Zimbabwe World Conference

Conferences Committee Report to the General Meeting on Global Conference, Harare, Zimbabwe, 28 July - 2 August 2002

IFSW General Meeting, 25-27 July 2000 Montréal, Québec, Canada

Member associations will be aware of recent political events in Zimbabwe and the associated reports of civil unrest. As part of a process of a routine review of progress made by the conference organising committee, the IFSW Executive has determined that member associations should be provided with up to date information relevant to the conference.

Planning for this event has now been underway since the Jerusalem meeting in 1998 and the conferences committee, along with the Executive has been considering a number of issues that have been raised. These are reported on as follows.

In determining the viability of any conference the Executive are mindful of the following factors

Financial viability Quality of programme Opportunity for associated events National political concerns Attractions which encourage attendance Contingency planning Risk management Organisational and administrative elements

During the course of the recent Executive meeting the conferences committee has evaluated the impact of the recent events in Zimbabwe and is satisfied that the organising committee has taken adequate note of these events in its planning to date.

A programme of ongoing review has been set up which is intended to ensure that any change of circumstances, which might impact on the conference, would be immediately evaluated and reported to IFSW.

Specific concerns, which have been identified, include human rights issues; the personal safety of participants; the possibility of financial threat due to low participation and other economic considerations.

An on site review of progress it to take place in October 2000 by which time budgetary projections will have been finalised.

It is important that any member association who may have concerns regarding the national political situation in Zimbabwe should make this known during the discussion at this General Meeting.

Buster Curson
Conferences Committee Convenor