UNITED Conference “Wake Up Europe: It’s Time to Act!”, Finland

Deadline: 19 September, 2012
Open to: participants from Council of Europe countries who represent (inter)national antiracist, antifascist, refugee, human rights and minority rights organisations. See the countries HERE.
Venue: 12-17 November 2012, Finland

Wake Up Europe: It’s Time to Act!

All across Europe political groups and subcultures that feed off racist ideologies are on the move, penetrating mainstream politics with devastating consequences for the minorities targeted. The impact of racism and discrimination on our societies today is severe: it affects all of us in various ways – whether we are its subjects or objects – making social cohesion impossible and paving the way for conflict.
On the background of these examples and many others, UNITED is organizing this upcoming international conference to be held in Finland.
In Finland, migrants and ethnic minorities face prejudice, discrimination and racism that affect, for instance, equal access to work and equal treatment in schools. Racism in different forms – varying
from exclusion and name-calling to violence – is part of everyday life for many visible minorities, though racist incidents are rarely reported. Support for young victims of racism is insufficient and this need is not properly recognised. Finland has a relatively small migrant population; the biggest migrant groups today are Estonians, Russian and
Somalis. There are four national ethnic and language minorities: Finnish Roma, Tatars, Finnish-Swedish and Sami, last one being the only indigenous people in EU.

Creative approaches to tackle discrimination

In this climate of hate, we are heartened by acts of courage and the strength of free-thinking individuals; people who are not afraid to speak up for equality, multiculturalism and solidarity; people who go against the status quo to fight for what they believe in.
The European antiracist movement is full of such people, and you are invited to join us in Finland to create one unified voice that shows the true value of diversity.

During the conference, we will share fresh strategies and best practices for the European antidiscrimination movement. In a time when far-right groups are more and more successful in addressing a large part of the population, our response needs to be visible and creative: It’s time to ACT!

Eligibility

The conference is planned for 85 participants (living in the countries of the Council of Europe) who represent (inter)national antiracist, antifascist, refugee, human rights and minority rights organisations. You can see the map of the 47 COE countries HERE.
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. Priority will be given to nominations from young delegates (under 30years old) with a minority background.
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 you would be helped.

Venue

The conference will take place in Finland (FIN) and will start on MONDAY AFTERNOON 12 NOVEMBER 2012 with a bus transport to the venue. Departure from Helsinki is foreseen for Saturday afternoon 17 November 2012.
The participation fee of the conference depends on the country where the nominating organisation is based:
120 Euro for participants from group 1:A, B, CH, CY, D, DK, E, F, FL, GB, GR, I, IS, IRL, L, M, N, NL, P, S
60 Euro for participants from group 2: BG, CZ, EE, H, HR, LV, LT, PL, RO, SI, SK
40 Euro for participants from group 3: FIN, AL, ARM, AZ, BH, BY, GE, H, KZ, KY, MK, MNE, MD, RS, RUS, TR, UA, UZB, XZ

Full board & lodging and the complete program is included.
Organisations that paid their 2012 supporter fee to the UNITED Network will receive a 50% reduction of the participation fee.
Contribution to international travel costs Participants travelling from group 1: A, B, CH, CY, D, DK, E, F, GB, GR, I, IS, IRL, L, M, N, NL,

UNITED can contribute maximum 75% to the costs of your travel, not more than 260 Euro.
Participants travelling from group 2: BG, CZ, EE, H, HR, LV, LT, PL, RO, SI, SK, TR
UNITED can contribute maximum 85% to the costs of your travel, not more than 280 Euro.
Participants travelling from group 3: AL, ARM, AZ, BH, BY, GE, H, KZ, KY, MK, MNE, MD, RS, RUS, UA, UZB, XZ
UNITED can contribute maximum 90% to the costs of your travel, not more than 320 Euro.

Participants travelling from Finland UNITED can contribute maximum 75% to the costs of your travel, not more than 250 Euro.
The cost of your VISA can be reimbursed by UNITED on the base of an original invoice from the Embassy.
Please look for the cheapest and most environmentally friendly possibility to travel. We strongly encourage you to travel by night-train, bus or other cheaper means of transport to Finland.
In order to be eligible for a contribution to your travel costs you are expected to attend the whole meeting and to prove your travel expenses providing an original invoice and the original tickets to UNITED.
UNITED can only contribute to travel costs made for the return route between your place of residence and Finland. More information about the programme you can find here.

Application

Organisations interested in nominating a delegate should send their nomination (Expression of Interest form) BY EMAIL before the DEADLINE: 19 SEPTEMBER 2012 – 24:00 to finland@unitedagainstracism.org

 The Official Website