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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Aug 2007 : 18:53:32
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AFRICAN CONFERENCE
ON NORWEGIAN INTERGATION POLICY
Saturday September 22nd 2007
PROGRAMME
Time: 11:00am – 17:00pm
Venue: Asia Hall, IMDI
11:00: Registration and coffee drink Konferense Leder, Brother Buntu (Amani)
12:00: Opening Remarks: Chairperson, Africa Center for Information and Development (ACID), Mamadi Jobarteh, Chairperson.
12:10: Introduction of the Africa center for Information and Development (ACID), Omar Drammeh, Director of Programmes
12:20: Introduction of the Norwegian Integration Policy: Skjoldvors Fjeldvær, Assisterende Director, Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet ,IMDI.
12: 35: African migrants in the labor market: Challenges and Challenges and Opportunities, NAV
12:50: Questions and Answers
13:15: Coffee Break
13:25: The role of the Police in enhancing social inclusion: challenges and Opportunities, Politidirektoratet.
13:40: Socio-economic conditions of women in Norway: Antoinette, Daglig Leder, PAWA (Pan African Women Association-Norway).
13:55: Questions and Answers
14:10: Lunch break
14:40: Education and skills development as a means of addressing youth Social exclusion: Moses Kuvoame, Uteseksjonen i Rusmiddeletaten i Oslo.
14:55: Integration and the youth perspectives: The way forward, Sam Chimaobi Ahamba, Daglig Leder, Afrikan Youth Group
15:10: Questions and answers
15: 25: Coffee Break
15:40: African perspectives on the integration policy. Thomas Prestø Charles-Harris.
15:55: Raising racism and discrimination and it affects on integration. Aki, Leder, Organisasjonen Mot Offentlig Diskriminering, OMOD
16:15: Questions and Answers
16:30: Closing Remarks
17:00: Close
WHY THE NEED FOR AN AFRICAN CONFERENCE ON NORWEGIAN INTERGATION POLICY.
No one culture should be taken as a standard yardstick to judge other cultures as no one culture is superior to the other. An ethnocentric view of integration, therefore, violates the rights of individuals in preserving their cultures and identities inherent to them. This goes further to explain why the majority of Africans usually find it hard to make a breakthrough in Norway due to some of the artificial barriers, which are often discriminatory and bias, as for example in family reunion cases and evaluation of school and higher education certificates.
One of the factors leading to an increased focus on integration in Norway is the belated recognition that migration will be a permanent part of Norway's future. The workers who come to join immigrant relatives will require a level of incorporation, whether they stay temporarily or permanently. Moreover, Norway cannot afford to neglect the talents of migrants already in the workforce Public resentment of migrants and fear of difference leads to discrimination, community tensions, and occasional violence. In addition, it has contributed to the rise in support for far-right political parties, who successfully exploited people's fears and resentments. Public anxiety about Muslim minorities (in particular since the September 11 terrorist attacks), subsequent international conflicts, and vocal hostility towards Muslims all point to the need for a comprehensive integration strategy. This need has yet to be addressed effectively at the national level. A minority of disillusioned and alienated migrants will seek an alternative sense of identity and purpose by joining fundamentalist groups, thereby further segregating themselves from mainstream society. For this reason The Africa Center for Information and Development (ACID) has recognised that integration is a necessary part of a comprehensive immigration and refugee strategy. The number of Africans living in Norway is on the increase, recent statistics shows that there are 150,000 Africans living in Norway. This is a huge community bigger than some cities in Africa. Therefore ACID sees the need to open the debate within and among the African community on the importance of the Norwegian integration policy to their lives and futures. ACID also finds it’s deem necessary to provide a thorough analysis of the obstacles to integration and a recommendations on how to overcome them through dialogue, debate, conversation within the African community.
ACID is determined to raise awareness and to bring to the fore the diverse and multi-faceted issues affecting the lives of African migrants in Norway. Recent news headlines show stark images of African migrants making perilous journeys in the Atlantic Ocean to reach Spain/Europe. While some of these migrants flee purely on economic grounds, a host of others are fleeing due to persecution. But how does fleeing from Africa address the plight of the African migrant when European immigration laws/regulations are designed in such a way that African migrants are left voiceless and powerless even where they have lived in European societies for most parts of their adult lives? While many had high hopes of making a decent living in their adopted countries, others thought they would find safe havens where their basic human rights will be preserved and respected. Enforcing integration, which ultimately leads to assimilation, is thus counterproductive. It is therefore necessary to look at the situation of African migrants in Norway to enhance a debate and dialogue for a clear understanding and conceptualisation of the term “integration”.
ACID believes that Africans living in Norway are part of the Norwegian society and that they have a place in the society.
For this reason ACID would like to contribute, from the grassroots to the national level, in the struggle for a social and just Norway. Our experience with racism and
discrimination, our perspective for a better future and also our strength and spirituality are good ingredients for this contribution. We offer as well as expect something. We expect equal position, respect and equal rights. We offer activism and full participation in the development of civic society.
AFRICANS CREATING SPACE FOR AFRICAN VOICES
Africa Center for Information and Development (ACID)
P.O.Box 76 Romsøs
0970 Oslo, Norway
Email: acidcenter@acidcenter.no
Website. www.acidcenter.no
Download the latest newsletter: http://www.acidcenter.no/africa_links.pdf
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