By Bárbara Catalano

On the 2nd and 3rd of November 2012, the annual meeting of the SEHLAC network took place in Buenos Aires, in the offices of APP (Association for Public Polices). Various issues were discussed during the sessions, including future projects for 2013 and different strategies to achieve synergy with other campaigns being carried out both nationally and regionally.

The participants of the meeting were Maria Pia Devoto, (director of APP) Hector Guerra, Pamela Velasquez (IEP), Maya Leon Russo, Christian Wittmann, Maria Eugenia Villareal (ECPAT), Camilo Villegas Serna (Colombian Campaign Against Mines); Yassir Chavarria; Jesus Martinez (director of the Survivors’ Network and People with Disabilities – Red de Sobrevivientes y Personas con Discapacidad); Gustavo Guidobono (ALUDEC) and Julia Knittel  (AOAV).

During the morning session on November 2, members of Sehlac had an in depth discussion about the definitions of the Sehlac charter, as well as the objectives and the formality of the network. After an exchange of views a consensus was reached, leading to the unification of ideas in relation to the texts to be adopted.

The Friday afternoon session focused mainly on planning website strategy. All members agreed that it was essential to give importance to social networks as an indispensable tool for generating exposure and for disseminating the site.
Members also discussed different ways in which it was possible to expand the scope of the blog and increase participation among both  the specific audience related to the theme of human security and the general public.
At the end of the day, a formal visit was made to Minister Gustavo Ainchill, who leads the Direction of International Security,Nuclear and Space Affairs at the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Saturday morning’s session focused on laying out an action plan for the future and forming working groups for each specific action envisaged for November and December 2012 and for the entire course of the year 2013.
It was agreed that the main challenge was to clearly define Sehlac’s commitments and the real possibilities of each member in relation to each action.

Finally, Maria Pia Devoto was unanimously elected as the first director of SEHLAC for 2013, which brought an end to the meeting.