Sixth North South Forum Marks Anti Racism & Intercultural Week 2008
As part of the national programme of events to mark Anti Racism and Intercultural Week 2008 (7th-14th April) the Sixth North South Intercultural Forum in the Chambers of Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council on Friday 11th April (9am – 3pm.) organised through the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism’s (NCCRI) SYNERGY North South Intercultural Initiative.
The Forum will focus on ‘policy and service delivery to support minority ethnic communities, including Travellers, access to health and social services and children’s services, North and South’.
Anna Lo MLA, Forum Chair and Ambassador For European Year of Intercultural Dialogue commented,
‘The purpose of this Forum event is to examine the policy and practice issues that exist in the delivery of appropriate social work services for black and minority ethnic groups and individuals. Intercultural dialogue to date has, to a greater extent, majored in on a health service perspective. Within integrated health and social care structures it is important that this dialogue extends to social services, including children’s services.’
The Sixth Forum will examine some of the challenges and barriers that exist the opportunity will be provided to also examine what types of immediate and longer term policy and service delivery responses to better meet this need which has become more challenging with increased migration and the arrival of families from new communities. As integration strategies are in the process of implementation, north and south, there are greater challenges with existing and longer term minority ethnic and faith groups such as the Muslim and Traveller communities.
Joe Lenaghan, Regional Director NCCRI added,
‘Although the focus of this particular Forum is on social and children’s services the theme for Intercultural and Anti Racism Week 2008 is Education and we are taking this opportunity to promote a ‘Toolkit for Intercultural Dialogue in Schools’. in this European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.
The kit includes a ‘virtual twinning’ project where pupils, students and youth groups can undertake projects involving the five cities of Johannesburg, Krakow, Chicago, Liverpool and Beijing, which have an historic and/or contemporary links with Ireland, north and south.’’
The projects are designed to give students some insights into migration (old and new); information on Irish connections with each of the cities, including famous Irish men and women; ethnic and cultural diversity and it offers some project information focussing on racism.
Pat Colgan, Chief Executive, Special European Union Programmes Body which provides funding for the NCCRI/SYNERGY Initiative said:
‘Through the support provided by the PEACE and INTERREG programmes, the European Union has shown its commitment to addressing issues relating to racism and inter-culturalism. That commitment is continued in the PEACE III Programme which will support operations addressing racism and sectarianism. The Synergy initiative has used its support from the European Union to demonstrate how a community development approach can provide a context for participation in the planning and delivery of community based service solutions’
To mark Anti Racism and Intercultural Week (7-14 April) a significant range of events have taken place across Ireland, North and South. The week is funded as part of the National Action Plan against Racism and events are taking place in Ireland North and South with our colleagues in the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Calendars of events will be available at: www.nccri.ie and www.equalityni.org.
The NCCRI/Synergy North South Intercultural Initiative is funded under the EU INTERREG3A Programme by the SEUPB through the Cross Border Consortium Ends
Contacts:
Joe Lenaghan: 00353 (0)868206318
Kate Morris: 00353 (0)868166490
