News Update
ENAR Update
Joint NGO statement: EU leaders must protect discriminated groups
ENAR together with other European equality and anti-discrimination NGOs, issued a joint press statement on 12 January raising concern that the EU has thrown in the towel about protecting discriminated groups, including lesbian, gay and bisexual people, persons with disabilities, religious minorities, youth and older people. The statement calls on the European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the EU to urgently take up this issue. Read more
ENAR memorandum to the Danish Presidency of the EU
ENAR has issued a Memorandum to the Danish Presidency of the EU. It is a 12-Point Call for Action to the Danish Presidency of the European Union for building an equal Europe for all. Read more
News from other Institutions
Call for Submissions for local authorities with good practice in immigrant integration
Cities of Migration is looking for outstanding examples of city leadership on immigrant integration. They want to know more about how local governments can facilitate the settlement and integration of newcomers, and promote immigrant and city success. They are looking for city-led activities across a wide field: from planning, zoning, and infrastructure, to services, housing and employment to human resources, procurement and monitoring. Share you city’s success story and become the next Big Idea @Cities of Migration! Deadline for submissions: 6 February 2012. Click here for the submission form
Free webinar from Cities of Migration - Living Together: City Strategies for Social Inclusion
Join Cities of Migration on 8 February 2012 at 3pm for a free 60 minute international webinar to learn about strategic city-led initiatives in Antwerp (Belgium) and Waltham Forest (London borough, UK) that strengthen the capacity of city councils, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens to work together for more inclusive communities and strong democratic institutions. Find out more and register
Last chance to register for free capacity building training for NGOs
Runnymede is offering UK NGOs the opportunity to attend a free training day focusing on the key themes of advocacy, the media and monitoring. The seminar will take place in Glasgow on Thursday 9 February. These awareness raising seminars, in the areas of non discrimination and equality targeted at civil society organisations, are part of an EU funded project which covers thirty-two European Countries. The aim is to strengthen the capacity of NGOs in their work on non-discrimination and equality. The seminars have been designed to provide information and advice on the implementation and promotion of policies on equality and non-discrimination with a particular focus on advocacy, the media and monitoring. There are just a few places left, so apply now if you’re interested! Read more
European-wide Action Week Against Racism
Last year, numerous organisations in 49 European countries joined the annual European-wide Action Week Against Racism. This year again UNITED calls for international participation during the European-wide Action Week Against Racism from 17 to 25 March 2012 and urges NGOs, independent and informal groups, schools, local councils and all manner of organisations and individuals to join forces and confront racism with direct action. If you inform UNITED about your actions to highlight the issue of racism on European level, your activities will be published through the European List of Activities that creates visibility and attention all over Europe. Campaign material can also be ordered. Read more
City of Frankfurt am Main: A public consultation on integration
In 2009 when Frankfurt decided it was time to review its 20-year old policies, its methods were equally forward-looking. The city launched its Diversity Moves Frankfurt (Vielfalt bewegt Frankfurt) campaign to canvas its citizenry about what integration meant to them. Recognizing that “every idea deserves a chance,” the campaign emphasized participation and welcomed a diversity of opinion as an expression of a healthy democracy that was essential to framing a common vision of the city’s future. The campaign was accompanied by a community participation process unprecedented in its scope. Its principal medium: the Internet. By the end of the consultation, over 47,000 people had participated in the process from a wide cross-section of Frankfurt society. A broader view of integration could now inform public discourse, including the idea that Frankfurt’s diversity was even more varied than once assumed. Read more
Danish EU Presidency: No hope of breakthrough on EU rights bill
The Danish EU presidency aims to keep talks going on the proposed EU non-discrimination legislation. But it has no faith in a breakthrough. Danish spokesman Jakob Alvi said on 11 January it will hold "a couple of meetings" on parts of the draft law dealing with elderly people in a bid to get "better language" amid reservations in a large chunk of member states. "It's a complicated file as it needs unanimity in the Council and approval by the European Parliament, but some member states have problems with it ... This all that's possible to do in the Council right now, the way things stand", he said. The eight-or-so countries against the directive, led by Germany, have in the past said it will cost too much, for example by forcing small businesses to install disabled access. The sceptics also say the EU Treaty does not give Brussels the right to legislate on social issues. Read more
Only 15 EU member states have submitted national Roma strategies
Only 15 of the 27 member states submitted their Roma integration strategies to the European Commission by the deadline of 31 December 2011. France, Romania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Slovakia, Poland and Malta are the only states that kept their commitment of 23-24 June 2011, when the European Council approved the EU framework for national Roma integration strategies. Proposed in April 2011, the framework is meant to improve Roma integration through a specific agenda and clear guidelines. It calls on member states to facilitate Roma access to education, employment, health care, housing and basic related services, and also insists on better use of EU funds. Read more
Integrating Cities Conference: Making integration work in Europe’s cities
The Integrating Cities Conference will take place on 8-9 March in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This event, co-hosted by the city of Amsterdam and EUROCITIES, will bring together politicians, senior officials from Europe’s major cities, representatives from EU institutions, service providers, academics, refugee and migrant communities and the private sector to contribute to the current agenda of diversity and integration policies and practices in Europe. Read more
OSJI Litigation Summer School
Applications are now open for a week-long summer course on human rights litigation, which will be held by the Open Society Justice Initiative and the Central European University from 16 to 20 July 2012 in Budapest, Hungary. The course will explore the steps involved in strategic litigation, and will develop the skills and knowledge needed to successfully bring cases to the regional human rights systems and the UN treaty bodies. Young human rights professionals with at least three years’ experience are invited to submit applications by 15 February 2012. Read more
European Council on Refugees and Exiles is seeking a new Secretary General
ECRE’s Secretary General will inspire and drive its strategic development within a dynamic social and political environment. He/she will collaboratively develop ECRE's strategic planning and actively engage its membership at every stage. He/she will represent ECRE across Europe: developing relationships, raising media profile and maximising impact through policy development and advocacy. This role requires a natural leader with significant experience at senior level, a strong commitment to working for those seeking international protection and a background in working with or for an NGO. The deadline for applications is 5 February 2012. Read more
