Description
Foreigners are a group of people who - as non-citizens - are usually ignored. They are not covered by participatory projects and are not seen as partners by public institutions. It is repeatedly indicated that during many meetings concerning immigrants they themselves are poorly represented. But we live in a world of open frontiers and foreigners will be increasingly present in the public life in Poland. This project is a continuation of proven activities aimed at including immigrants and immigrant issues in the main current of public debate. The project will use tools created to actively include immigrants in the public life, including a debate concerning immigrants and development of recommendations for local authorities, but also for local and national migration policies. Among other activities, two working intersectoral forums will be conducted, an internet platform supporting cooperation among immigrants will be developed, a campaign “Open City" (citizens` evaluation of local policies concerning imigrants) and pilot immigrant radio-station will be organised.
Summary of project results
Foreigners are a group that is ignored both on general legislative level and during development of local strategies and solutions for inhabitants. In the MIPEX ranking, measuring openness of migration policies, Poland has 32nd place among 38 countries. The project was aimed at including migrants and migration issues into the main public debate, initiating the process of development of coherent local policies concerning foreigners, e.g. through creating communication and cooperation tools for expert groups and enhancing engagement and knowledge of the migrants themselves. As a result of the project, two Intersectoral Working Forums on Local Migration Policies were organised that gathered over 200 persons from ten cities: representatives of 52 non-governmental organisations and 25 institutions (20-30% of participants were migrants) under 13 different thematic working groups. After the forum, the summary report was published, and the works of two groups are continued (coalition against violence towards women and trainings for public officers). Under the initiative Open Cities, the report describing examples of good practices on integration of foreigners and antidiscrimination activities led in over 10 cities of Poland was prepared, and 11 good practices from four cities were singled out in a competition. Based on 402 questionnaires from six countries, the report on the quality of consultation services was prepared. Two services were developed that will continue their operations: Info-migrator.pl - information platform for migrants operating in eight cities in five languages, together with a service for communication and cooperation between various entities and groups dealing with migrants, and the first Internet radio for migrants (imiradio.pl) with a team of 25 persons and 22 broadcasts prepared in ten languages. The project benefited foreigners living in Poland, non-governmental organisations active for foreigners, representatives of local and central government administration. The partners of the project presented their experiences during the Forum (Icelandic Human Rights Centre), gave their expert support (the Association Homo Faber), consulted the programme of the Forum also from the perspective of local government (the City Hall in Warsaw).
Summary of bilateral results
"In 2014 and 2015 two Cross-Sector Working Forums on Local Migration Policies were organised in Warsaw and Wroclaw. Over 100 participants from more than 10 cities attended each of the Forums. Participants represented various stakeholders including officials, scientists and members of 52 non-governmental organisations. Approximately 30% of all participants were foreigners. All attendees were divided into diverse thematic working groups, which have developed a set of recommendation, summing up the work of each group. During the Forum in Wroclaw, Mannréttindaskrifstofu Íslands (Icelandic Human Rights Centre), the partner organisation from Iceland shared an hour-long presentation addressing the Icelandic experience regarding migrant integration. The presentation covered the support provided by non-governmental organisations to migrants during their initial years in Iceland, challenges pertaining to the increase in the number of migrants, arrangements concerning their reception, changes that have occurred within the Icelandic society, methods of combating discrimination amongst local communities through active participation, need to adapt children’s education, legal support and information provided to different groups of migrants and responsibilities of local authorities, NGOs and the central government. The activities of the Intercultural Center (in which the organisation was involved) and Human Rights Center counselling for migrants were also discussed. More information in polish: politykimigracyjne.pl."