Tag Archives: Europe
“Multicultural Component in Elementary Education in the Republic of Macedonia”
Authors: Vera Stojanovska, Biljana Krsteska-Papic Publisher: Nansen Dialogue Network Date: Winter 2010 The principles of multiculturalism, democracy, non-discrimination and respect for individual differences among people of the social, cultural, religious or linguistic nature are one of the leading principles upon which is built and placed the conception for nine-year elementary education in the Republic of Macedonia. [...]
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Boundless Project, Germany
Binational couples and multicultural families:
The often negative media coverage about migrants diverges from reality. In Germany, for example, according to the Association of Binational Families and Relationships, every third child has one parent with migration background. When two people from different cultural backgrounds come together on the basis of love, this is the highest possible expression of integration.
Tea Time Project, Norway
Tea Time Project Norwegian centre against Racism Statistics have shown that Norwegians who know people with minority backgrounds also are less likely to have prejudices against them. However, today, a large part of the Norwegian population don’t know anyone with a minority background well enough to get to that stage. This is why the Norwegian [...]
TIES: Integration of the Second generation
TIES aims to study the topic of integration, be it economic, social, educational, or in terms of identity. The research focuses the long-term consequences of the large-scale labour migration experienced by all western and northern European countries since the 1960s. The main objective is to create the first systematic and rigorous common European dataset on these issues - relevant not only for a better general understanding, but also for the development of policies at all levels of government.
Migrant Skills Transfer in Aquaculture and Fisheries: The case of Greece and Egypt
The proposed project essentially consists of the mapping‐registration, appreciation and databasing of the human capital needs in the growing Egyptian Aquaculture, and their partial matching by means of the corresponding mapping, selection and data‐basing of the Egyptian migrant workforce capabilities available and directly affected in the Greek Aquaculture and Fisheries. To enhance the chances for a successful and sustainable matching of the identified needs (Egypt) with the identified migrant capacities (Greece) we propose the deployment of an innovative intrasector ‘up‐skilling’ program to be addressed to a selected part of the Egyptian migrant workforce in Greece.
Data‐base sharing and the intense networking facilitation among the above two respective and interested professional corpuses is expected to (a) lead to the ‘up‐skilling’ of the Egyptian migrant workforce in Greece, (b) result to the gradual ‘brain‐gain’ and (c) to the support of ‘knowledge exchange and transfer’ in favour of Egypt.
Migration Integration Policy Index (MIPEX)
MIPEX is a fully interactive tool and reference guide to assess, compare and improve integration policy produced by the British Council and the Migration Policy Group. MIPEX measures integration policies in all European Union Member States plus Norway, Switzerland, Canada and the USA up to 31 May 2010. Using 148 policy indicators it creates a [...]
Rebuild the Life in the Frontier (Reconstruir la vida en la frontera)
With the project “Rebuild the Life in the Frontier” we seek to give solutions and alternatives to a coercive type of life experienced by migrants living in the Centre of Temporary Stay for Immigrants in Melilla (CETI - Centro de Estancia Temporal de Immigrantes). Trapped in that special camp built to host migrants coming from Africa to the city of Melilla, the so-called "door to Europe," they wait for their “ticket” to Europe. In some cases, they have to face expulsion back to their home country. Often times, their lives in the city are characterized by segregation and absence of motivation to integrate. The main objective of the project is to reach a better quality of life for migrants through a social action plan that uses Arts and Media. Diverse courses of photography, participatory video, blogging, radio communication, painting and theatre aim to provide participants with instruments to get actively engaged in the life of the city. This allows them to build a life out of the segregation experienced in the CETI.
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by academic institution, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in cultural integration Also tagged Africa, Arts, Community building, Culture and diversity, Empowerment and leadership, Festivals and exhibitions, Inclusion and social cohesion, Media and diversity, Melilla, Migration and Development, Multiple identities and transnationalism, Spain, Undocumented migration Comments closed
Migrant in Romania
The logo of the project Migrant in Romania The project Migrant in Romania is funded by the European Fund for Integration and is implemented in partnership by the Intercultural Institute of Timisoara and the Association of Refugee Women in Romania. The main goal is to enhance consultation and civic participation of migrants and its main [...]
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in cultural integration, Practice in socio-economic integration Also tagged Anti-discrimination, Cities and local governments, Community building, Culture and diversity, Education and training, Equal opportunities and access, Human rights and international law, Inclusion and social cohesion, Intercultural outreach, Migration and Development, Romania Comments closed
Controversy around laïcité in France
Laïcité has been for decades a warrant of equal rights of belief and respect to all religions in France. However, in recent weeks some politicians have questioned the commitment of certain ethno-religious communities to that essential principle of the French Republic. Concerns over migrants’ integration have been the reason given by the ruling party, the [...]
Challenges and opportunities for Muslim engagement in Germany
In the last few months, Germany has been caught up in an intense debate about the integration of Muslims in the country. Polls show that Germans increasingly see Islam as a foreign element that poses a threat to their style of life. In a policy brief for the Berlin series of the German Marshall Fund [...]
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Still not easy being British
Tariq Modood, Director of the University of Bristol Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship, has published his new book “Still Not Easy Being British: Struggles for a Multicultural Citizenship”. As a leading authority on these subjects within British academia, Modood describes the growth of Muslim political assertiveness in the context of rethinking multiculturalism [...]
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Survey reveals misperceptions about migration data
Debates around migration are often fuelled by large-scale misconceptions both in North America and Europe. People need to be given a realistic sense of the scale of immigration in their country so that they can have a nuanced view toward immigration. According to a survey released on February 3rd Americans and Europeans both tend to [...]
Posted in News Also tagged Canada, Citizenship and regularization, Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Ethnic relations, France, North America, Policy on migration and integration, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Spain, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, USA Leave a comment
A more humane approach to undocumented migrant children
Detention and deportation of children is a common practice in many European countries. Thousands of migrant children are detained and forcibly brought to detention centres every year. Despite they have not committed any crime, they have to endure prison-like conditions, being deprived of education and suffering phychologically. Sometimes they are also exposed to abuse and [...]
Cameron’s statement on migrant integration and reactions from other countries
United Kingdom’s Prime Minister said on February 5th that State multiculturalism has failed and left young Muslims vulnerable to radicalization. Cameron reminded the necessary active participation of migrants in their communities. “A passively tolerant society… stands neutral between different values,” he said. “A genuinely liberal country does much more. It believes in certain values and [...]
Posted in News Also tagged Australia, Christianity, Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Culture and diversity, Ethnic relations, Family and marriage, Gender and women, Islam, Policy on migration and integration, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Religion, United Kingdom, Youth Leave a comment
BBC documentary explores racial tensions in Sweden
For his latest project the acclaimed photographer Joseph Rodriguez turned his lens on a group of young Muslims growing up in the city of Malmo, Sweden. Rodriguez attempts to find out why racial tensions are increasing in one of the most progressive countries in Europe. Rosengard in Malmo is symbolic of the divide between the [...]
Paid internships on media and migration with IOM
The IOM and its partners are recruiting 24 interns for a three months traineeship each to work within the framework of the project 'Migrants in the Spotlight: Training and Capacity Building for Media Representatives and Students', financed by the European Commission. Applicants should be young professionals or students of journalism, social studies, political sciences or a related field, who are interested in migration and media issues and are immigrants or come from a family of immigrants. Those applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in migration issues but do not possess an immigration background will be also considered; however, preference will be given to the first group.
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Links between global migration and cultural diversity explored in the UK
The Centre for Research on Nationalism Ethnicity and MulticulturalismIn (CRONEM) of the University of Surrey and the Institute for the Study of Religion, Culture and Society (VISOR) of the Free University of Amsterdam organize a multidisciplinary conference on “Global Migration and Multiculturalism: Religion, Society, Policy and Politics.” CRONEM is a multidisciplinary research centre in the [...]
British Muslim conservative chairman: stop ‘bigotry’ against Muslims
Baroness Warsi, co-chairman of the Conservative Party in the UK addressed a speech at the University of Leicester in which she expressed her concerns about a “growing religious intolerance in the country,” especially towards Muslims. Her statements represent the most high-profile intervention in Britain’s religious debate by any member of David Cameron’s government. Although Mrs. [...]
LSE Migration Studies Unit
The LSE Migration Studies Unit is a multi-disciplinary research group for migration scholars currently hosted by the Department of Government. It is the focus point for migration research across all LSE departments. Through the initiative of students and academics working together, the Unit offers a network for migration scholars and policy-makers inside and outside LSE, at the cosmopolitan crossroads of London.
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by academic institution, Practice in legal and political integration Also tagged Cities and local governments, Citizenship and regularization, Human rights and international law, Policy on migration and integration, Refugees and asylum, United Kingdom Comments closed
Integration: Building Inclusive Societies conversation in London, UK
The Integration: Building Inclusive Societies conversation was broadcast live on December 20, 2010 for a worldwide audience from St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in London, UK. Roger Cohen, the New York Times journalist discussed about migration, national identities and integration of Muslims in today’s society. The archived video is now available! Due to [...]
Posted in All resources, Event, News, Resource from international or regional organization or UN agency Also tagged Education and training, Equal opportunities and access, Ethnic relations, Gender and women, Intercultural outreach, Islam, Media and diversity, North America, Policy on migration and integration, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Religion, USA Leave a comment
Sindicada – COMRàdio
Sindicada – COMRadio Sindicada – COMRàdio Sindicada is an online platform that allows the exchange of audio and information among the 140 radio stations members of Xarxa COMRàdio. These radio stations are located in Catalonia, Spain and are associated in the “Consorci de Comunicació Local -CCL” (Communication Municipal Consortium). Sindicada offers a rich variety of [...]
The EU against jeopardizing temporary migrant workers’ rights
The European Parliament disagreed on a draft law that would introduce a European single permit for migrants. The proposal was rejected (306 in favour, 350 against and 25 abstentions) on the grounds that it would create a a two-tier workforce. EU’s current approach to economic migration encourages the immigration of highly qualified workers and temporary [...]
Cuts to Integration Budgets in US and the EU
Recession-battered European countries made cuts to their integration programs in 2009. These cuts have continued in 2010 exception made of Germany, only EU-country that has increased integration spending. In the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the combination of recession and new policies are impacting on integration programs. The governing coallition in the United Kingdom has [...]
Posted in News Also tagged Citizenship and regularization, Crises polarization and radicalization, Economy and remittances, Education and training, Employment and work, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, Health, Housing, Public perceptions and awareness raising, USA Leave a comment
Spain: migrants to vote in local elections
Immigrants with legal status that have resided for at least five years in Spain will now be given the rights to vote in local elections beginning in 2011. This opportunity represents a historical milestone. For the first time ever, non-EU migrants will actively engage in the democratic process. Participation of migrants in policy-creation and decision-making [...]
Posted in News Also tagged Citizenship and regularization, Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, Governance and accountability, Policy on migration and integration, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Spain 1 Comment
Migration and Human Security Diploma Program
Migration has become a major focus of policy attention in many countries and international organizations. International migration is directly related to levels of human security in countries of origin and destination. The International Institute of Social Sciences of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS) has developed a new program that tackles these issues. The diploma program on [...]
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by academic institution, Practice in legal and political integration Also tagged Citizenship and regularization, Education and training, Equal opportunities and access, Human rights and international law, Policy on migration and integration, Refugees and asylum, the Netherlands Leave a comment
“Ethnic club cultures in urban Europe” project
A research project by the Goethe University in collaboration with the European Resarch Council studies new forms of public sociality emerging among young people with migrant backgrounds in the context of urban club cultures in three European cities. “Ethnic Club Cultures in Urban Europe” is a comparative study of the phenomenon of ethnic club scenes [...]
2010 Cities of Migration Conference
The 2010 International Cities of Migration Conference, Oct. 3–4, 2010, brought together 170 migration experts, practitioners and city leaders from over 70 cities across 22 countries. Participant feedback has been exceptionally strong identifying positive messages about the value of diversity and local integration practices that work. Participants went home with practical lessons based on the [...]
UNHCR and CoE: How can refugees learn to trust the state again?
UNHCR and the Council of Europe organized a round table of experts in Strasbourg in order to examine the role of local integration and resettlement as a means of addressing refugee problems and finding durable solutions. “The purpose of the round table was to hold a fruitful exchange of views and ideas as to how [...]
Integration through rites of passage
Rites of passage can be found in every culture. They can have biological or cultural roots. They constitute an important example of exclusion/inclusion, discrimination/integration processes. Understanding these rites contributes to deconstruct wrong perceptions about ethno-religious identities. “Rites of Passage as a means for interculturality” consisted on 20 workshops organized in welcoming classrooms of Luxemburg. Around 120 youth from 12 to 17 years old have raised their awareness on the issue, half of them with a migrant background from Cape Verde, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal, China or Kosovo. Workshops employed the methodology of diversity education.
Gypsy World audiovisual project
Maranatha Federation is a non profit organization that aims to promote integration, rights and culture of Roma. Its main objective is to improve education and socio-economic background of Roma in the region of Valencia (Spain). Maranatha also promotes Roma culture and identity, as well as their integration in the context of main stream society. Since [...]
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in cultural integration Also tagged Anti-discrimination, Arts, Community building, Culture and diversity, Ethnic relations, Family and marriage, Gender and women, Media and diversity, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Spain 2 Comments
Language requirements in UK: migration control or integration policy?
UK immigration minister Damian Green has recently spoken to the BBC about the new English tests that will be required for spouses and partners of migrants. To date, the Ministry of Immigration in the UK justified the language policy to the public by talking about the role it will play in promoting integration of migrants. [...]
Muslim associations organize open house in Geneva
The Association of Muslim Organizations of Geneva (l'Union des organisations musulmanes de Genève) organized an open house to advance dialogue within the Genevan society and discuss about people's concerns and questions regarding Islam and Muslim's presence in society. During the course of the "Islam in Geneva, let's talk. To dialogue is to share" day ("L’islam à Genève, parlons-en. Dialoguer c’est partager"), ten Muslim organizations invited visitors in seven different locations. Activities consisted of a series of discussions, conferences and expositions on the work carried out by these organizations. Space for conviviality was also provided.
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in cultural integration Also tagged Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Ethnic relations, Inclusion and social inclusion, Intercultural outreach, Islam, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Switzerland Leave a comment
Philosopher Habermas on migration and multiculturalism in Germany
Prestigious philosopher Jürgen Habermas, professor emeritus of philosophy at Goethe University in Frankfurt expresses his concerns about politicians that "can divert the social anxieties of their voters into ethnic aggression against still weaker social groups." Habermas believes that integration of Muslim Turkish migrants and their descendants has generally been a success in Germany. Although, in some economically depressed areas there is certainly a problem of isolation from mainstream society.
Merkel on mosques in Germany
A news item from the Migration Policy Group features excerpts from a interview with Chancellor Angela Merkel, in which she points out that integration is an important task for German people facing immigration. Germans need to accept that immigration is changing the character of the country. Indeed, "mosques will be a more prominent part of [the] urban landscape than before.” Merkel reminded that the German constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Respect and tolerance can only be guaranteed if laws and all articles of the constitution are respected.
Course for Imams in Germany aims at integration
The University of Osnabrueck has launched a program that will train Muslim spiritual leaders to help Muslim communities to integrate. As Martina Blasberg-Kuhnke, vice-president of the University of Osnabrueck, states, “Imams play a pivotal role because they work with their communities, their religion and with society at large, so they have a public function (…) [...]
Roma SOURCE Project
Roma Source is a Europe-wide project to improve both the lives of Roma people and the local communities they live alongside. The project is being led by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Migration Partnership. It brings together eight organisations from six countries across Europe: UK, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Bulgaria and Spain. The partners in the project include regions of Europe which are traditionally home to Roma communities as well as those which have more recently become a destination.
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by local government, Practice in cultural integration Also tagged Anti-discrimination, Arts, Bulgaria, Citizenship and regularization, Community building, Culture and diversity, Education and training, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, Ethnic relations, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom Comments closed
Researchers agree that immigration is economically and socially beneficial to Europe
With the economic downturn fears are growing across European societies that immigrants are hindering, not helping. According to Eurostat, EU’s statistics agency, the 27 members countries of the EU were host to 32 million foreign citizens in 2009, of which around one third were from another EU27 country. Christian Dustmann, economics professor at University College [...]
UN Secretary-General warns against the “policies of discrimination and exclusion” in Europe
UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon addressed the European Parliament on the 60th Anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights. In his speech, Ban Ki-moon acknowledged that Europe has been example of peaceful change through ever-closer integration and of respect to Human Rights. However, he showed his disappointment and concern on the situation of migrants in [...]
Are countries shutting their doors to migrants?
In an article published in the Minnpost, several experts analyze the status of migration in different regions of the world. Migration isn’t just about rich countries shunning the arrival of migrants from poorer ones. According to the UNDP, only about one-third of migrants move from a developing country to a developed one. The economic downturn [...]
Challenges of migrant women in ageing societies
The FEMAGE project has released the report “Immigrant Women and their integration in ageing societies” . Coordinated by the Bundesinstitut fuer Bevoelkerungsforschung and funded by the European Commission, the general objectives of FEMAGE were “to generate and gain knowledge about the experiences, living conditions, and expectations of third country immigrant women regarding their migration and [...]
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from academic institution, Resource from international or regional organization or UN agency Also tagged Cities and local governments, Citizenship and regularization, Culture and diversity, Economy and remittances, Employment and work, Gender and women, Languages and multilingual education and literacy, Policy on migration and integration Leave a comment
Images, public perceptions and integration of Muslim migrants
Managing public perceptions through provision of illustrations and management of images play an essential role in the integration of migrants. Images have an impressive power in affecting collective subconscious. Images have invaded streets through advertising and livingrooms through television, the Internet and magazines. Campaign experts resort to suggestive images that cannot be ignored. Indeed, images [...]
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International Conference explores integration of Orthodox Migrants in the West
The University of Neuchâtel – Switzerland organizes an international conference about the establishment of Orthodox Churches in several European countries and the United States and their contribution to integration of Orthodox migrants in the West. The conference presents social research findings regarding integration paterns, mechanisms and strategies of Orthodox migrants; their socio-economic issues; and the [...]
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Publications and tools from OPENCities
OPENCities aims to identify the links between migration and cities’ competitiveness, with particular emphasis on internationalization and population strategies that will pose migration as a competitive advantage for cities and, indirectly, help integration and cohesion agendas. The project aims to help cities become more open. It has been designed so that it can establish an agreed definition of openness, build a diagnostic tool that cities can use, and then support cities to develop a clearer action plan to address their openness. In 2010, OPENCities published the book "Understanding OPENCities", which will be followed soon by three other publications: * "Internationalisation of OPENCities" (September 2010), * "Leadership and Governance" (end October 2010) and * "Managing Diversity" (February 2011). The project will also launch an online Index Family of Openness Tool
Ireland’s Intercultural Education Strategy
The Strategy aims to ensure that a) All students experience an education that “respects the diversity of values, beliefs, languages and traditions in Irish society and is conducted in a spirit of partnership” and b) All education providers are assisted with ensuring that inclusion and integration within an intercultural learning environment become the norm. It is designed to be relevant to the full spectrum of education provisison, from ECCE to lifelong and further learning, due to the commonality of the findings of the sectoral consultations. The Strategy is firmly evidence based, so that it acknowledges existing good practice in Ireland and seeks to build on this to enhance the development of an intercultural, integrated and inclusive learning environment, based on an evolving attitude.
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by national government, Practice in socio-economic integration Also tagged Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Culture and diversity, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, Intercultural outreach, Ireland, Policy on migration and integration, Youth Comments closed
Political Participation of Senior Migrants in Europe
EURO_CITI is an innovative and interdisciplinary research project dealing with the different forms of political participation of retired European residents and principally aimed at discussing the practice of European Citizenship both in a conceptual and empirical framework.
Multicultural center Sweden
My name is Aline Cordeiro Andersson. I live in Sweden. My project is simply about the better integration of immigrants in the country. My articles were published twice and my municipality received my project with great interest. Örnsköldsvik's Diversity Center will be a good example in all the Nordic countries about positive cultural exchange and migration. It will offer seminars with social workers and ordinary immigrants (and refugees), there should be an open videoroom showing films from around the world and there should be books that everyone can read about different countries. There will be a knowledge center. This project is intended not only for Örnsköldsvik, but for the whole of Sweden and even Europe.
Posted in News, Resource from individual citizen Also tagged Anti-discrimination, Arts, Culture and diversity, Ethnic relations, Gender and women, Intercultural outreach, Media and diversity, Refugees and asylum, Sweden, Youth Comments closed
The Festival of Indian Culture in Romania – “Namaste India”
The project has as the purpose to promote the Indian culture in Romania through an event which presents the multifaceted aspects of this incredibly rich and diversified culture (spiritual, artistic, travel, culinary, etc.).
The organizers intend to reduce the cultural distance between two societies that are so different, to discover common values, to encourage multiculturality and to create a symbolic space for togetherness for the Indian migrant community in Romania and the Romanian social space.
The Indian community in Romania translates as an enclave of mystery, a space of exotism and fascination, its rich values being worth promoting. Romania is already known as a space where the Indian culture is loved and admired, raising enthusiasm and interest.
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in cultural integration Also tagged Arts, Community building, Culture and diversity, Festivals and exhibitions, Romania Comments closed
Better education for integration in Germany
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of Germany announced new measures in the field of education to promote the integration of migrants. These measures vary on the 16 German states and include hiring teachers with foreign backgrounds to reduce the rate of children from immigrant families that drop out of school; introduce free kindergartens; [...]
Cities, Migrants and Diversity, this year’s Anna Lindh Foundation priority field
The Anna Lindh Foundation call for proposals aims at providing funding for innovative projects that contribute to bring people together and promote respect for diversity and better understanding . This year, the Foundation focuses on the role of cities as places to live together in diversity. Diversity and migration are nowadays major challenges in the [...]
The Italian Conference of Bishops advocates for Roma people’s rights
In reference to the expulsion of Roma people, Giancarlo Perego of the Italian Episcopal Conference defended that European citizens cannot be expelled only because they weigh heavily on the welfare system. Roma people are members of the EU. The free movement of people is “one of the fundamental principles of tomorrow’s Europe.” The creation of [...]
AkiDwA Migrant Women’s Health Project
AkiDwA Migrant Women's Health Project Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) focuses on conducting research on the health needs, in relation to FGM, of African/Migrant women in order to improve and inform service delivery and to influence mainstream policy. AkiDwA estimates in 2010 that there are over 3,170 women living in Ireland who have undergone FGM and over 11,500 women living there from FGM practicing countries.
A FGM Health Forum was recruited and created and acts as an expert advisory group to the Project by means of sharing information and networking. A preliminary estimate for the number of women by country of origin and age group who are resident in Ireland and living with FGM was calculated using 2006 census data and published and updated in 2010. Collaboration with Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, MSc Women’s Health to write the first ever Irish handbook on FGM entitled “Female Genital Mutilation: Information for Health-Care Professionals Working in Ireland” it was launched in January 2009. Over 1,400 copies of the Handbook have been distributed in Ireland and internationally.
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in cultural integration Also tagged Africa, Education and training, Ethnic relations, Family and marriage, Gender and women, Health, Human rights and international law, Intercultural outreach, Ireland, Islam, Policy on migration and integration, Refugees and asylum, Religion Comments closed
Migration contributes to business success in Germany
A Cologne-based public relations firm has found a strength in multiculturalism. The firm employs people with roots in Turkey, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Japan, Korea, China, India, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. This multiculturalism is good for both the business and the employees. The firm serves foreign businesses looking to target German consumers, and German businesses [...]
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Youth documentaries and interviews about migration
The Ilminster-based charity Glade (UK) is running a project that aims to educate teenagers about global issues with the use of media and visual arts. Since May 2010, the group of youth has interviewed people from Poland, Afghanistan, Angola, Botswana and Sudan. They have asked the interviewees to share their experiences of what life was [...]
Muslim migrants well integrated in Scotland
A poll conducted by the British Council Scotland shows that two-thirds (65%) of respondents has a favourable opinion towards Muslims. A majority also thinks that Muslims living in Scotland are loyal to the country. Most of the respondents, both Muslims and non-Muslims, felt the process of integrating was easier in Scotland than England. Three factors [...]
How to work on Women’s Health issues across cultural differences
Female genital mutilation (FGM – also known as Female genital cutting), is a practice linked to cultural traditions that leads to severe physical and mental health consequences. It origins from earlier than Christianity and Islam, and is practiced heavily in certain parts of Asia and Africa. Despite an international protocol to end FGM and laws [...]
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Cultural events for intercultural dialogue
Learn About Us Through Culture (LAUTC) is a project based on a learning methodology developed by UNESCO called “Four Pillars of Education” which promotes participatory active learning. LAUTC aims to develop good practices applicable at EU level that values cultural events and their response to migrants and nationals' intercultural needs in the local communities and involve migration stakeholders in the process.
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in cultural integration Also tagged Community building, Culture and diversity, Education and training, Intercultural outreach, Youth Comments closed
European Summit of Local Governments
The Summit debated the role of local authorities at the European and local level. The central question around which this summit revolved was that of how local governments should act to achieve more cohesive cities and therefore a more cohesive Europe. The AoC and IOM presented the Online Community on Migration and Integration during the [...]
Improving Labour Market Outcomes for Migrants in the European Union in the Context of EU2020 Agenda
The EC-funded IOM Independent Network of Labour Migration and Integration Experts (LMIE‑INET) presented the preliminary findings of its comparative study on Migration, Employment and the Outcomes of Labour Market Integration Policies in the European Union conducted by IOM in January-May 2010. The study investigates the interrelations between migration and employment in national labour markets of [...]
IOM Member States discuss Migration and Social Change
The second intersessional workshop of the International Dialogue on Migration was held 19-20 July 2010 in Geneva. Titled “Societies and Identities: The Multifaceted Impact of Migration,” this workshop continued the year-long overarching theme chosen by the IOM membership, “Migration and Social Change.” A total of 178 participants attended the workshop, including a wide variety of [...]
European Citizenship – EURO_CITI: political participation of transnational European senior migrants
In the context of European integration and the emergence of a leisure-oriented culture, traditional lifestyles have been replaced by new patterns of behaviour. In this regard, a remarkable phenomenon is the increasing migration of mainly retired Europeans to the coastal regions of the Mediterranean. In the last decade, major changes concerning the social and political [...]
Islam lessons to promote integration in Germany
The German Minister of Education defends that introducing Islam lessons in German schools will help Muslim migrants to integrate. She believes that Muslim communities in Germany should understand themselves as part of German society.
October 2010 Conferences on Migration in The Hague
For Cities of Migration, integration is a critical dimension of urban prosperity and growth. The October 3-4 International Cities of Migration Conference will engage city leaders, migration experts and local practitioners in a practical dialogue and exchange of ideas to inspire renewed urban leadership and new thinking on migration. More information on Cities of Migration [...]
Tariq Ramadan: fear of Islam in Europe is due to perceptions, not to immigration
The Muslim scholar of the University of Oxford describes in this interview what role Muslims have to play in Western societies. Tariq Ramadan recommends to separate the discussion about Europe’s immigration issues from the question of the participation in society of Muslim European citizens and the topic of Islamophobia. Muslim Europeans are not all immigrants [...]
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from expert Also tagged Anti-discrimination, Community building, Islam, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Religion, Turkey Leave a comment
UK’s minister: banning the burka would be “rather un-British”
UK’s Immigration Minister Damian Green has stated that banning the burka in UK would run against the conventions of a “tolerant and mutually respectful society.” In an interview to the Daily Telegraph, Green has presented the new government’s policies on immigration. They aim to control the migratory flows by changing the perception that migrants have [...]
OECD blames economic crisis for global fall in migration
The OECD has just issued its "International Migration Outlook 2010". The report highlights that the number of migrants going to the most developed countries dropped by 6% in 2008.
Migration and Integration in the UNAOC Rio de Janeiro Forum
3rd Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (28-29 May 2010, Rio de Janeiro): a network of political and corporate leaders, civil society activists, youth, journalists, international organizations, and religious leaders convened and agreed on joint actions to combat prejudice and build the conditions for long-term peace. The working session Building Partnerships for the [...]
Swiss TV shows integration of migrants in their new homeland
This Swiss TV program examines different patterns of the integration of "New Swiss" migrants in their host country. Videos report successful models of social integration, such as a the story of a Kosovar refugee who became an award-winning cheesemonger, a video of a Migrant Serb of Bosnia who is now Lieutenant for the Swiss Army, a report on a social worker from Albanian background, dedicated to the integration of youth from the Balkans, an interview of a Tamil war refugee engaged in local politics or the successful example of a Chinese refugee who owns a fashion label in Zurich.
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from media Also tagged Albania, Anti-discrimination, China, Citizenship and regularization, Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Culture and diversity, Employment and work, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, Human rights and international law, Intercultural outreach, Kosovo, Media and diversity, Policy on migration and integration, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Refugees and asylum, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Youth Leave a comment
European and North-American Muslims identify strongly with their countries of residence
The Gallup Coexist Index 2009, A Global Study of Interfaith Relations, found that North Americans are more likely to be tolerant or integrated than Europeans. The survey classifies respondents in 3 categories: those who are “isolated”, the “tolerant” who are respectful and open to other faiths and practices, and the “integrated” who feel respected by [...]
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from civil society organization, Resource from expert Also tagged Canada, Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Culture and diversity, Employment and work, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, Ethnic relations, France, Germany, Intercultural outreach, Islam, North America, Religion, United Kingdom, USA Leave a comment
Engaging Diasporas for Development (EDD)
Engaging Diasporas for Developent (EDD) is a not-for-profit, political and religious independent organization. The mission of EDD is to promote a positive view of Diasporas towards stimulating an improved utilization of their capacity for the benefit of all.
Posted in All practitioners, Practitioner from civil society organization Also tagged Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Culture and diversity, Ethnic relations, Intercultural outreach, Mediation and Interpretation, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Refugees and asylum, Sweden Comments closed
Cities of Migration: Conference on Integration as an Opportunity Agenda for Cities
Register now for the Conference "Migration to Integration: An Opportunity Agenda for Cities," October 3-4, in The Hague, Netherlands!
Posted in Event, News Also tagged Canada, Cities and local governments, Netherlands, North America Leave a comment
Integration and anti-radicalization in Amsterdam
This article retraces the experience in migrant integration made by Job Cohen, former Mayor of Amsterdam and candidate to the national elections, specifically in maintaining the dialog with Muslim immigrant communities.
Ethnic Germans and Immigrants on better terms than expected
The Expert Advisory Board for Integration and Migration (SVR), which was founded in 2008 by eight major foundations involved in social and political advocacy and research, released its first annual report. It contains what the board calls the Integration Climate Index (IKI) which basically takes the temperature of relations between ethnic Germans and immigrants. According [...]
EU: Arab Mediterranean Challenges – Unemployment & Migration
Labor regulations in Arab Mediterranean Countries (AMCs) impose rigid rules and costs but only provide a low level of protection for the majority of workers, increasing migration pressures for them as well. As result of immigration from the Arab Mediterranean Countries, the European Union is facing a new challenge in providing decent work opportunities for [...]
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from media Also tagged Algeria, Citizenship and regularization, Education and training, Egypt, Employment and work, Equal opportunities and access, Human rights and international law, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian territories, Policy on migration and integration, Refugees and asylum, Syria, Tunisia Leave a comment
Network for the Integration of Resettled Refugees
The Network for the Integration of Resettled Refugees was launched at the beginning of 2010. Its purpose is to provide adequate reception conditions to refugees resettled in France and to provide answer to their specific needs. They are provided accommodation in transitional flats for six months that can be renewed once for another 6 months. They also benefit from global assistance helping them to become autonomous (guidance on access to rights, training, housing, employment, etc.) The network includes three regions in France – two in the Paris region (Paris and Val de Marne) and one in a rural area (Deux Sèvres). The apartments are rented in either the public or the private sector. The reception of resettled refugees is ongoing. By the end of the year, the network will be receiving 100 persons – all of them are sent by...
Employment and Housing Network for Refugees
Because of the housing crisis in France and the lack of alternative solutions, many refugees remain stuck in reception centres. Most of them find a job rapidly and have therefore regular revenue, but they cannot accede to housing as owners set conditions that they are not able to meet: they cannot pay high prices or easily mobilize guarantors. They also face the mistrust of owners. Based on this observation, the RELOREF project was created in 2004 in order to assist beneficiaries of international protection in acceding to permanent housing.
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in socio-economic integration Also tagged Employment and work, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, France, Housing, Refugees and asylum Comments closed
PARI Project: a Refugee Integration Support Centre
The PARI project (in French, PARI is the acronym for “Pôle d’Appui aux Réfugiés pour l’Intégration” – Refugee Integration Support Centre) was launched in January 2009. It is based on the observation that beneficiaries of international protection have the right to benefit from social and public services but they don’t necessarily know how to make use of their rights. They might also need specific assistance because of their specific situation as forced migrants (impossibility to return to the country of origin, trauma, etc.). The objective of the PARI project is therefore to offer a global guidance and to assist the beneficiaries of international protection in all kinds of difficulties they might encounter. The services of the project allow these persons to receive all tools they need to construct or complete their integration process. The services...
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in socio-economic integration Also tagged Citizenship and regularization, Employment and work, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, Family and marriage, France, Housing, Human rights and international law, Refugees and asylum Comments closed
Refugee Integration Observatory
The Refugee Integration Observatory was created in 2004. Its aim is to conduct research and to analyze the integration of refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection with the objective to provide information to public institutions and professionals on the successes they have and the difficulties they encountered during their integration process. The Observatory has various activities: it conducts studies on refugee integration in France and in Europe. These studies are based on the analysis of integration schemes, the experiences of social workers, official reports and studies made by researchers, as well as on refugee interviews, it organizes meetings – called the breakfasts of the Observatory – in view of fostering analysis and presenting refugee integration tools. These meetings gather experts, integration and asylum...
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in socio-economic integration Also tagged Employment and work, Equal opportunities and access, France, Refugees and asylum Comments closed
France terre d’asile
Created in 1970, France terre d’asile is working in favor of the respect of the right to seek asylum and of all international conventions in this field. Its aim is to assist refugees and regular migrants and to act in favor of their integration through access to rights, language learning, employment, housing and mobility...
Posted in All practitioners, Practitioner from civil society organization Also tagged Employment and work, Equal opportunities and access, France, Housing, Human rights and international law, Refugees and asylum Comments closed
Programme “Mentorat Emploi Migration”
The MEM aims to promote the contribution of migrants to the host society as to the professional competencies they bring, helping them to integrate themselves in their field of competences. The programme addresses extra-European migrants with professional qualifications (experience and/or education terminated) of all fields. It was launched Feb. 2010 as a « pilote project » for 3 years in two Swiss cantons : Vaud and Geneva. It gets mainly public financial support (Federal office for migration, 2 cantonal officies for integration of migrants), as well as some additional private support (private foundations). As a mentoring programme the MEM offers a personalized coaching by a professional working in a specific field to a migrant belonging to the same field of work. The intercommunication...
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization, Practice in socio-economic integration, Uncategorized Also tagged Anti-discrimination, Community building, Culture and diversity, Employment and work, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, Intercultural outreach, Mentoring and counseling, Refugees and asylum, Switzerland Comments closed
Integration of traumatized asylum seekers
The Federal agencies in the field of health and migration support diverse measures which help traumatized refugees to become integrated in the Swiss society. The federal Office for Migration supports especially the research in this domain as well as specialized psycho-therapeutical services and social integration measures. The federal agencies momentarily finance 4 pilot-projects which offer specific case management for asylum seekers helping them to re-integrate into the labor market. On the one hand measures are implemented dealing with counseling and psychotherapy and on the other hand work-integration is fostered. From these projects knowledge should be gained how state agencies could better coordinate between the target group of the asylum seekers and the services for integration into the labor market...
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by national government, Practice in socio-economic integration Also tagged Employment and work, Equal opportunities and access, Health, Refugees and asylum, Switzerland Comments closed
Fostering Integration during Early Childhood
It is the task of integration to recognize risks and potentials early and to lower barriers through adapted measures. In this context children of migrants need to be able to take ad-vantage of the early childhood education and coaching.
The Federal Office for Migration and the Federal Commission for Migration have launched together the project "Fostering Integration during early childhood". The goal of the project is to help migrant parents and their children to better reach the services offered in early child-hood development. In addition, the intercultural qualifications of the persons running those services will be improved. In the period from 2009 to 2011 a total number of 56 innovative projects are supported through the integration funds of the Confederation...
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by national government, Practice in socio-economic integration Also tagged Crises polarization and radicalization, Culture and diversity, Intercultural outreach, Policy on migration and integration, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Switzerland, Youth Comments closed
Language training for migrants
The goal of this project is to guarantee that the offer of language courses for migrants reaches quality standards which are nationwide comparable and correspond to the learning needs. The Federal Office for Migration is developing a frame-concept for language promotion for migrants. This concept develops instruments which help to asses standards of language levels. These instruments will be made available to the partners in the cantons which in their responsibility will ensure the quality of language training courses in their regions. So far the Institute of Multilingualism of the University of Fribourg (CH) has developed a “Frame-curriculum for fostering language skills for migrants”. Up to 2011 further instruments to improve the language training and to verify the communicative competences of migrants will be developed.
Swiss Federal Office for Migration
The Federal Office for Migration is responsible for steering and coordinating the Swiss integration policy. It regulates the conditions under which people can enter Switzerland in order to live and work here and decides who will receive protection from persecution. Moreover, the Office for Migration co-ordinates Federal government, cantonal and communal efforts in behalf of integration and is the organ responsible for naturalization matters.
Posted in All practitioners, Practitioner from national government Also tagged Policy on migration and integration, Switzerland Comments closed
Projets urbains
The Swiss federal program, "Projets urbains" aids eleven chosen smaller and mid-size municipalities to take up the challenge of multicultural diversity of their communities. To reach this goal, specific measures are discussed with participation of the population and then put into practice. Projects are developed in the following fields: urban development, social work, housing, sports, discrimination and fostering integration. The federal support is not only of financial nature. A common platform allows for exchange of experiences among the various partners and municipalities. The federal agencies also coach the projects individually and offer professional help. The program runs over a pilot phase between 2008-2011. Depending on the results of the evaluation, the Federal Government will decide upon a follow-up of this program...
International Organization for Migration – Ukraine
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Ukraine was established in Kyiv in 1996. IOM Ukraine works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people...
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Diversity Initiative
Responding to an increase in the number of suspected racially motivated attacks in Ukraine, the IOM, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Amnesty International and other concerned civil society organizations formed the Diversity Initiative (DI) in April 2007 to begin addressing the issue in a coordinated way. DI strives to uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants, refugees and visible minorities in Ukraine. It currently includes over 65 organizations from the international, civil, corporate, and government sectors as well as diplomatic missions and interested individuals. The objectives are to provide a platform and forum for civil society to network, to support the Ukrainian government’s interventions, to collect and disseminate verified and standardized information relating to suspected racially motivated...
Living Library
The Living Library is a system whereby the ‘books’ of the library are individuals from different social or ethnic backgrounds and the ‘readers’ of the books are high school or university students. The event serves as a tool for opening dialogues between people, and in doing so provides an informal setting in which to ask questions and discuss stereotypes or prejudices. The IOM Mission in Ukraine has adopted and slightly modified the concept of “Living Library” from the model introduced by the Danish civil society organization “Stop the Violence” in 2000 (for more details please visit http://living-library.org/the-history.html). Using a 10 minute rotation system, ‘books’ and ‘readers’ get to know each other by sharing stories of their lives and informally exploring prejudices and stereotypes. The benefits of the adopted model are: the...
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by international or regional organization or UN agency Also tagged Anti-discrimination, Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Culture and diversity, Empowerment and leadership, Equal opportunities and access, Ethnic relations, Intercultural outreach, Media and diversity, Public perceptions and awareness raising, Refugees and asylum, Ukraine, Youth Comments closed
Eurofound (CLIP network)
Eurofound coordinates CLIP which is a network of 30 European cities working together to support the social and economic integration of migrants. The CLIP network composition is threefold. It operates under the aegis of a number of European organisations, it comprises a network of European cities and is supported by a group of specialist European research centres...
Posted in All practitioners, Practitioner from international or regional organization or UN agency Also tagged Cities and local governments, Empowerment and leadership, Policy on migration and integration Comments closed
Turkey lobbies for rights of migrants in Europe
Turkey is pressing the Council of Europe to adopt strong resolutions in the hopes that member states, especially those that are part of the European Union, will extend better protections to minorities, including Turkish expats and migrants living in Western Europe. Read more about this article How useful was this information? Users ratings 3.00 out [...]
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from media Also tagged Employment and work, Equal opportunities and access, Ethnic relations, Governance and accountability, Policy on migration and integration, Refugees and asylum, Turkey Comments closed
IOM report highlights labor violation laws in Italy
The report recommends that the relevant authorities investigate migrants’ inhumane working conditions.
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from international or regional organization or UN agency Also tagged Employment and work, Human rights and international law, Italy Comments closed
migrantas – a visual language of migration
Working with public urban spaces as its platform, migrantas aims to make visible the thoughts and feelings of those who have left their own country and now live in a new one. Mobility, migration and transculturality are not the exception in our world, but are instead becoming the rule. Nevertheless, migrant women and their experiences remain often invisible to the majority of our society. Migrantas works with issues of migration, identity and intercultural dialogue. Their work incorporates tools from the visual arts, graphic design and social sciences. Members of the collective (Marula Di Como, Florencia Young, Alejandra López, Irma Leinauer), mostly women who have themselves immigrated to Germany, develop the projects with other migrant women in a horizontal dialogue. Migrantas meets with migrant women in their own...
Posted in All practices, Practice implemented by civil society organization Also tagged Anti-discrimination, Arts, Community building, Crises polarization and radicalization, Culture and diversity, Empowerment and leadership, Ethnic relations, Gender and women, Germany, Intercultural outreach, Media and diversity, Public perceptions and awareness raising Comments closed
The Local Dimension of Migration Policymaking
The authors Tiziana Caponio and Maren Borkert shows how societal inclusion is administered and produced at a local level.
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from media Also tagged Canada, Community building, Germany, Italy, North America, Policy on migration and integration, Switzerland, the Netherlands Comments closed
Handbook on how to implement a one-stop-shop for immigrant integration – The Portuguese experience
This Handbook is a source of inspiration for various actors in the European Union in implementing integration policies in the field of service provision. The Portuguese experience, within this innovative One-Stop-Shop strategy, managed to achieve good cooperation between different public services, located in the same building, together with the creation of new services to meet [...]
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from international or regional organization or UN agency Also tagged Community building, Mentoring and counseling, Policy on migration and integration, Portugal, Refugees and asylum Comments closed
Portugal – Evaluation of Immigrant Support Services
IOM has evaluated the National Immigrant Support Services in Portugal (ACIDI). See here for more information on the evaluation, and download the full report here How useful was this information? Users ratings 3.00 out of 5
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MITI – A case study on integration in Portugal
The general objectives of the European research project Migrants’ Integration Territorial Index (MITI) were the development and implementation of a methodology capable of measuring the level of integration of migrants, both at the national and regional levels. Through the identification and comparison of different models the project aimed at a better comprehension of the concept [...]
Posted in All resources, News, Resource from international or regional organization or UN agency Also tagged Citizenship and regularization, Policy on migration and integration, Portugal Comments closed
“The missing Peace: The Need for a Long term strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina”