21st of June 2022, Constanta
Press release
The international conference “Models of good practice in the field of immigrant integration” marked the World Refugee Day in Constanta
Novapolis Association – Center for Analysis and Initiatives for Development together with the Ecumenical Association of Churches in Romania AIDRom, the Prefect’s Institution of Caraş-Severin County and the Prefect’s Institution of Timiș County organized the conference “Models of good practice in the field of immigrant integration, implemented at regional, national and European level” and marked on 20th of June the World Refugee Day at Constanta.
The celebration of World Refugee Day in Constanta was an opportunity to honour all refugees around the world and to recognize the efforts of all those who fight for the protection and the rights of refugees everywhere – a moment of awareness of all of us.
The event was held within the project Eyes on Migrants (EoM) – Solidar and inclusive communities for immigrants in Romania with the aim to identify models of good practice in the field of immigrant integration, implemented at regional, national and European level while discussing challenges and opportunities for the integration of migrants and refugees in Romania and in the local communities, inter-institutional cooperation and working mechanisms in the management of migratory flows and the reception of migrants. The event also included the topic of cooperation between LAs and civil society organisations and the support for the integration of Ukrainian citizens in Romania and in different other Member States (e.g. Italy, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Lithuania) as well as models and good practices in developing regional and international partnerships on immigration management and migrant integration.
At the same time, the results of the study “Immigration and refugees in the public media and social media discourse in Romania” were presented during the conference. The research conducted by the Novapolis Association focused on data from 2015-2021 and investigated how migration and integration are presented and how refugees and immigrants are portrayed in the Romanian media and social media. In general, opinions expressed on social media are divergent, but without having a general negative character. People who comment on a topic express both negative and positive opinions. The online space in Romania does not show a general negative oppinion towards refugees or migration. It is rather a tolerant and empathetic behavior, probably due to the fact that Romanians also have a rich recent history in terms of emigration.
The project Eyes on Migrants (EoM) – Solidar and inclusive communities for immigrants in Romania is implemented by the Ecumenical Association of Churches from Romania – AIDRom in partnership with the Novapolis Association – Center for Analysis and Initiatives for Development, the Prefect’s Institution of Caraş-Severin County and the Prefect’s Institution of Timiș County, under the Active Citizens Fund Romania, with the financial support of the Active Citizens Fund Romania, programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The duration of the project is 24 months and it is implemented between April 2021 – March 2023.
The aim of the project is to promote active, multidimensional and multi-sectoral involvement and an attitude of acceptance, solidarity and tolerance in the protection of human rights and equal treatment of immigrants, especially asylum seekers and refugees, by working together at local level, as well as through information and awareness campaigns on immigration among children and young people in schools and in communities with significant number of migrants. The project will contribute to the deconstruction of stereotypes and prejudices about immigration and to the improvement of the integration process of migrants and refugees in Romania.
For further information, please contact Ms. Narcisa Alexe, Communication and event organization expert, Novapolis Association 0766.304.610, asociatianovapolis@gmail.com.
About the Active Citizens Fund Romania Program
The Active Citizens Fund Romania programme is funded through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities, and to strengthen bilateral relations between 15 beneficiary countries and the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The programme is administered by a consortium composed of Civil Society Development Foundation, Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, Resource Center for Roma Communities, PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, acting as Fund Operator designated by FMO – Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norway Grants. The objectives of the Active Citizens Fund Romania are to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to empower vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of 46,000,000 euro, the programme pursues a long-term development of the civil society sector sustainability and capacity, stepping up its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with organizations from the Donor States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. For more information about the Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please go to www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, go to www.eeagrants.org.
About the promoter and partners
The Ecumenical Association of Churches in Romania AIDRom has the mission to promote social justice and human rights, to provide humanitarian aid – material and spiritual – to groups of people in need, vulnerable groups, refugees and asylum seekers.
The Novapolis Association – Center for Analysis and Development Initiatives aims to contribute to a democratic, inclusive and diverse society that is economically and socially balanced, capable to respond to everyone’s needs. Its mission is to uphold and promote democratic values, models and interventions for the development of a society based on freedom, responsibility and respect.
The Prefect’s Institution of Caraş-Severin County operates according to Law no. 340/2004 on the prefect and the institution of the prefect updated and republished in OJ 658/2004, chapter III, the attributions of the prefect and GD no. 460/2006 for the application of some provisions of Law no. 340/2004, with subsequent amendments, published in OJ 363/2006.
The Prefect’s Institution of Timiș County operates according to Law no. 340/2004 on the prefect and the institution of the prefect updated and republished in OJ 658/2004, chapter III, the attributions of the prefect and GD no. 460/2006 for the application of some provisions of Law no. 340/2004, with subsequent amendments, published in OJ 363/2006.
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