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I International Conference - Conclusions


International  Conference
MIGRATION AND RELATED PROBLEMS: MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Hotel “Kaunas”, Laisvės ave. 79, Kaunas
Friday, 5th of October, 2007

MINUTES

10:30 – 12:30 Morning plenary session


Representative of the Social innovation Fund – Loreta Golubevaitė, welcomed participants of the conference.  

Representatives of FACEPA – Adelaida Morte Barracuina and Natalia Fernández Alcala introduced the EC project STEP: Steps Towards European Participation.

Natalia Fernández Alcala and Adelaida Morte Barracuina (FACEPA, Spain) presented the situation of migrants in Spain.

Ingibjörg Pétursdóttir and Zeynep Kartal (Multikulturelles Forum e.V., Germany) presented the situation of migrants in Germany.

Eilidh Bateman (Adult Learning Project, UK) presented the situation of migrants in Scotland.

Harrie Prince (Stichting GAMMA Dienstverlening) presented the situation of migrants in the Netherlands.

Justina Raudonytė (Social Innovation Fund) presented the situation of migrants in Lithuania.

13:30 – 14:10
Afternoon plenary session

Natalia Fernández Alcala and Adelaida Morte Barracuina (FACEPA, Spain) presented the project “WhoSpeaks” and its results.
 
Ingibjörg Pétursdóttir and Zeynep Kartal (Multikulturelles Forum e.V., Germany) presented the project “Participation of Migrants in Further Education” and its results.

Natalia Fernández Alcala and Adelaida Morte Barracuina (FACEPA, Spain) presented the project “MOSAIC” and its results.

Natalia Fernández Alcala and Adelaida Morte Barracuina (FACEPA, Spain) presented the method of Dialogical Discussion Groups

Questions from audience:


1. Question for representative from the Netherlands:

The Dutch example shows that there are many groups with a nationalist attitude. Are there any institutions in your country that would take any action as some of those groups are very active? Answer: There are many tolerant people that welcome hospitably foreigners. However, there are still some problems regarding racism. It is important to form a new attitude within society, create new legislation. But still everything depends on people themselves. There is an initiative; people are encouraged to have a better life, to communicate with locals. The process is slow, but proceeding. New legislations are being passed.

2. Question:

Could you please tell more about the antiracist actions?  Answer: Sometimes I hear on news about groups fighting between themselves, but I do not have any precise numbers. Authorities and police are taking care of order and try to prevent these actions. 

3. Comment by representative from Germany:

Work is done in the groups of immigrants. It is very important to make them gather together, keep them informed, fight against racism. Informing is very important also for the native citizens of the country. A new anti-discriminatory law has been passed, so there is a process. It is important to think about this problem constantly.

4. Comment by representative from UK:
UK has a political racists party. It is not directly related with Scotland, however we think that it should be prohibited, though such action would be against the principles of democracy.  Mass media is taking part in fight against racism.

5. Comment by representative from Germany: Germany also has a political racists party at regional parliament. Question is – whether it has to be prohibited or ignored? There is also EU project related with racism. This project involves visits to schools for education and information of youth on racism issues. Students often also join these activities, share information between themselves.

6. Comment by representative from Spain: We are on the same level. There is a tolerance, but there is also discrimination in our country. Therefore, we are trying to maintain the dialogue, exchange opinions and attitudes.

Three workgroups were formed:

First workgroup – moderated by representatives of FACEPA – Adelaida Morte Barracuina and Natalia Fernández Alcala discussed Guidelines of the project “MOSAIC”.


Results from the first group:

Feedback on the guidelines of MOSAIC:
1) The two first sections of the guidelines probably have to be clearer. The third section is clear.
2) A very important topic to discuss in the welcoming stage is the understanding of cultural difference.
3) In the concrete context of Lithuania, it would be useful to give recommendations about how to work in a multicultural context.
4) The guidelines have to be clearer and more attractive in order to be useful.
5) The guidelines could be disseminated in the following ways:
            a) In digital format. You can download it from the project webpage in the full text or by sections in depending on your needs.
            b) In paper version also. It could be disseminated in intercultural seminars and other spaces related to this field

Second workgroup
– moderated by representatives of Multikulturelles Forum e.V.– Ingibjörg Pétursdóttir and Zeynep Kartal discussed the documentation of the project “Participation of Migrants in Further Education”.

Results from the second group:

The Situation in Lithuania

  • The situation of migrants in Lithuania differs strongly from the situation in the countries that participated in the project “Participation of Migrants in Further Education”.
  • Emigration is a greater topic in Lithuania than immigration.
  • Refugees constitute a great part of registered migrants in Lithuania.
  • Lithuania doesn’t have a special system for the further education of migrants/refugees.
  • Migrants in Lithuania are not visible.
  • Problems in the field of the further education of migrants: Language deficits; too many formalities; citizenship; too many people attending courses; gender problems
  • Migrants in Lithuania also have problems with the general-education system and the acceptance to universities.

Feedback on the documentation

  • The documentation could be adapted to the Lithuanian situation through some adjustments.
  • It should be translated not only into Lithuanian, but also into Russian, because many of the refugees in Lithuania (who constitute a great part of migrants in Lithuania) speak Russian.
  • It could be distributed in the Refugee Centres to reach many migrants. Also the distribution of the postcards could be a good idea.
  • The documentation and the postcards could be sent to the adult education centres.

 Third workgroup – moderated by the representative of Adult Learning Project – Eilidh Bateman and a representative of Social Innovation Fund – Loreta Golubevaitė, discussed the Manifesto of the project “Who Speaks”.

Results from the third group:

Feedback on the text of the Manifesto:

1) The group discussed whether or not education should be free for illegal immigrants. Some participants in the group felt that education should not be free for illegal immigrants as they did not have the same rights as legal immigrants and the members of the host community.  However not all group members agreed on this statement. 
2) The group discussed whether the accreditation of prior learning should only be given to some professions.  Some group members felt that medical doctors and teachers for example should gain accreditation in the host country before being allowed to practice, however not all agreed. However it was commented that sometimes prejudices of the host community create obstacles  for these specialists to work in their field even after their accreditation. 

Further discussion:

1) Migrants’ rights vs. migrants’ obligations
2) Social – cultural conflict
3) Dialogue is an essential tool for solving these problems
4) Integration of migrants through volunteer work by the host community members / other migrants
5) Immigration: demographic realty vs. ethnocentric attitude


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