Publications

Weekly Mail n° 219

5 March 2010

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  • Reminder: ENAR is launching a logo competition
ENAR is launching a public competition to renew its logo. Anyone aged 18 years or older who has inspiration in logo design and creation is invited to submit their most innovative designs, embodying the idea of diversity/interculturalism and of a network, to the ENAR logo competition. The winner of the logo competition will receive a prize of a value of €300. The entries must be submitted by 19 March 2010. Read more
 
 

A French initiative for a strike by migrants that involves abstaining from work and consumer spending on 1 March 2010 has been adhered to in Italy following recent developments, political, legislative and of violence against migrants such as that against African crop-pickers in Rosarno. Read more

  • Latest issue of Social Platform’s newsletter ‘ENGAGE’ is out

Issue 5 of the Social Platform’s quarterly four-page magazine has been published. It notably features an interview with Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum. Read more

  • EWL report: “From Beijing to Brussels: an Unfinished Journey”
The European Women's Lobby (EWL) has published a report entitled "From Beijing to Brussels: An Unfinished Journey" on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action by the EU, as part of the UN-level 15-year review process. Read more
 
 
  • Danish paper apologises for printing Muhammad cartoon

A Danish newspaper has apologised for any offence caused when it reprinted a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb-shaped turban in 2008. Politiken said it was apologising as part of a settlement with Muslim groups in the Middle East and Australia. Other Danish newspapers criticised Politiken for its move. Twelve cartoons of Muhammad were initially published in 2006, sparking widespread protests by Muslims in various countries. Politiken - and other papers - republished one in 2008 when police uncovered an alleged plot to kill cartoonist Kurt Westergaard. Read more

Early results suggest the hard-right anti-immigration party of Geert Wilders looks set to emerge as the main winner in local elections held in the Netherlands on 3 March, setting the stage for a national showdown in June. Although the Party for Freedom (PVV) only fielded candidates in two local constituencies, a new opinion poll that coincided with the vote suggested the party was set to make significant gains in the summer general elections. The running of PVV candidates in the central municipalities of The Hague and Almere marks the first time the anti-Muslim populist Wilders has attempted to establish his party in local government. Read more

  • A demonstration in Paris calls for abolition of Immigration Ministry
Hundreds of persons - 7,000 according to the organizers and 1,600 according to the police - demonstrated last weekend in the centre of Paris to call for the abolition of the Ministry for Immigration and National Identity. The demonstration took part in the framework of the 5th anti-colonialism week. Patrick Farbiaz, one of the organizers of this week, said: “We would like to show that there is a link between yesterday and today’s colonialism, in the way young people with a migrant background and undocumented migrants are treated for instance.” Read more (in French)
 
 

On 3 March, the European Commission launched the Europe 2020 Strategy to go out of the crisis and prepare EU economy for the next decade. The Commission identifies three key drivers for growth, to be implemented through concrete actions at EU and national levels: smart growth (fostering knowledge, innovation, education and digital society), sustainable growth (making our production more resource efficient while boosting our competitiveness) and inclusive growth (raising participation in the labour market, the acquisition of skills and the fight against poverty). This battle for growth and jobs requires ownership at top political level and mobilisation from all actors across Europe. Five targets are set which define where the EU should be by 2020 and against which progress can be tracked. Read more

  • New EU report on social protection and social inclusion

Welfare systems and specific short-term policies have been vitally important in mitigating the social and economic impact of the crisis, says a new EU report presented this week. The 2010 'Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion', to be discussed by Employment and Social Affairs Ministers on 8-9 March, focuses on drawing lessons from Europe's response to the crisis. It presents key messages on how to orientate policies in the short to medium term to ensure a lasting recovery while also helping to address long-term structural challenges. The report will contribute to the Spring European Council on 25-26 March. Read more

  • EP asylum study backs shared responsibility between EU countries

One of the crucial questions facing EU asylum policy is the extent to which countries share the demands of asylum seekers. A new study by the European Parliament's internal policies department on "burden sharing between member states for the reception of asylum seekers" says sharing responsibility between states is economically feasible and logical. It also underlines the currently uneven distribution of asylum costs across Europe with countries like Malta, Spain and Italy shouldering the heaviest burden. The study points out three options for responsibility sharing at European level. These include greater cooperation and harmonisation, financial compensation such as a set amount per applicant or a fund-based mechanism. It also backs the physical relocation of asylum seekers. Read more

The Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published new country reports on Albania, Austria, Estonia and the United Kingdom. The reports noted improvements in the fight against racial discrimination in all four countries. At the same time, there are still grounds for concern. In Austria, the prevalence of racist discourse, the disadvantaged position of non Austrian children in education and the lack of a comprehensive integration policy remain worrying. In Estonia, ECRI’s report focuses on the large number of stateless persons, the limited contact between Russian speakers and Estonians, high unemployment among minority groups and discrimination against Roma. In the United Kingdom, racist incidents have become more frequent, police powers are exercised in a manner that disproportionately affected minority groups, Gypsies and Travellers still face serious discrimination and asylum-seekers remain in a vulnerable position. Read more
 
 
  • Global economic crisis exposed human rights violations, says top UN official
The top United Nations human rights official said on 1 March that the economic and financial crises have exposed existing violations and increased the number of victims of abuse and hardship. “The financial and economic downturns - together with food shortages, climate-related catastrophes and continuing violence - have shattered complacent or over-optimistic notions of expanding security, prosperity, safety and the enjoyment of freedoms by all,” High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in her opening statement to the 13th session of the Human Rights Council, which runs until 26 March. Read more
  • Millions of migrants face health risks
The World Health Organisation and International Organisation for Migration say many of the nearly one-billion international and internal migrants around the world suffer from ill health because of stress and exploitative work conditions.The two agencies say most migrants are healthy. But, those who are not tend to be among the estimated 214 million migrants who leave their countries in search of a better life abroad.These disadvantaged groups include undocumented migrants, people forced to migrate because of natural or man-made disasters and groups such as victims of trafficking.The agencies say these migrants often suffer exploitation and physical and mental abuse. Read more
 

ROMA ISSUES

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has found France in breach of Articles 16, 19, 30, 31 and E of the Revised European Social Charter in respect of the housing and social inclusion situation of its Traveller and Romani populations, both itinerant and settled. The decision, taken on 1 March, follows a collective complaint filed by the European Roma Rights Centre which complained of inadequacies and discrimination in housing rights, access to voting rights and social inclusion measures. Despite France’s legal framework on the provision of adequate halting sites for itinerant Travellers, the ECSR found that failures in implementation mean that there are insufficient halting places to accommodate itinerant Travellers.Where such halting sites do exist, the ECSR found that there are poor living conditions and operational failures and that the sites do not meet the basic sanitary standards required by international and French law. Read more

  • Gypsies in Europe still face discrimination, Vatican officials say

Undoubtedly the most discriminated minority group in Europe, the Gypsies experience the impact of firmly rooted stereotypes every day, said a Vatican official this week. "The situation of the Gypsy peoples in Europe is strongly marked by marginalization and discrimination, even in their exercise of fundamental human rights like the ones to education, work, housing and health care," said Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Travellers. The archbishop spoke at the opening of a meeting of the national directors of pastoral programs for Gypsies in Europe. The meeting not only looked at improving religious services for the Gypsy communities, but also at ways to promote their inclusion in wider society and combat prejudice against them. Read more

  • Call for papers: Roma Women’s Journal
A call for papers for the second issue of the Roma Women’s Journal has been launched. The journal addresses the complex and complicated issue of “Roma women” at the intersection of their geopolitical position, ethnicity, social and economic status and age with the aim to represent the socio-cultural diversity of the European Roma women, seen in their immediate communities, and in the context of their relationship with both Roma men and non-Roma women. Read more
 
 
  • Council of Europe publication: “Institutional accommodation and the citizen: legal and political interaction in a pluralist society”

The question of accommodations that institutions and citizens must make to ensure social cohesion in pluralist societies is of concern to the Council of Europe. It is becoming increasingly important to provide responses and devise innovative frameworks which can help build a shared vision while at the same time respecting each individual. By comparing European and Canadian responses, among others, the articles featured in this volume explore this complex issue. They contribute to a major social debate and outline a vision of the future that allows us to set aside mutual suspicion and develop institutional arrangements and forms of social interaction capable of making diversity a factor for progress, well-being and social justice. Read more

  • Report on the exploitation of undocumented migrant women in the work place

PICUM, the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants and the United Methodist Women Immigrant/Civil Rights Initiative recently published a reportentitled “The Exploitation of Undocumented Migrant Women in the Workplace”. The report relates the experiences of migrant women in Europe, the US, and the Middle East, as well as organising strategies.Adopting a global perspective, the report explores specific vulnerabilities facing undocumented women in the labour market as well as strategies which have successfully served to protect and empower undocumented female workers. The discussion explored the role of the unions, social networks, solidarity movements and undocumented women themselves in addressing labour-based exploitation and empowering female workers with an irregular status. Read more

  • Eurocities research paper on poverty and social exclusion in urban areas

Eurocities, the network of major European cities, has published a research paper entitled “Social exclusion and inequalities in European Cities: Challenges and Responses”, which focuses on poverty and exclusion in cities. These problems are often deepest felt in deprived urban neighbourhoods. Based on the input from over 20 cities, the paper explores issues such as unemployment, child poverty and digital exclusion. It also outlines concrete steps that cities are taking to respond to these challenges. Read more

 

  • Youth leaders conference on human rights, social inclusion and youth participation

The Call to Europe Youth Leaders Conference on Human Rights, Social Inclusion and Youth Participation is an International event taking place from 21 to 27 March 2010 in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The conference aims to address the following questions: What is the role of Youth in the European Integration process? What is the role of Youth Leaders in protecting Human Rights? Does Europeans promote Social Inclusion and Non-discrimination? How can we deal with the Multicultural and fast changing new European Environment? How to take action to overcome Violation of Human Rights and Inequalities? Read more

  • Conference on fundamental rights protection in EU law under the Lisbon Treaty

The Academy of European Law (ERA) is organising a conference on fundamental rights protection in EU law under the Lisbon Treaty on 22-23 April 2010 in Trier, Germany. This conference will examine the current state of fundamental rights protection within the EU and the implications of the Lisbon Treaty. It will inter alia discuss the following issues: What does a legally binding Charter bring for the protection of fundamental rights in the EU? How and when will the EU accede to the ECHR and what implications will this have for fundamental rights protection? What will the relationship between the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg look like in the future? How will the various legal sources on the protection of fundamental rights interact in the framework of the EU? Read more

  • ELENA course on the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights as “asylum courts”
The European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) is organising an advanced ELENA course on "The Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights as 'asylum courts'" from 7 to 9 May 2010 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Course will examine the respective roles of the Courts and their procedures, as well as key case law relevant to asylum. The Course will also address the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union as a binding legal instrument as well as at the relations and interactions between the two Courts. The closing date for registrations is 24 March 2010. Read more
 
 
  • Minority Rights Group Europe is recruiting a Human Rights and Development Officer

MRG is seeking a Human Rights and Development Officer to assist in the implementation of a development education project aiming to promote international development and human rights among the new EU member states. The successful candidate will work on the implementation of the project “From Needs to Rights: Promoting More Effective Development Policies in Europe” engaging with government decision-makers, development policy actors and NGO stakeholders. The deadline for applications is 15 March 2010. Read more

  • ERRC invites applications for gender equality research fellowship and legal traineeship

The Gender Equality Research Fellowship is a new ERRC programme, introduced in 2010. This programme will provide the opportunity for interested individual activists working at a local level in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey and Ukraine to conduct research on gender equality issues that have been neglected up to now or on issues already researched, but looking at them through perspectives not yet explored. The ERRC opens a two-year legal traineeship and seeks a legal trainee to assist in litigating Roma rights, ethnic/race discrimination and related cases in domestic, European and international tribunals and to organise training sessions for Central and East European lawyers in public interest litigation strategies and techniques. The deadline for both openings is 10 April 2010. Read more

  • CECOP is recruiting an office assistant

CECOP-CICOPA Europe, the European Confederation of Workers’ Cooperatives, Social Cooperatives and Social and Participative Enterprises, seeks an Office Assistant for its Brussels-based secretariat. He/she will be responsible for providing administrative support to the CECOP secretariat, including diary management, travel arrangements, member liaison and taking care of the overall office environment. Read more

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