EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Social Cohesion Forum 2006

Social Cohesion Forum 2006 – Strasbourg, 9-10 November 2006

09-11-2006

Introduction

The Council of Europe’s Directorate General of Social Cohesion Forum will be devoted this year to the theme “Achieving social cohesion in a multicultural Europe.” With its many different population groups and societies modern Europe has always been a plural entity. In addition, the cultural diversity resulting from migration has been the focus of much debate in recent years, and at times considerable anxiety.

Description

The concerns raised also appear to relate to the sweeping changes that have affected employment and the role of the state in Europe. At the same time, the difficulties migrants and persons with a migration background face in terms of access to rights and social mobility are undermining the operation of society as a whole.

There is a need for innovation in both “integration” policies and, more generally, social and economic policies.

The following themes will be covered:

role of migrants in a globalised economy;
social policy models which take account of differences;
access to social security and protection systems;
access to employment, employment rights, social mobility;
access to health care and accommodating the cultural dimension;
access to housing and urban governance;
right to economic initiative;
autonomy of migrant women;
education, intercultural and inter-faith dialogue;
public initiatives to promote “integration”;
presence of migrants in the media;
expressions of citizenship and participation in public life.

The Forum is open free of charge to all those interested. It is aimed, in particular, at:

elected representatives and officials responsible for migration, integration and non-discrimination issues;
social policy and integration policy professionals;
members of non-governmental organisations and citizens’/migrants’ associations;
researchers, academics and students.

Programme

Location

Strasbourg, France

Links

For more information and to register, please visit the Forum’s website.
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