Publications

Democratization, Human Rights, and Good Governance in Africa:
French, American, and African Perspectives
June 3, 1998

Agenda*

The Council on Foreign Relations
The Root Room
1779 Massachusettes Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036 (USA)

June 3, 1998

Welcome and Introduction
Carl Gershman, President, National Endowment for Democracy
Salih Booker, Director, Africa Studies Program, Council on Foreign Relations

National Objectives and Strategies

Moderator:
   Paula Dobriansky, Vice President and Director, Washington Office, Council on Foreign Relations
Presentations:
   John Carson, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa
   Jean-Claude Faure, Directeur de Cabinet de Monsieur le Ministre de la Coopération et de la Francophonie
   Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Executive Secretary, Global Coalition for Africa

Session I: State Institutions

Moderator:
   Christine Desouches, Déléguée Générale à la Coopération Juridique at Judiciaire, Agence de la Francophonie
Panels:
   Jennifer Windsor, Deputy Director, Center for Democracy and Governance, U.S. Agency for International Development
French Assistance to African Parliaments: Lessons Learned
   Jacques Legendre, Member, French Senate and Secrétaire Général de l'Association des Parlementaires de Langue Française
Democratic Government in Africa
   Robert Dossou, Former Foreign Minister of Benin
Respondents:
   I. William Zartman, Director, African Studies and Conflict Management Programs, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University
French Support for Good Governance in Africa
   Didier Maus, Director, l'Institut International d'Administration Publique
A Critique of Democracy Programs
   Celestin Monga, Country Economist for Burkina Faso, The World Bank

Luncheon and Addresses

Chair:
Donald M. Payne, Member, U.S. House of Representatives

Speakers:
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Special Envoy for Promotion of Democracy in Africa, U.S. Department of State
Amo Houghton, Member, U.S. House of Representatives

Session II: Civil Society

Moderator:
   Herman Cohen, Senior Advisor for External Affairs, Global Coalition for Africa
Panels:
New Approaches to Supporting Democratic Civil Society in Africa
   Dave Peterson, Senior Program Officer for Africa, National Endowment for Democracy
French Support for Elections and Political Parties
   Guy Labertit, Fondation Jean-Jaurès
The Pan-African Human Rights Movement
   René Degni Segui, Former Président, Ligue Ivoirienne des Droits de l'Homme, and former U.N. Special Rapporteur on Rwanda
Respondents:
   Gay McDougall, Executive Director, International Human Rights Law Group
   Djovi Gally, Former Ministre des Droits de l'Homme et de la Réhabilitation, Togo

Session III: Concluding Discussion
The Way Forward: French, American, and African Cooperation to Promote Democracy

Moderator:
   Learned Dees, Program Officer for Africa, National Endowment for Democracy
Panel:
   Salih Booker, Director, Africa Studies Program, Council on Foreign Relations
   Gérard Conac, Visiting Fellow, International Forum for Democratic Studies
   Ayo Sadikou Alao, President, GERRDES-Africa    Chris Fomunyoh, Director for West Africa, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs

June 4, 1998
Round Table Discussion

Venue:
   National Endowment for Democracy
   1101 15th Street, NW, Suite 700
   Washington, DC 20005 (USA)

Topic One: Follow-up from Conference: Convergences and Differences in Perspectives

Moderator:
Salih Booker

Topic Two: Areas of Follow-up: Proposals for Action

Moderator: Carl Gershman

* Some affiliations have changed since the time of the conference. Please see the list of Conference Participants on page 30 for current affiliations.