The Conference of Democracy and Reforms in the Arab World is held in its second session after the success it achieved in the first session. A larger number of participants were present; their number reached 350 participants, who represent different civil society organizations, parties, syndicates and associations in different Arab countries. The program of the conference includes the opening, welcome speech addressed by honor guests and major personalities, as well as three intense sessions and a special closing celebration.

During the conference, eight workshops expose different subjects and reports related to democracy, political reform, human rights, freedom, development, current challenges, reform culture, democratic change, women's rights, transparency, institution and referring to law.

An elite of experts, academics, politics, intellectuals, journalists and activists from all over the Arab World and its institutions participated. The forum discussed for three days the subject of assessing current Arab situation, the civil society and civil organizations situation as well as a means to reach development and reform objectives in the Arab World and its political systems. The forum will also study the problems of financial support for democracy partisans.

Along with the mentioned issues the eight workshops will discuss the following issues: civil society and political parties – constitutions law, judiciary independence, and transitory justice – women youth and political participation – the role of media and information technology in promoting democracy – governments, parliaments and transparency – the resources problematic and the role of the private sector in promoting democracy – state, Islam and democratic minority – the role of foreign forces in democratic change. The second session of the second forum is held in the Sheraton Hotel in Doha, and the opening and closing celebrations take place in the Al Dafna Room.

The forum is organized this year by the Permanent Commission for Conference Organization in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the National Commission for Human Rights.

The first forum for Democracy and Reform in the Arab World was held on the third of July 2004 with the cooperation of almost 150 Arab intellectuals in the Arab World and the rest of the World.

The Prince of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al Thani addressed a speech in the conference that was held in the Ritz Carlton Hotel. During his speech the prince praised Arab and foreign intellectuals and reformers.

During the first session of the forum in two-day sessions the prince discussed the reform in the Arab world.

The session of "Why is reform hindered in the Arab World" is presides by Dr Saad Eddin Ibrahim, during which spoke Dr Abed El Hamid Al Ansari, Dr Ghassan Atiya and Dr Mona Fayyad.

In the first day, an open dialogue was held about "The public opinion position towards reform initiatives". The dialogue was presided by Mr. Mohammad Krishan, and participated in the dialogue Mr. Assadek Al Mahdi, Dr Asaad Abdel Rahman and Dr Hussein Abdel Razzak.

During the evening session the participants discussed "Reform initiatives and Arab projects". The Session was presided by Dr Ali Harb in addition to the participation of Mohammad Abdullah Al Muatawakkel, Dr Mohammad Al Remehi and Dr Bahi Eddin Hassan.

The second day the issue was "foreign reform initiative". The session was presided Dr Mona Mikhael along with the participation of Dr Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Dr Ahmad Bechara and Dr Sobhi Hedidi.

The fourth session was dedicated to the issue of "reform's objectives". The session was presided by Dr Hassan Al Ansari with the participation of Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Dr Ahmad Bechara and Mr. Salah Issa.

A conclusive statement was issued after the first conference organized by the Gulf Studies Center in the Qatar University. The statement contained the audience's recommendations.

The second forum for Democracy and Political Reform in the Arab World was held in the capital of Qatar, Doha on the 27-29/5/2007. the forum included an opening speech for the Prince Sheikh Tamim Ben Hamad the Second – heir of Qatar – followed by the speeches of Honor guests – colonel Aala Walad Mohammad Fal – former Chief of the Military Council in Mauritania - marshal Abed Arrahman Siwar Al Zahab – the Interim Former Chief of the Military Council of Sudan.

The participants to the public session on the second day were:

Dr Salim Al Hoss – Lebnese Former Prime Minister

Dr Sadek Al Mahdi – Sudanese Former Prime Minister

Dr Aziz Sedki – Egyptian Former Prime Minister

Dr Radwan Al Masmoudi – Manger of Islamic Studies and Democracy Center – In the United States of America.

The following sessions were dedicated to assess the current Arab Situations. The sessions were divided into nine workshops with nine subjects:

1-    Civil Society and political parties

2-    Constitutions, law governance, judiciary independence

3-    Women, youth and political participation

4-    The role of media and information technology in promoting democracy

5-    Government, parliaments and transparency

6-    The resources problem and the role of private sector in promoting democracy

7-    The State, Islam, minorities and democracy

8-    The role of foreign forces in democratic change

9-    Transitory justice

To other sessions were held to expose and discuss he reports of the workshops on the second and third day of the forum, in addition to the public session where her Excellency Mrs. Emma Bonino, the Italian International Trade Minister and the Minister of European Affairs addressed a speech entitled "European visions about democratic development in the Arab World: in the present and the future".

Closing session: the forum's recommendations and the final statement were declared.

The closing speech: Sheikha Mouzah Bint Nasser Al Misnad – wife of the Prince Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani – Prince of Qatar.

We will try to summarize the main content of the submitted papers in relation the current situation and visions for the future, regardless from the few differences between one Arab country and another. If discerning causes is hard, it is even harder to discern results. Briefly, despite the bright surfaces that that some people try to build the global view of the Arab World is still dark on all levels. We promise to publish as soon as possible the full main paper submitted to the forum.