Secretariat

Forum membership

The Forum unites representatives of civil society whose activities are directed toward assisting in the peaceful regulation of the situation in the Chechen Republic. Due to a certain fragmentation of these local forces, it is essential to work with a wide representation of civic actors in order to build successfully on this common ground that exists between them.

The 25 delegates attending the founding conference in Switzerland represent a significant part of the broad spectrum of Chechen civil society today. They have  committed themselves to an ambitious process seeking to consolidate civic forces within their society. The challenges inherent in this process are immense.

In light of these challenges, membership of the Forum is limited at this early stage. It is essential that mechanisms for coordination and collaboration are well-established and function effectively in this formative period. Therefore, in addition to the delegates, only those civic actors who have been involved in the Forum process to date are being considered at present.

Membership is open to all representatives and actors of Chechen civil society who share the views and stated goals as elaborated by the Forum. State officials are consequently excluded from Forum membership.

Coordination committee

The Coordination Committee is elected from among the members of the Forum and is comprised of at least five members. At present, the greatest need for this coordination is in the region, hence a team has been elected in Grozny for this purpose. As above, the issue of representativeness is an important consideration.

The coordinators organize bi-monthly meetings which are attended by Forum members who are living or working in the region. Information relating to these activities are regularly transmitted to the secretariat which additionally coordinates with those who are unable to attend (Forum members outside the North Caucasus or Russian Federation).  

Secretariat

The secretariat of the Forum was elected for an interim period at the Society for Threatened Peoples, Switzerland. It fulfils those tasks delegated to it by other organs and coordinates the activities of Forum members and organs.  

Friends of the Forum

Friends of the Forum are diverse civil society actors who share the goals and values of the Forum and are prepared to support the Forum by giving their name (publicly) and/or knowledge for the good of the activities of the Forum. Friends of the Forum appear in the capacity of consultants and are not members.