Good morning and good evening in
Algeria. My name is Carina Black
and this is our first virtual
engagement event we are so
fortunate to have Dr. Tarek
Hadjoudj from Algeria with us
today and we're going to have a
dialogue about what's happening
in Algeria. OK, and with
government and sort of just
having a dialogue about checking
in with our important partner in
Algeria that we've actually been
partnering with for more than 10
years. So Tarek, thank you so
much for being here. It was nice
to see your family and your sons
are growing up like huge. I
can't even believe it and I've
known since they were babies, all of
them, so it's it's been. It's
great to see them.
So Tarek, Can you describe for us,
your work in Algeria, Well, you
are a doctor and you also are
a human rights activists give us
a landscape of what you're doing
currently and how Cobit has
affected your work and your
country. Yeah, thank you,
Carina. Thank you NNIC
thank you for the invitation.
Hello everyone, I'm Tarek Hadjoudj
I'm medical doctor, but I'm also
an activist and what we called
the civil society. I'm president
of an Association. It's Algerian
Association in Algeria. We don't
call the Association, NGO. We will
talk about this context later.
It's. Abcd Association
apparently is an Association,
but it's non formal network
with 43 Association working on
civic engagement.
Especially, especially
given the given the the
they are joining youth and
Angela young people with
opportunities to
participate in programs
and workshops activities.
Uh, to contribute to their
growth as as active citizens.
Why we are targeting young
people in Algeria?
We talked in young people be
cause for the very simple reason
that. That Adrian enter 30 years
old, represent almost 70% of the
total population in Algeria.
Which is huge.
This is why we we talked with
the youth. The second aspect of
our. Our work with the civil
society is working on a human
rights developing human rights
but with different approach. The
classical approach or the
regular or the classical
approach working on human rights
is generally is advocacy.
So we avoid advocacy too,
so we don't use advocacy
to avoid government repression.
We work on human right
across youth participation.
Debating and this. Debating
topics like women rights.
Children rights. Right migrants,
right? Even human trafficking is
very important during all our
activities.
And. And
our in our situation also,
youth participation is one
of the key key action to
develop human rights.
So give us a little bit of a
context for for a geopolitical
importance of Algeria to the
United States to where you are
in Algiers you're bordering the
Mediterranean and you are
looking towards Europe but
towards the South of Algeria,
which by the way is the largest
country in Africa.
What does that situation
look like from the South,
where we're much of your
work actually takes place?
Yeah, as stable city
we. Since five years old, we
start working with migrants and
I'll give you an overview about
the political and geographic and
geopolitical context. To
understand why we start working
with migrants, Algeria is the
largest country in Africa, is
also the largest country in in
MENA region, and the largest
country in Mediterranean
countries, or miniature
unboxing. Bordered by 7 portrait
by 7 countries, Mali and
Niger in the South, Morocco
and Mauritania, and Western
Sahara. In the West, Libya and
Tunisia in the East.
And another indicator. Very
important indicator Algeria is
close to Europe. Aginian cost is
close to euro, is 200 kilometers
close to Europe, mainly Spain
and Italy, which is very
important indicator and along
much of the eastern and southern
part of its 7000 kilometers land
border, Algeria has to contend
with greatly weakened state.
Marion crisis and Marion Crisis,
Nigeria. Also nature in the
North of Nigeria. the CV is
the control violence, extremism
in Boko Haram and in measure.
The Civil War an in Libya.
This is the the geopolitical
context around Algeria, and this
has made Algeria the first
destination of measurements from
the from almost 15 African
countries, according to IOM,
which is International
Organization of migrants.
To join in Europe at 1st and
also to stay and working in
Algeria according to Iowa, which
is UN agency almost 100,000 of
migrants are living in Algeria
and. Society we saw that it's
good opportunity for us to work
with this environment. You know,
developing developing topics
like discrimination, HIV
sometimes LGB. T it's.
Interesting to develop our youth
when we work with this community
of migrants and this is the the
context and the migration
context. Nowadays in Algeria
Ann. About the kovit. Also you
ask me questions.
Yeah, they probably they the The
COVID-19. Yeah the coffee 19 you
know Algeria like other
countries through the world has
not escaped the carpet this
respiratory disease. Nowadays,
the actual situation shows
number of 48,000 and
800 positive cases and
1446 deaths that.
Before the operation of COVID-19
in the country, Algeria was
considered one of the one of the
African country with the
highest. Importation risk.
'cause I think with South Africa
and Egypt because of the trading
with China and the traveling and
working with China and the links
with China. But the starting
point of the epidemic is
reported on March 1st. It was
two and national citizens came
from Europe from France exactly,
and the Department of plea does
start to be the epicenter of the
epidemic. Now in all 48 cities,
what we call what we called
Relia, Architected with varying
numbers from 2 to 900 or
positive cases. This is the
situation in Algeria.
Do you think the Algerian
government has handled the
crisis in a in a way to avert
a much larger crisis and I'm
speaking from the United
States where we don't
necessarily feel that our
government has done a great
job in managing this crisis?
How has that look like in
Algeria?
Yeah, it's.
There is another aspect is very
important to know that these
these numbers about COVID-19 in
Algeria these numbers are are to
take with some care since they
don't reflect the reality of the
situation. It's very important
to know that due to the limited
numbers of tests and the most of
the most of the positive cases
are diagnosed according to
radiology. This is what is
increasing numbers of.
It's very important to know that
even the the numbers presented
reflect the reality of the
situation. Government the
government starts the government
start restriction just after
three weeks. Most of the most
of the activities in Algeria and
even the the institution
considered as a little bit late.
They they start the
restrictions, stop the traveling
between Europe especially and
Algeria, France and Italy and
Spain. It was three weeks after
the the the first case.
And after that.
When the when we got the
epicenter in bleeder the
government start stopping
everything. Stopping everything
he demo. Then I mean
shortly just after the detection
of the the first case.
The government were doing
nothing and the older population
were what they have to stop
everything. They had to stop the
population, start calling the
government to stop and now after
three weeks the travel were the
consolation of all troubles and
Desolation of the travelers.
This prediction of all public
gathering at school and and even
the suspension of the response
suspensions of the prior and the
masks which is knew suspicion
of. All private and public
businesses accept food and
drugs. The government has
started. Measures now
No. Two weeks 2.
Three weeks ago the government
starts to ease the measures by
allowing more businesses.
So earlier in the
year. Cereal was going through
interesting transition from a
previous government that had
been there for a long time, but
Algerians were quite unhappy and
had huge protests all over
Algeria and so that has stopped.
Obviously because the protests
were in Algiers. For example
there were millions of people
that were gathering every
Friday. Do you think the
government has has taken action?
Appropriate action to manage
that the protests and a crisis
at the same time.
Yeah, what we what we say in in
in Algeria that the COVID-19 was
a gift for the government.
It was, yeah it was a big gift
for the government and the
government is very hot baby
cause COVID-19 happen it be
cause this is the the context
particular Algeria they are
doing starts protesting.
February 2019. At first because
to stop the consistency of
the President Bush later, but
after that the protesters start
looking for more and more
democracy. So since February.
February 2019 every week every
Friday they we got the protest
till the COVID-19 the COVID-19.
So the protesters called to stop
the movement. What we called her
until after the epidemic until
we find solution of epidemic
this month. This global epidemic
the government. The problem is
the government. As I told you,
it's kind of gift from it's
from its gift because the
government start or have knew
wave of repression. So we have
a activist jailed and two
journalists. The accusation is
in fact unfortunately is to harm
the National Territory. And now
the government now and other
issues. Its economy issues. This
is the now the challenge of the
population and even the
government and the population.
While waiting for most of the
protesters, they are waiting to
stop. Or is the measures to
start, restart the protest and
the government tried to handle
with economix solutions.
Can you talk a little bit about
Algeria to provide a context
talk a little bit about
Algeria's economy and its heavy
reliance on natural gas and oil?
And how is this going to?
Play out in your mind
looking to the future in
terms of the the loss of
revenue from oil and the
lack of investment in
infrastructure. What's gonna
happen in Algeria? What are
your biggest fears?
Yeah, this is. This is the
situation now. The people are
not scared of COVID-19 anymore.
Even the government. Now after
six months the economic impact
is is already here all
characteristic of economix
shutdown were here before the
COVID-19 Algeria depends on
hydrocarbons exports to bring
more than 95% of foreign
currency and also Algeria.
Another crucial characteristic
is that we have a lot of a
lot of informality in our
economic system. I mean, when
you say a lot of informality,
informal economix system, lot of
after suspensions of the
business activities because
Covid that create vulnerability
Vern abilities with people. That
really depends on day to day
activities to survive.
The company, the combination of
elements of all those elements
specific to Algeria puts us
right in the middle of the
crisis and the the huge part of
the iceberg height and part of
the iceberg is economy crisis.
This is why now the government,
the Algerian government speech
is. Try to reboot, rebuild
the confidence with the with the
people on on starting. Debate
how to reform the Economix and
how to reform even the other
aspects to the government calls
too. Or debate to reform
economix and even to reform the
constitution to start a national
discussion and debate. And this
is what is the government is
doing now and we are waiting in
the 1st November. Will will have
referendum for the the
constitution. Can you talk a
little bit about the media? How
do Algerians? Get the news.
What is happening is media.
Three in Algeria is, it is is
it? I've heard some indicators
that it's it's not the most
free, but how do Algerians
receive news and what it what is
happening on, especially in the
online version of the media.
Yeah, as as I as I said,
the repression against the
protest movement starts from the
government and eight activists
were arrested and two
journalists accused of harming
the integrity of the national
territory. Nowadays the protests
are just waiting to isn't the
measures to restart. The media
was also another context. Is the
government stopped? The media
who they do not have the
authorization to work,
especially. Web media in
Algeria. In the media law there
is no definition of the web
media. It doesn't exist in the
in the Algerian law of media.
An lot of the government to two
weeks ago. Glad to give him the
authorization for the media,
even the even the TV's media,
for example Algeria. They don't
have authorization, there are
not. Except the national and
the public TV's all the Algerian
private. The Algerian private
channel are in fact
correspondent for affording
channels. I mean, legally it's
not an Algerian company. Legally
this mid media it's in foreign
company and has an office here
in Algeria. This lack of the law
of media. The government is
still saying OK we are going to
make a reform and the proposing
the NYU law about media but
unfortunately another hand is
still keeping their oppression.
And three, 1, three of the most
active media web media are
stopped and we can't get in from
Algeria, for example. This is
the situation with media. One of
the journalists, also two
journalists, are in jail now and
accused of harming the integrity
of the National Territory. And
there is a national and even
international movement from
international NGOs to have those
journalists. But before 2
to do making them free.
Um, I'm going to switch gears to
talk a little bit about our
partnership for the Algerian
news leadership program, which
we've had. We're going into our
12 years or we are in our 12
year. Can you describe a little
bit from your perspective? What
that has meant for you and your
broader vision for Algeria? I
think you not. You are in
contact with so many of our
alumni from. All throughout
Algeria, and many of them are
actually listening in today.
Um, so talk a little bit about.
What were your expectations 12
years ago or 10 years ago, and?
Has has this borne fruit for
you. Has this been a
successful collaboration
between the United States and
Algeria, and if So what has
been the benefit for Algerian
you?
Yeah, I I will be as I think
is is is a life changing
experience even for me
personally I could talk about
wealthy and and I see four hours
going. Videos of Yeah. 10 years
of partnership, lot of emotions
and lot of work also.
Let's say Let's talk about. I
have some numbers. You know that
the I have some numbers, the.
Almost.
250 Almost 250
participants. On I will be.
From 2010 till 2019,
another thing you know
that. Is the only I will
pay program is the only program
who target or target the high
school students. All the
programs in Algeria, even the
national one or international
one, do not target the high
school students at first.
We thought that we are afraid of
the impact, but now you know
that the oldest participants in
Iowa LP now has 27 years old,
which is young, very young.
I have some numbers like we
have 12. I will Pierce alumni
working on you and agencies have
more than 37 till 32 highway
LP got good scholarship in
European universities and
American universities,
especially American University
of Cairo and.
University of Beirut.
Some of the I will be not
working on the the biggest
international company. What else
the Association of alumni in
Algeria most of the founders of
this Association RYLP and also
another another aspect which is
knew three years ago and it
will be your visitor price with
discover that 55 have the out
business. I mean they start
to ship. Even I'm talking about
27 years old. You know that
there is an English school and
Biskra running by Hwy LP.
There's English school and wet
soup and there is English school
and in constant team and it's
not regular English school. In
fact, it's like super indicative
center or something like that.
It's more than English teaching,
even civic engagement, teaching
activities and teaching and
other things. I think
now. We we we start to
two links. The old oilfields for
knew because we share the same
values. This is what what is
what is good. As you know a lot
of projects in our network. We
will recommend I will pee the
other person. Someone who
participated between 40 years or
250 years of an LLP
automatically is automatically
good in terms of active
citizens, is good in terms of
values of discriminations or
fighting discrimination and
stereotype is good, so This is
why this is. I will be what
represent in Algeria and we are
really looking to do we start
doing it with sharing a LP to
give it. Another person,
given another opportunities
for Io LP's and to also
contribute in in the in the
change in the general area.
Yeah, you're making me shiver.
It just it sounds amazing what
what has what has been able to
be done and I think we were so
lucky to get you as a partner in
Algeria because I don't think we
could have. Reached so many
people I know whenever we do the
panel interviews, your focus has
always been to make sure we
reach all the way to the South
of Algeria. To all the liars
that are not usually represented
in in benefiting from a lot of
these programs and Algeria so
diverse and and we were talking
earlier how? Diversity has such
a different meaning.
I remember in the beginning when
I used to ask Algerian youth
about, you know what does
diversity mean that they
couldn't really grasp it, but
you have a very unique cultural
background with the amazigh
people who are deal original
people. In Algeria, can you talk
a little bit about what
diversity means in your country
and how it's?
You know there's there's black
people there is. There's white
people. There is a cultural
differences, but but diverse,
the term diversity just means
such a different thing. So talk
a little bit about that, yeah?
Yeah, thank you Karina because
also there is specific things
and I will be, according to
other programs, is a diversity
and most of the participants are
they are. They came from
disadvantaged area and from all
Algeria. Yeah diversity in
Algeria. I'll be honest with
you. As in Algin, we
discover the diversity has has
something good. It's like.
In our educational system where
we don't talk about diversity,
you know the context of Algeria
coming from the socialism and
communism. And like everyone is
the same. The you know the
religion religious context. Also
we have the same religion.
Everything is same but when we
start working on different CC
with this cities we discover the
diversity. It's one of our key
also our key activation for our
network is working on diversity
to build the capacity of you. So
transforming diversity as a
strength and weaknesses.
It's very important in Algeria
we have diversity in term of
ethnical diversity. The colors
of schemes when you seen
Algerian you can say is
Mediterranean is Arabic is
African. Is its diversity in
language also we have almost 10
languages. I mean specific
languages for MSA.
And the the Arabic language
also. And the MSL language
because we are close to
historically to Europe, we speak
French. Most of the artistic
frame and this diversity.
Unfortunately the. If the system
or the Algerian government do
not. Work on the diversity, the
speech of the the leaders in
Algeria is not very is not
too reasonable, I mean.
You have one speech. We are one
nation, one color, one religion
and one. And this is our
challenge now with our youth in
the new constitution to put the
diversity as as as one of the
width of Algeria and workout and
diversity and everything and
which is a new challenge for us
which is new joint is also what
we learn from from international
program as I will be most or all
the participants in Io LP, they
learned about diversity.
And they practice the diversity
in Algeria because I will be.
OK, well I'm going to open it up
for questions from the public so
I don't know exactly how this is
gonna work, but I believe I'm
going to get some prompts.
On questions.
OK, so
here I
have a
question from
the audience. Oh
Do you think that the numbers
don't reflect the reality
because the media?
Is controlled by the
government. I'm going to
assume that numbers of covid
cases don't necessarily
reflect actuality because of
the government control of the
of the media, so that there's
a potential that there's
actually a lot more covid
cases then is currently being
reported because the numbers
quite low that you mentioned.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's in fact the the
numbers do not reflect the
reality of COVID-19 and Algeria
because not just because the
government is not letting for
the media communicate the
numbers, but because we have a
problem of test. We don't test
everyone and we are using the
radiology to increase numbers.
A politically. It's it's
quite confusing politically. The
Algerian government prefer.
Prefer increasing number.
To to keep the protest to
keep the protesters stopping the
protest. I don't see the address
of the benefits of the
government. To decrease in the
the numbers or Algeria.
Government known he doesn't
receive the aid from
international agencies. It's
like we called it in civil
society as Macho system. They do
not receive and I think the
algorithm government wants to.
The numbers high numbers to keep
the protest to stop the
protests. And it's true that the
numbers do not reflect. I mean
scientifically, the numbers, the
numbers not reflect because.
I'm not testing and our best.
Is the network is increasing
because they they they their
ideology? This is this is about
the members of news.
Um, so yeah, if anyone in
the audience has questions for
Tatic, please type them into the
chat box. There was another
question. From the audience
about. The lack of participation
in terms of taxes and that
the Algerians don't actually pay
taxes to advocate or two to
broaden government service.
Is that what does that
look like?
With tax wasn't.
So. How
to Algiers so if?
If the government receives its
funding for services mainly from
the export of oil gas.
Is there other contributions
from the government from from
the people to actually also pay
taxes? So do you as an
individual citizen pay taxes?
Yeah, it's a good question
because it's very important to
understand the the economy
system. In Algeria we still.
Started the capitalism in
Algeria. Most of the revenue and
expenses is come from oil.
Taxes broke Justin Algerian
currency and the government
couldn't buy anything with
Algerian currency. So it
means Algerian. Economy system
is is in rent is is is. Is
this or one system? This is the
problem even here in Algeria we
don't have the culture of taxes
since since the first cases of
COVID-19 the government stop all
the taxes. I mean for the
businesses and stopped all the
taxes and give.
Allowance for workers and
almost three 30,000 dinners
almost $300 by family
the Algerian Economix.
Economix basic on just oil
and this is the problem is
in in in next, in the next
year or in in few months
after this after the copy.
Yeah, I'm gonna put you on the
spot and if you had a magic wand
and. You could be the person
that helps to resolve
Algeria's problems in the
future, and you had three.
Key solutions what would those
solutions be in terms of?
Changes that you would like to
see in the Algerian government.
Good question I
think. One of the
solution is restoring demokracie
early democracy an.
Political political solution is
restoring a democracia real
democracy. Uh, the second one is
the reform econonmic reform.
Based it on on gnu Algerian
market and open on international
market. It's very important for
RJ and we don't have to reason
cause our economy is closed. We
don't have services we don't
have electronic payment because
all our economix is closed is
closed. It's very important to
open actually has the resources
as youth and natural resource
and Algeria very, very close to.
To Europe, and also is Adria is
gate is the gate of Africa. It's
lot of resources. I think one of
the priority of the first
priority is restoring a real
democracy. Which is, I think,
which is a time to for us as
Tunisia. They do it in Tunisia
as I consider it as the first
country Democratic country. I
mean real democracy. I think
it's time also for Algeria
too. Have Democratic practice
democracy.
So there's a question about the
legitimacy of the Algerian
government. What do you think
young people can do, should
they? Collaborate and push
government to make those
changes? Or should they continue
to protest against the
government because they feel
like the legitimacy in
collaborating with the
government? It actually supports
the legitimacy of the
government. I think that is
different way to to help. Even
helping the government or
distorted democracy. The one of
the witnesses of the hierarchy
of the movement and the protest
is they don't the protest. There
is no leaders.
And the the the headache or the
protest is not organized.
I think now.
This.
Seven months the government
shows shows us good willing to
to change the change. You know
it's it's a long process so long
process. One of the one of the
action is very important to be
organized. Sometimes to
participate even the election.
I think it's it's very important
to the participation is very
important. Even we have a
repression authorities. We keep
the protest at all, so we
participate. I am. I'm one of
the people who said one of the
activities that we keep the
protest and we have to organize
ourselves and participate. There
is lot of opinions based
activist who said no no. We keep
just the protest because when we
start organizing ourselves the
government will control.
Everything and and with the I'm
with the concept of using all
the all the all the tools and
the measures to change to
looking for the change for
better general. What about women
in the whole protest movement in
and in women's rights in
Algeria? What? What does that
look like? Because I I know
looking at the government
structure in Algeria, I
know that there were some
women that have been
elected to office, but but
I feel that women's
representation in
government is quite low.
Yeah, the woman and the
headache. The woman where one of
the strength of the hair like
the the women wear their every
Friday from the first. Her lock
from the first protests till the
last protest before covid cases.
In fact, in the Algerian law I
mean the new law of
participation in elections. We
have the quota system. I don't
know if you call the quota
system of women, which is really
good in fact, which is very
good. The women we still have.
We still have a lot of work to
empower women participation in
Algeria. We have a lot of
challenges. One of the
challenges is culturale and
social challenges. It's very
important this is what we are
doing in civil society. In our
network, for example, helping
women or empower women or girls
to participate. It's very
important and this is a
challenge. I think it's more
with with the cultural and
social context. Then with the
government because the law.
Start by the government on women
participation. It's quite good
according to our region or
Africa is. Yeah is one of the I
think one of the best law
encourage women to participate.
But now the challenge is from
the civil society to transfer
mentalities. Here's a good
question from the audience. What
news is arriving to Algeria
about the current political
situation in the United States
and a potential threats to our
democracy and in here in the US?
Do people in Algeria favor a
particular president? Republican
or Democrat, what? What are you
hearing about? Our interesting
situation. Yeah.
Uh, yeah Adrian.
I'll give you 2 situation. Most
of the Algerian. You know they
don't. They do not like the
trump president. I think it's
not, it's not, but I had I had I
had to talk with the with the
Algerian businessman. Who
really? Who really like the the
trump decision? Economists and
everything I was, I was
surprised it was a German
businessman. It it's an Algerian
Association of petrona working
on as leaders of company. But
most of the Algerians.
They have that this they
consider the the you know, I
think because the media or the
Algerian. For example the US
Embassy in Algeria those three
years. Focus all the programs on
Economix on the media on
Economix. J and you know there
is also an an very important
elements is Palestine.
Julian is very, very close to
the to the Palestinians and have
a lot of opinions about
conflict. Israeli, Palestinian
and after after the after the
new decision of the US
government to, for example, the
embassy of USA in Jerusalem, a
lot of Algerians.
Had opinions on that. I think
one of the I think one of the
The The Point is, Palestinians,
Palestinians as international
affairs about Adrian's opinions
on US and most or let's say most
of the Algerian preferred
Democratic. I I saw a lot of
sharing for Biden before. By
then I will. I saw a lot of
sharing in social media in
Algeria, social media of the
Sanders and Biden, and I think
most of the Algerian preferred
democracy. Democratic. Is
the reality, yeah?
Um, one question we have, and I
I spoke earlier. Two year two
sons and they both told me they
are not in school. So how has
the pandemic affected education
in Algeria is? Is it on like
here in the United States were
moving very much to virtual
education but I think that is
probably quite challenging in
various parts of Algeria. So how
does education for young people
look like now?
Yeah, unfortunately the schools
are stopped. After the first
cases of COVID-19 or the schools
and universities. At first they
tried to organize some virtual
glasses and virtual classes, but
doesn't work because we have a
very bad Internet in Algeria by
the way. Also, most of the civil
society tried to organize
webinar organized zoom
conferences. But everything is
stop. Even school and University
is This Is This is the situation
in Algeria since since the 1st
the 2nd of March.
And do you? Is there any
discussion on on the? Yeah, they
say August is it going to be
like that for the whole year?
After after easing the
restrictions they are talking
about the buckle area, which is
the exams. The last exams of
high school to get in college
they are talking about September
to start the exams an the
universities also start 15th of
September. It suppose that they
will start it supposed to start
23rd August. But after new peak
of new cases.
They delighted to 15
September. Well Tarek I am so
happy to have seen you and your
family today and to have this
conversation with you. I hope we
have many years of collaboration
to go and we can affect many
youth in Algeria and that we can
get beyond this pandemic and
meet in person again in 2021. So
thank you so much and thank you
everybody for listening in.
Thank you care enough
happiness, thank you.
Bye bye bye. Thank you
very much.
