The 2ndDurban International Conference on Public Participation “Economic Marginalisation, Social Exclusion and Public Participation” will be held on the 17-18 June 2019.
In both the political north and the political south, with increasing global inequality, there is evidence of growing economic marginalisation and social exclusion, and growing disaffection with the formal structures ofgovernment. In South Africa, efforts have been undertaken to challenge the marginalisation and exclusion of the majority since the advent of democracy 24 years ago. These attempts include wider and more meaningful Public Participation. This is a constitutional imperative in South Africa thatis intended to draw communities into direct engagement with policy and decision-making. The process of putting this into practice has not been without its challenges and contradictions. However,Public Participation remains a key means available in representative democracies to address economic marginalisation andsocial exclusion and to facilitateconversations with citizens.
Given the contextualisation above, the 2ndDurbanInternational Conference on Public Participation (ICPP 2) will have the theme “Economic Marginalisation, Social Exclusion and Public Participation”. Its aims will be as follows:
- To understand the nature of the challenge governments in ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries face in addressing economic marginalisation and social exclusion
- To identify which groups in societies are marginalised and why
- To analyse the potential ofPublic Participation asa vehicle for change
- To identify what is needed for Public Participation to achieve this potential.
Deadline for applications is the 15th of February, 2019.
Humanity thrives on the emergence of new generations: each one adds fresh perspectives, new ways of thinking, and changes values, institutions and practices. At times of rapid change on a global scale, new generations are vital in all fields of science and technology. However, global change lays bare the tensions between generations and raises major questions for justice between generations: How can we make the environment safe for generations to come? How do we integrate and include first and second generations of migrants? How diverse should our legal and justice institutions be? What does a just distribution of welfare between generations look like? How are generations linked in the digital revolution that will affect justice systems globally? How are younger generations given a voice and stake in decisions about their future? How are older generations protected in times of rapid social change? 
