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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS AND TECHNICAL INFO |
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Call for Nominations - It is time for the anti-discrimination movement in Europe and worldwide - to rethink what are its aims & tasks and what are the tools & possibilities in this very challenging struggle. - It is time to evaluate our work and take into consideration all our good practices, but also our failures. - It is time to discuss and rethink our working methods and strategies. Therefore Ukraine - a so called ‘new democracy’, evolving from a post-soviet country - provides the matching stage as hosting country of this conference to discuss the future of NGO work, empowerment of civil society and new challenges in the anti-discrimination field. Ukraine declared its independence in 1991 and since then the country is trying to convert from a totalitarian communist regime into a democratic, rule of law and human rights state. Carrying the burden of the past USSR era with its legal, economical and state system, Ukraine struggled the first ten years of independence to understand what it needs to become a democratic and independent country in Europe. The countries specific geo-political situation is another influencing key factor, which can be seen as advantage or disadvantage on its way to become a democratic and truly independent state. Bordering Russia and Belarus on one side and the European Union on the other, Ukraine is torn between European democratic values and eastern totalitarianism. This very special geo-political position makes Ukraine a transit route for asylum seekers and migrants on their way to enter the European Union. After its independence declaration, a new written constitution and its first democratic elected President and Parliament, Ukraine started its progress towards democracy, economical development and general wellbeing for its citizens. The first obstacles to take on this hard way were the inherited ‘old systems’, and it took more that 10 years to change some of them, to sign major international human rights treaties, to train new governmental officials and to explain to ordinary people what is different now. This was a long and tiring way, some parts of it were successful and some failed dramatically. The most recent steps on the way to Ukraine’s democratisation led to the so-called 'Orange Revolution', which was highlighted by a series of acts of civil disobedience, sit-ins, and general strikes organised by the opposition movement. But right now, after 18 years of independence and 5 years after the 'Orange Revolution', there are still lots of problems in Ukraine. Among the many remaining major obstacles - namely gaps and contraventions in legislation; failure of current political parties; unstable economic situation; human rights violations etc. - there are some that urge immediately action and not only reaction: rise of far right parties and groups; lack of civil and human rights education; popular xenophobic rhetoric and the jump of islamophobia among Ukrainian citizens. - The growing popularity of far right ideologies is shown by the recent electoral victory of the radical right-wing political party “Svoboda” (Freedom) that won astonishing 34% of the votes in a local election (Ternopil Oblast regional Council in the west of Ukraine). Strengthened by this “approval of the Ukrainian citizen” the party now aims for seats in the Parliament in the upcoming general election in 2010. - In the 1950s the entire population of Crimea Tatars were forcibly deported from Ukraine (Crimea region) to Central Asia by Stalin's Soviet government, in the 1990s Ukraine let them come back, but the government did nothing to provide them basic support and rights. Up to now they live in horrible conditions, fighting for basic rights, especially for the possibility to preserve their culture and language and to practice their religion. - A lot of foreign students come to Ukraine to start there a study at university. They have to pay a lot of money for their wish to receive a higher education, but all they get is a hostile xenophobic environment and good chances to become a victim of a violent racist attack. These are just three examples out of the many daily struggles in Ukraine and they all stand ‘just’ for one specific societal problem in a particular area. This UNITED conference is a chance to get to know more about the specific struggles of civil society organisations and groups in Ukraine and how this struggle is influenced from the EU and former so-called ‘East-bloc’ countries. Moreover this conference will discuss the past and the possible future ways of the European anti-discrimination movement. There is no master plan in fighting racism, fascism, nationalism and related intolerance - our key for success is the skill to adapt to new challenges and our courage to set an innovative course of action. The conference will, through working groups, plenary sessions and workshops, look at following specific issues: rise of right wing; revisionism and history interpretation; migration flows and migrantophobia; institutional racism; utilisation of propaganda and hate speech; human rights education; minorities and community cohesion; new challenges and new alternatives; future of networking. Using the capacity of the international UNITED Network, its diverse supporters and experts in the anti-discrimination field across Europe, the conference will apply the sharing of good practices and know-how to develop innovative working tools and methods and build capacity for a stronger and more effective civil society. Through the working groups below, issues like the ones mentioned earlier will be discussed. Your contribution will be valuable.... * Coming to Terms with the Past? * Open Europe? Present and Future of Migration * Hate Speech vs Freedom of Expression: the Role of Propaganda * Teach It! Human Rights in Action * Bring Us Together! Minorities in Europe * Move It! Civil Society Addressing New Challenges UNITED is the largest pan-European anti-racist network of more than 560 organisations. Through its conferences antiracist and human rights activists from all parts of Europe meet and discuss effective ways of combating racism and discrimination. At a recent UNITED conference held in June 2009 in Sheffield (UK) more than 75 delegates representing organisations from 30 European countries analysed the current political situation in the UK, how to fight the political right, the relationship between propaganda and conflict, the role of subcultures in the antiracism movement and how to develop new strategies to improve cooperation and promote tolerance. Participants: Language: Financial conditions: The participation fee of the conference is: 40 Euro for participants from group 3: Organisations that paid their 2009 supporter fee to the UNITED Network will receive a 50% reduction of the participation fee. (how to become a supporter) Contribution to international travel costs Participants travelling from group 2 Participants travelling from group 3 - except UA Participants travelling from UA: Please look for the cheapest and most environmentally friendly possibility to travel. We strongly encourage you to travel by nighttrain, bus or other cheaper means of transport to Kiev. In order to be eligible for a contribution to your travel costs you will be expected to attend the whole meeting and to prove your travel expenses providing an original invoice and the original tickets to UNITED. The cost of your visa can be reimbursed by UNITED on the base of an original invoice from the Embassy. UNITED conferences can only take place when participants make an effort to contribute financially to their travel costs. We ask you to find out if there are alternative possibilities of funding your participation. Sometimes it is possible to find small local grants (e.g. a travel grant from a foundation, a university, an embassy or another sponsor). We would very much appreciate your help. Application procedure: UP |
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