Abed Al-Jabri was a contemporary Moroccan critic and professor of philosophy and Islamic thought in Mohammed V University in Rabat. He was also an expert in Arabic and Arabic literature. He is considered to have been one of the major intellectual figures in the contemporary Arab world. He...
, Joschka Fischer
Joschka Fischer
Joseph Martin "Joschka" Fischer is a German politician of the Alliance '90/The Greens. He served as Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany in the cabinet of Gerhard Schröder from 1998 to 2005...
, Sadiq al-Mahdi
Sadiq al-Mahdi
Sadiq al-Mahdi is a Sudanese political and religious figure...
, Dr. Azmi Bishara
Azmi Bishara
Azmi Bishara , a former member of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, is a Palestinian intellectual, academic, politician, and writer.In 2007, Bishara fled Israel and resigned from the Knesset after being questioned by police on suspicion of aiding and passing information to the enemy during...
, and Amat Al Alim Alsoswa
Amat Al Alim Alsoswa
Amat Al Alim Alsoswa is a Yemeni politician. She currently serves as the Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator of United Nations Development Program and Director of its Regional Bureau for Arab States....
.
Executive Committee
The Board members choose from among them a five-member Executive Committee, headed by the Board president or her deputy, or by any other member chosen by the Board. The Secretary-General of ADF is also member of the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee has the full authority of the Board of Trustees, and is directly responsible before the Board. The Committee meets at least four times a year, upon the invitation of its president or his deputy.
The Executive Committee follows up the work of the Secretariat General and the ADF, and submits periodic reports to the Board of Trustees. For the purposes of its work, the Executive Committee may create specialized, ad hoc or standing, committees.
Dr. Ali Fakhro currently chairs the Executive Committee which includes: Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Dr. Hasan Al-Ibrahim, and Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, as well as the Secretary-General.
Secretariat-General
The executive body of the ADF, headed by a full-time Secretary-General
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
, pursuant to a Board decision. The Secretariat-General includes divisions in charge of program and research, financial and administrative affairs, public relations and information.
Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh al-Marry served as ADF's first Secretary-General (May 2007-March 2008). Mohsen Marzouk is ADF's second and current Secretary-General (March 2008–present).