CALL FOR NOMINATIONS AND TECHNICAL INFO

UNITED-Conference Invitation Europe under Construction: Imagine our Future without Hate! 4-9 November 2008, near Belgrade (RS)

Call for Nominations

DESCRIPTION AND AIMS:

* What is Europe today?
* Who are the Europeans?
* How does our part shape our future?
* Does history repeat?

Entire Europe has been facing great social, economic, political and cultural changes in last few decades. Twenty years ago our continent was still divided by an iron curtain in a Western and Eastern Block and it was not commonly expected that this situation would ever change. Moreover, 20 years ago there still existed a country in the Balkans called Yugoslavia - and the war in the region wasn't expected either. But it happened. Communism collapsed and Yugoslavia was dissolved.
Countries from Eastern Europe started a difficult transformation and European integration process, facing different challenges at all levels of society. Passing through major changes and leaving the past behind is a difficult process.
Meanwhile, Western Europe is also changing. Immigrants are searching for jobs and better life, refugees, IDP's and asylum seekers from many countries are looking for a safe place in Europe to live a decent life. Their languages, cultures, customs and religions are making Europe more diverse and colourful. There is diversity, but is there unity as well? There are a lot of stereotypes, xenophobia, intolerance and discrimination. New forms of racism are appearing targeting new groups that must be protected.

There are great challenges in front of all of us. Europe is an old continent with a past full of conflict, still in the process to define its identity and shape its future. The aim of the conference is to strengthen the anti-racist movement in Europe, particularly in the Balkans, and to promote solidarity among civil society organisations.
The conference will bring together around 70 NGO participants from different social, national, religious or other minority background, and offers the possibility to share visions of European past, present and future in working groups, strategy building workshops, presentations, political cafes, panel discussions, intercultural activities and many other occassions.

The main themes of the conference are structured in the following working groups:

UNITED is the largest pan-European anti-racist network of more than 560 organisations. Through its conferences anti-racist 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 May 2008 in Stockholm more than 65 delegates representing organisations from 30 European countries analysed the current situation of people affected by discrimination in Europe and developed common strategies to improve cooperation and promote tolerance.

Conference Prepared By:

* Afro-Asian Community of Moldova (MD)
* Association of Recognized Refugees in Cyprus (CY)
* Civic Assistance Committee Refugees & Forced Migrants (RUS)
* Ethnicity Research Center (RS)
* MTP Oradea (RO)
* QUEERIA Center (RS)
* Master on Immigration Programme University of Venice (I)
* UNITED for Intercultural Action

With the support of:

* European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe

Working methods
... plenary sessions, working groups, lectures, political cafés, presentations, debates, intercultural 'games', information market, cultural activities, open forum.

Participants:
The conference is planned for ± 70 participants (living in Europe) who represent (inter) national anti-racist, anti-fascist, refugee, human rights and minority rights organisations. Active grass-roots groups from all over Europe are also invited. Participation is rotated from one conference to another. Priority will be given to nominations from young delegates (under 30 years old) with a minority background. Preference is given to those organisations that actively take part in UNITED campaigns. Participants should act as multipliers, spreading the information to as many people as possible. We will try to reach an equal balance of female/male participants and a good geographical distribution. Each organisation can nominate only ONE delegate.

Language:
The conference language is English. All participants are expected to have at least basic knowledge of English. But don't worry, English is almost nobody's mother tongue. If you have difficulties in expressing yourself, surely we can help each other.

Financial conditions: Participation fee - travel costs

The participation fee of the conference is:
120 Euro for participants from: A, B, CH, CY, D, DK, E, F, FL, FIN, GB, GR, I, IS, IRL, L, M, N, NL, P, S
70 Euro for participants from: BG, BH, CZ, EE, H, HR, LV, LT, MK, MNE, PL, RO, SI, SK, TR, XZ
40 Euro for participants from: AL, ARM, AZ, BY, GE, KZ, KY, MD, RS, RUS, UA, UZB
Full board & lodging and the complete program is included.

Organisations that paid their 2008 supporter fee to the UNITED Network will receive a 50% reduction of the participation fee. (explanations about how to become a supporter)

Contribution to international travel costs
Participants travelling from the countries: A, B, CH, CY, D, DK, E, F, FIN, GB, GR, I, IS, IRL, L, M, N, NL, P, S
UNITED can contribute maximum 75% to your travel costs, not more than 250 Euro.

Participants travelling from the countries: AL, BG, BH, CZ, EE, H, HR, LV, LT, MK, MNE, PL, RO, SI, SK, TR, XZ
UNITED can contribute maximum 90% to your travel costs, not more than 350 Euro.

Participants travelling from the countries: ARM, AZ, BY, GE, KZ, KY, MD, RUS, UA, UZB
UNITED can contribute maximum 90% to your travel costs, not more than 400 Euro.

Participants travelling from the countries: RS
UNITED can contribute maximum 75% to your travel costs, not more than 50 Euro.

Please look for the cheapest and most environmentally friendly possibility to travel. We strongly encourage you to travel by train, bus, boat or other cheaper means of transport to Stockholm. 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. 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. Since we have limited sponsored places, delegates that can cover (part of) their own travelcosts have a higher chance to be selected.

Date and place
The conference will take place in a youth hostel near Belgrade. You will share a room with 2-3 other people.
A bus will bring the participants from Belgrade to the venue on Tuesday afternoon 4 November 2008.
Your arrival in Belgrade should be scheduled Tuesday morning.
A bus will bring you back to Belgrade on Sunday morning 9 November 2008 - your international departure should be scheduled Sunday afternoon.
If you wish to arrive earlier or stay longer in Belgrade (at your own costs), we can help you arrange your stay.

Further information
Please, note that sending the expression of interest form does not guarantee your participation in the conference.
Only those candidates selected for participation (this will be known mid September will be contacted, they will receive further information e.g. visa invitation, explanation 'how to get there', a final program, list of participants, etc.
Feel free to contact us by email after 18th of September to get information about your nomination.

Application procedure:
Organisations interested in nominating a delegate should send their nomination (Expression of Interest form below) by email before the deadline of Friday 5 September 2008
to serbia@unitedagainstracism.org

UP


UNITED for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism
and in support of migrants and refugees
Postbus 413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam, Netherlands
phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582
info@unitedagainstracism.org, www.unitedagainstracism.org