Estonia

“Professional success and Integration”

SECOND PUBLIC DEBATE in Tallinn, Estonia 18-21. August 2021

Overview of II public debate

Key words: vulnerable groups, labour and human rights, social cohesion, policy making in EU, civil society and its challenges, discriminations, inclusion, working bottom up, best practices and successful cooperation, interdisciplinary work.

The public debate will be a two-day event that will include an intensive program of official discussions, workshops, training, project proposals, and the development of content for independent European Report on the situation with refugees, migrants, and minorities in different social life sectors.

Date and place: 18th – 21th August 2021 in Tallinn, Estonia (Tallink Spa & Conference Hotell, Sadama 11a, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia)

Participants: up to 35 participants (up to 10 from Estonia and up to 26 international participants on-site or online) from partner organizations representatives, experts, guests, students/youth, interested organizations/institutions and NGOs leaders, networks, and individuals representing vulnerable groups.

Participating countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Belgium, Portugal, Slovakia.

Official languages: English

Components of the II public debate

Key note speeches by international experts in the field of employment, integration and migration policy in EU,  civil society, human rights, intercultural dialogue, countering discrimination a workplace (by age, gender, national origin and disability)  – The aim is to introduce the themes to all participants (as the event is open to all) and further elaborate on the continued relevance of these themes.

Panel discussion sessions, these panel discussions include representatives of many different backgrounds who will highlight the usefulness of creating a comparative perspective, being open to ideas from other countries (regions), and finding common goals and policy approaches.

Practical working groups/workshops for participants to introduce them to new skills and knowledge with final cooperation results. (Workshop agenda for organizations/individuals related with strengthening cohesion for more inclusive Europe)

Public debates agenda

18st of August 2021, Hamburg – ARRIVAL DAY

All day arrival from (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Belgium, Portugal, Slovakia) Opening + Dinner

19thth of August 2021, Tallinn – PUBLIC DEBATE WITH OFFICIALS & TARGET GROUPS

10.00 – 10.30 Opening Speeches:

Vassili Golikov, (Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare, Estonia) project leader and host organisation,
Peter Weisenbacher (Slovakian Human Rights Institute) co – organiser
Biser Alekov (KHAM vzw)  co -organiser
Jane Õispuu, Head of Political Team, European Commission Representation in Estonia

10.30 – 11.30 Keynote speakers:

  • “Using immigration potential: Diversity and Inclusion policies at the workplace”
    Anna Lisa Starkova, Researcher, University of Lund, Sweden
  • Estonia migration policy and changing realities of implementation”
    Harry Kattai, Advisor in Citizenship and Migration Policy Department at the Ministry of Interior of Estonia
  • “Future of Nordic-Baltic migration trends “
    Saara Pellander, Director of Migration Institute of Finland (online)

11.30 – 11.45 Coffee Break

11.45 – 13.00 Panel discussion I : Making a success of integrating immigrants and refugees in the labour market and updating integration policies  

  • Kati Madisson, representative of Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund
  • Yusufi Muhammadzoda, Refugee Council of Lithuania (representative of vulnerable groups)
  • Annika Sepp, Advisor, Employment Department of Ministry of Social Affairs
  • Linda Liepkalne, Society Shelter Safe House (Latvia)
  • Laura Maria Rajala, Fimigrant RY (Finland)

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 14.45 Keynote speakers:

  • “Empowerment and socialization of young Roma in Brussels by protecting their rights”
    PhD. Biser Alekov, Director of KHAM vzw (Belgium)
  • “Challenges in Estonian integration policy from the perspective of the migration crisis 
    Mrs. Piret Hartman, Deputy secretary general of Estonian Ministry of Culture

14.45 – 16.00 Panel discussion II : European and national Inclusion and integration policies in terms of human rights approach

  • Hedvig Evert, The chair of Tallinn Estonian Language House, Integration Foundation
  • Daina Arfanova, Generation Dialogue (Latvia)
  • Peter Weisenbacher, Executive director of Slovakian Human Rights Institute
  • Celso Soares, Culture Face (Portugal), Representative of vulnerable groups
  • Laura Maria Rajala, coordinator of Fimigrant RY (Finland)

16.00 – 16.15 Coffee Break

16.00 – 17.30 Public debates III part (Sharing best practices and opinions)

– Sharing experiences of vulnerable groups on inclusion, employment, participation, discrimination, and stigmatisation etc…

Estonian experience: SSCW and Integration Foundation,
Finnish experience: Fimigrant
Slovakian experience: Slovakian Humans Rights Institute
Lithuanian experience: Youth Centre Babilonas
Portugal experience: Culture Face
Latvian experience: Generation Dialogue and Society Shelter Safe House
Belgium experience: KHAM vzw 

17.20 – 18.00 Summary

19.00 – 21.00 Dinner
Free time

20th of August 2021, Tallinn– DISCUSSIONS and DEVELOPING CONTENT FOR EUROPEAN REPORT (working in groups)
Goal: Participants of the project exchange ideas, get new experiences, train their social skills, examine their attitudes and reflect on their values.

10.00 – 13.00 Public debates IV part (Sharing best practices and opinions)
– Developing and gathering data for a content of European report in six working groups.

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 15.45 Public debates V part (Working groups)
Finalisation of content proposals for European Report

15.45 – 16.00 Coffee Break

16.00 – 18.00 Public debates VI part (Meeting with NGOs representatives dealing with socialization and laboring questions)

19.00 – 21.00 Dinner and celebration of Estonian National Holiday (Visiting public events with vulnerable group representatives)

21st of August 2021, Tallinn– DISCUSSIONS and DEVELOPING CONTENT FOR EUROPEAN REPORT (working in groups)
Goal: Participants of the project exchange ideas, get new experiences, train their social skills, examine their attitudes and reflect on their values.
10.00 – 13.00 Finalisation of content proposals for European Report (includes coffee break)

Summary of the event and follow up / Departure

Project is co-funded by the European Commission in the framework of the Europe for Citizens programme.