CIVICUS is an international Non-Governmental Organisation
established in 1993 to “nurture the
foundation, growth and protection of citizen action throughout the
world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’
freedom of association are threatened.” Jack McConnell, Scotland�s First
Minister launched the Assembly, saying that the Assembly had been
working for ten years on changing lives by opening up opportunities for
ordinary people to get involved in their communities, and that he was
delighted that CIVICUS had chosen Scotland to be at the heart of their
work.
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Robert Pickles, Access Development Officer
for the Scottish Disability Equality Forum had been invited back in
January to organise a “Learning Exchange”; an opportunity for delegates
from all over the world to meet with people doing “interesting
things” in their community. The intention was to showcase the work of
different Access Panels in different types of places.
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East Ayrshire, Falkirk, Aberdeen and
Shetland Panels were invited, being regarded as “models of excellence”.
Shetlanders Gillian Spanswick and Karen Angus recently
represented the Shetland Access Panel at the CIVICUS World Assembly
being hosted by Scotland over the next three years.
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