PROGRAMME AT HOME IN EUROPE? MUSLIMS IN EU CITIES

Transcription

1 PROGRAMME AT HOME IN EUROPE? MUSLIMS IN EU CITIES Monday 7 Wednesday 9 December th WILTON PARK CONFERENCE in co-operation with the Open Society Institute Purpose of meeting: The Open Society Institute has conducted an in depth research project focusing on 11 cities in 7 EU countries which have significant Muslim populations. The monitoring has focused on the key areas of identity, education, employment, housing and health, policing and security, citizenship and the role of the media. Based on the research findings, the meeting will consider: ways in which municipal and national authorities address the challenges of integration how to counter growing political, social and economic tensions strategies to engage Muslims and their communities in key decision-making The meeting will bring together policy makers, academics, key figures in the Muslim communities and other specialists from Europe and North America to: learn from the successes and shortcomings of existing strategies identify cross-cutting issues, key concerns and ways forward develop more effective strategies at municipal, national and EU level to promote better integration In addition to the 11 city reports, a comparative analysis of the research conducted in the 7 countries will be published in late Key issues for discussion: What are the challenges facing municipal and national authorities regarding the integration of Muslim communities and individuals? What are the obstacles to effective integration and what are the examples of good practice? How to ensure equal rights in a climate of growing social, political and economic tensions? To what extent are Muslims consulted and involved in key decision making? How can this be enhanced? What are the barriers which restrict access to services such as housing, health, education and the labour market? How do Muslims view themselves within their communities, countries and the EU? What is the relationship between Muslims and the criminal justice system? What is the impact of current anti-terror legislation? What influence does the media have on community perceptions? MONDAY 7 DECEMBER Participants Arrive Buffet lunch available Welcome to Wilton Park Julia PURCELL Programme Director, Wilton Park, Steyning Introduction to Conference Nazia HUSSAIN Director, At Home in Europe Project, Open Society Institute, London Opening Remarks Aryeh NEIER President, Open Society Institute, New York

2 WHAT S HAPPENING AT A LOCAL LEVEL? Overview of findings from the At Home in Europe Project of the Open Society Institute. What are the main concerns of Muslims and their communities? Are there different national approaches to integration? What are the models of best practice? Introduction to At Home in Europe Nazia HUSSAIN Director, At Home in Europe Project, Open Society Institute, London Tufyal CHOUDHURY Senior Policy Adviser, At Home in Europe Project, Open Society Institute; Lecturer in Law, University of Durham Robin TUDDENHAM Director, Safe and Strong Communities, London Borough of Waltham Forest WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENTS TOWARDS ENSURING EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION? What are the main obstacles to integration and how can they be overcome? What do governments expect from their populations? Can more be done to engage minority groups? What are the risks of getting it wrong? Neil O CONNOR Director, Cohesion and Migration, Department for Communities and Local Government, London Conference Photograph followed by Tea/Coffee HOW TO ENHANCE REGIONAL ACTIVITY? What can the European Union do? What about the role of the OSCE? In what ways can regional bodies complement the efforts of states and municipal bodies? Omur ORHUN Adviser and Special Envoy of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC); Former Personal Representative of the OSCE on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims Merete BILDE Policy Adviser to the European Union High Representative, Brussels 1930 Reception followed by Dinner TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER Breakfast WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES TO EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION? What can be learned from the historical perspective and experiences of other communities? How do the perceptions of the European countries fit with the wider international perspective? What resources are needed to ensure effective integration at both a national and regional level? Session Chair: Tariq MODOOD Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy; Director, Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship, University of Bristol Geoffrey ALDERMAN Michael Gross Professor of Politics and Contemporary History, University of Buckingham Henry HOGGER Former British Diplomat; Senior Consultant, Middle East Consultants (MEC) International Ltd, London

3 Tea / Coffee DO PUBLIC SERVICES REFLECT NEEDS: WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS AND HOW CAN THEY BE OVERCOME? Speakers in plenary to introduce topics, followed by in depth discussion in break out groups. Education How to improve access to education systems and raise the level of understanding across communities? Are mother tongue classes a help or a hindrance? What about the perceptions of faith schools? How to raise the educational expectations of young people? Is there over-specialisation in some subjects and how can this be overcome? Do educational aspirations differ between boys and girls and how can this be addressed? Rukhsana YAQOOB Regional Adviser, Narrowing the Gap, The National Strategies, London Employment What are the main obstacles to employment and how can these be addressed? How effective is anti-discrimination legislation and can it be strengthened? In what ways does immigration status impact on employment prospects? How to link minority communities into existing employment networks? What is the likely impact of the current economic downturn? Is the experience changing for second and third generation? Rolf-Barnim FOTH Head, Political Planning Department, City Hall, Hamburg Social Care Are there specific health issues affecting Muslim communities and how should these be addressed? What are the most effective social care strategies and how to ensure cultural sensitivity amongst staff delivering front line services? How to tackle specific issues relating to the needs of women? Is mental health being addressed from within communities and by practitioners? Humera KHAN Consultant on Muslim Affairs; Founding Member, An-Nisa Society, London WHAT PRACTICAL AND POLICY INITIATIVES CAN BE TAKEN TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES? BREAKOUT GROUPS Participants to sign up to one of the four parallel groups EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT SOCIAL CARE MEDIA Lunch REPORTS FROM BREAKOUT GROUPS Feedback on specific policy recommendations from Session HOW CAN MUSLIMS INFLUENCE POLICY? Do Muslims feel part of the political community? What are the barriers to effective political engagement at a local and national level and how can they be overcome? Are policy makers sensitive to the needs of Muslims? How far are women engaged in policy dialogue? What are the particular challenges facing young people? What about second and third generation Muslims? How to ensure engagement across the spectrum of Muslim communities? Are there more effective ways for Muslims to organise themselves to enhance participation in policy debates?

4 Tea / Coffee Mehmet KAPLAN Member of Parliament, The Green Party, Stockholm Véronique RIEFFEL Director, Institute of Islamic Culture, Paris HOW TO BUILD TRUST BETWEEN MUSLIM COMMUNITIES AND ENFORCEMENT PRACTITIONERS? What is the impact of anti-terrorist legislation? How effective is ethnic profiling and what are the risks of getting it wrong? Speakers in plenary to introduce the topic, followed by discussion in break out groups. Mick GILLICK Superintendent; Operations Manager, West Midlands Police, Birmingham James GOLDSTON Executive Director, Open Society Justice Initiative, New York BREAKOUT GROUPS Participants to sign up to one of the two topics. There will be two groups on each topic. HOW CAN MUSLIMS INFLUENCE POLICY? HOW TO BUILD TRUST BETWEEN MUSLIM COMMUNITIES AND ENFORCEMENT PRACTITIONERS? Reception followed by Dinner After Dinner Speakers ALLAH MADE ME FUNNY WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER Breakfast Azhar USMAN and Preacher MOSS Comedians; Producers, Handshake Productions, Des Plaines REPORTS FROM BREAKOUT GROUPS Feedback on specific policy recommendations from Session MANAGING PERCEPTIONS OF MUSLIMS: THE IMPACT ON IDENTITY What influences public opinion? Is it counter-productive to have a spotlight on the concerns of Muslims? How responsible is the media? How to ensure that societies are welcoming of minorities? How can political leaders and opinion formers ensure that debates are measured and well informed? How to balance cultural and religious loyalties with citizenship? What perceptions do Muslims have of themselves within their communities, countries and the EU? Can Muslims criticise their own communities? Session Chair: Martin ROSE Project Director, British Council s Our Shared Europe ; Director, British Council, Ottawa Jytte KLAUSEN Lawrence A. Wien Professor of International Cooperation, Brandeis University; Affiliate, Centre for European Studies, Harvard University Ted CANTLE Associate Director, Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA); Professor; Executive Chair, Institute of Community Cohesion (icoco), Coventry

5 Tea / Coffee FUTURE POLICY OPTIONS Lunch Panel Discussion 1400 Participants depart Chaired by: Heather GRABBE Director, Open Society Institute Brussels