CAABU :: About us and the work we do

CAABU runs a number of programmes to pro-actively encourage a more enlightened approach to UK-Arab relations in the fields of politics, education, media.

These programmes are designed to inform and engage. We target key decision-makers, opinion-formers as well as the wider public with the aim of bridging the gap between ignorance and stereo-typing of Arabs and with greater understanding and more positive attitudes.

Political
CAABU aims to engage with the British Government and Parliamentarians on key issues affecting UK-Arab relations and the British-Arab communities.

CAABU Parliamentary delegation in Lebanon Baroness Symons addresses a Parliamentary reception Events at Party Conferences

Parliamentary Membership: Over 100 Parliamentarians have joined our tailored membership scheme, providing MPs and their advisors with the latest information and specialised briefings via e-mail bulletins. We also arrange seminars with experts on and from the region.
Delegations to Arab world: One of the most effective ways we engage politicians is by taking them on cross-party delegations to the region. We have taken almost 30 delegations since 1995. We also help arrange meetings for incoming delegations from the Arab world.
Party Conferences: Every year host a range of fringe events at the main party conferences.
All Party Parliamentary Groups: CAABU also is actively involved with an number of the relevant All Party Groups and acts as official secretariat to the Britain-Palestine APPG and Britain-Qatar APPG.
Lobbying your MP: CAABU also encourages its members to lobby their MPs on key issues, to write to them, ask them to sign relevant EDMs and take part in our lobby days in Parliament.
Monitoring Parliament: CAABU monitors and collates relevant UK Goverment statements, Parliamentary debates, questions, Select Committee Reports, speeches by MPs and Peers to keep up-to-date with party policies and provide a useful tool for lobbyists.

Education
Our education programme is one of our proudest achievements.

Staudent Campaign workshops Workshop with Christine Russell MP Students outside Parliament Workshop group outside Parliament

School Visits: We are now visiting around 100 UK schools and address an average of 15,000 GSCE and A-level students per year. Our expert speakers explain the background to some of the key conflicts in the region that regularly confront students in the media, and also tackle issues like Islamophobia, Anti-Arab racism and the media image of Arabs and the Arab world. We aim to encourage the students' critical thinking skills on these major issues.
Student Campaign workshops: We have recently expanded our programme to include Student Campaign workshops. These include a visit to Parliament and also focus on critical and creative thinking.
Teachers' Resources: We also provide online teaching resources and are now working with a leading examining board regarding teaching training on citizenship.

Media
In a context in which misconceptions about Arabs and the Arab world are increasingly prevalent, dealing with the media is a particular important sphere of CAABU activity.

CAABU Director on BBC CAABU director interviewed by Kuwait TV CAABU letters in the Press CAABU on frntpage calling for ceasefire in Lebanon CAABU Director on Al Jazeera

Press Digest and Media Monitoring: We closely monitor media coverage and on a daily basis send out a press digest to over 7000 people, encouraging them to write to the newspapers, challenging inaccurate or biased articles but also offering praise for fair and balanced reporting. The CAABU Director has had over 80 letters published since Sept 11th, 2001.
Providing commentators: CAABU strives to get its messages across in the UK and Arab media and CAABU's Director has given over 100 interviews during the last two years. We also help provide expert commentators on or from the region to the main media institutions including the BBC, ITN and Sky News.

Events
CAABU arranges a programme of events throughout the year to inform our target audiences on key issues. These range from seminars and round-table discussions for decision-makers and opinion-formers, to large public lectures for members and supporters.

Dr Hanan Ashrawi addressed CAABU public meeting Audience at George Saliba's lecture Conference on EU-Maghreb relations Visions of Palestine Fundraising event

CAABU speakers also take part in various events in the UK and Arab world; addressing UN conferences, Arab media conferences, major think-tank events, university groups and panel-discussions.

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