Cirencester Consultation 2005

2nd Asha Forum International Training and Consultation
Cirencester, UK, Sept 29 - Oct 1, 2005

There were many exciting outcomes from the 2nd Asha Forum International Consultation in Cirencester, UK, held directly after Viva Network’s International Cutting Edge 2005 conference.

Participants from Africa began developing a plan to produce a coordinated movement addressing child sexual abuse in Africa, and a major donor present said they would like to help fund an Africa consultation around March 2006 that would gather input and cultivate ownership. An Asha Forum Latin America consultation was also tentatively planned for around March 2006 in Colombia.

Along with Mike McGill, also present at the consultation were Amy Stenoien, Felix Mwale and Asha Lim, The Asha Forum representatives for Latin America, Africa and Asia respectively. The participation by all four representatives was indeed a milestone in The Asha Forum's history.

Participants at the international consultation worked together to develop globally relevant Asha Forum goals for each of the four areas of work. These participants from around the world intend for the goals to help guide the forum forward and allow for greater coordination and unity between regions.

The Asha Forum International Goals

Advocacy
The Asha Forum advocates for a world free of child sexual abuse and exploitation by:
1. Equipping members with advocacy skills, information, and opportunities,
2. Engaging policy makers at global/regional levels to achieve policy and practice change (i.e. development of advocacy statements), and
3. Mobilize churches to respond and to speak out on issues of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Education and Awareness
We commit to informing, educating, equipping, and empowering ourselves and different communities to ensure the safety and healing of children; and instill responsibility to motivate and advocate change in the wider community while acknowledging our vulnerability on a journey of learning.

Restorative Process
In order to bring healing and restoration to a child who has been sexually abused and exploited, it is necessary to:
1. Ensure that the child has a safe place in an appropriate environment,
2. Provide relevant training, support and development for families, caregivers, and communities.

Funding
Ensure forum members have sustainable funding to achieve Asha goals through capacity building, sub-grants, and collaborative proposals.

Cirencester 2005  Chiang Mai 2005  KL 2004  DC 2003  Zwolle 2002  Yokohama 2001