Invitation to "Solidarity and Struggle: Affirming Equality, Civil Society and Democracy" Event at Maynooth University, 11 Sept

Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute invites you to join us for an important deliberative event, "Solidarity and Struggle: Affirming Equality, Civil Society and Democracy," on Wednesday, 11September 2024, from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM at Maynooth University's TSI 2.10, North Campus.

This event will bring together a diverse range of civil society organizations, NGOs, and community groups to reflect on the current pressures and threats to democracy and equality. It will provide a facilitated space to discuss the challenges and strategies for defending and affirming these vital principles.

Over the past decade,  since austerity and particularly over the last years many in civil society are experiencing a pressured civil space in their  work for equality and social cohesion.  Post the 2024 referendum and local and European elections Maynooth University are working with civil society to provide a  facilitated space to discuss current realities in and  pressures or tensions to civil society, the challenges people are experiencing and the strategies that can enable civil society most effectively.  

We recognise experiences are different for different groups / organisations/ communities –  there are internal as well as external tensions in peoples work, and  different experiences and analysis frames different expectations.  People also work in local, national and international contexts. However there is common ground in the realities people are experiencing and in how  people could benefit from the opportunity to analyse the situation, to explore the challenges,  hear from each other about resilient actions on the ground,  reflect on experiences and discuss responses and strategies.

Internal pressures include  frantic busyness,  low morale,  fragmentation and working in silos.  Some of the external pressures  or experiences include working with new forms of social media, issues of state regulation and power from above, new forms of organising,  delegitimating and weaponisation of civil society,  targeting of   LGBTQI +,   race and  women’s equality,  and a more violent society.

Key details:

• Date & Time: September 11, 2024, 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Registration starts at 9:30 AM)
• Venue: TSI 2.10, Maynooth North Campus.

Highlights:

• Facilitated discussions and analysis
• Presentations on resilient actions and strategies
• Contributions from various sectors on local, national, and international contexts
• Free car parking, disability access, ISL interpretation, and refreshments provided.

We hope you can join us for this crucial event. To register, please visit Registration Link. For any queries or to request support for travel and care costs, please contact us at mussi@mu.ie.

Funded by the St Stephens Green Trust, Community Foundation Ireland, Departments of Applied Social Studies and Sociology, with support and assistance from the National Women’s Council of Ireland, Maynooth Social Sciences Institute and facilitated by the Burren Art College.