The conference REFUGEES – WELCOME (?) – Citizens’ initiative and media response to the refugee crisis and conflict will bring together experts, academics and practitioners from international organisations, media and citizens’ initiative to discuss options and strategies for more effective response on refugee crisis and conflict, and share different perspectives on international and national responsibilities and involvement.
Speakers:
1. Carol Mann Ph.D –Paris 8, Paris, Director of Women In War, Think Tank for Gender and Armed Conflict
2. Juliana Santos Wahlgren – Networking Officer, European Network Against Racism
3. Davide Cesário Castro – Editorinchief, The Critique
4. Huma Saeed – Transitional Justice Researcher, University of Leuven
5. Paul Mason – Platform Citoyennes
Globally, one in every 122 humans is now either a refugee, internally displaced, or seeking asylum, the UN reports. The number of people forced to flee their homes across the world has exceeded 50 million for the first time since the Second World War.
Those countries crossed by the “refugee route” find that their resources cannot cope with thedramatic increase in need, from shelter to water and sanitation, food, medical assistance and education. President of the European Commission, JeanClaude Juncker, in his State of the Union Speech said: “We can build walls, we can build fences but there is no wall you could not climb if it is terror you are fleeing” and called for obligatory quota for the EU member states. So far European response has received much criticism from both sides: for not doing enough and for interfering too much to national policies.
Therefore, the main question is how European citizens’ initiatives, governments and media can contribute in creating more effective response the refugee crisis?
