Seminar on Human Displacement in Bishkek
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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1998 13:38:44 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: Seminar on Human Displacement in Bishkek
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Natalia Ablova <[email protected]>
Seminar on Human Displacement in Bishkek
Soros Foundation - Kyrgyzstan
«East-East» Programme
Central-Asian Forum
Open Society Institute (New York)
Forced Migration Projects
Project: «Human Displacement in Central Asia and International
Responses»
Organizers: The Soros Foundation - Kyrgyzstan (coordinator - Almash
Nayzabekova ,tel: +3312 221894), the Central-Asian Forum - with the
financial support of the Open Society Institute (New York) - Forced
Migration Projects.
Dates: 3-6 November 1998
Place: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Description of the Project:
After the break-up of the Soviet Union the whole post-Soviet region is
going through difficult economic, social and demographic processes.
This in turn creates fertile ground for conflicts and even local wars.
Naturally, migration flows in the post-Soviet region acquire other
quantitative and qualitative dimensions. In order to deal with
problems relating to human displacement, International Conference was
organized in Geneva in 1996 by the UN, OSCE and IOM.
The Conference made a detailed Programme of Action to operate until
the year 2000. State participants in the Geneva process were requested
to make political decisions to institute legislation and practical
measures for dealing with the serious problems relating to refugees
and migrants. The international community offered the use of its
institutions and significant material aid to the states of the CIS
involved in the Geneva process. Two years have passed, and it is time
to make some preliminary conclusions. In Kyrgyzstan, as throughout
Central Asia, significant measures have been taken in the area of
migration and migration policy. However, until now there has been no
attempt to evaluate the achievements and to give the opportunity of
correcting and directing such work for the near future. Despite the
fact that every year in Geneva a follow-up process is carried out, the
results of the national programmes of action under the Geneva process
in the countries of the CIS themselves are hardly discussed. Moreover,
there are weighty reasons to suggest that neither society nor the
target groups (refugees, migrants) even suspect that under the Geneva
process refugees can be involved in solving their own problems or that
the co-ordination of efforts by the government and non-government
sectors is extremely important.
The aim of this seminar is to create an informational break-through in
relation to issues which concern the Geneva process and regional
co-ordination of efforts in the sphere of human displacement. By the
initiative of several NGOs for various CIS countries, it was proposed
in Geneva in June 1998 that a coalition be created to evaluate the
operation of the Programme of Action.
At the signing of the Helsinki Accords a powerful impulse to create
the Helsinki movement for the protection of human rights was brought
into being. There is hope that the Geneva process will promote the
creation of a movement that will deal with problems of human
displacement.
The participants will discuss the following topics:
- The Geneva Programme of Action and National Implementation Plans;
- The current state of migration flows in the countries of Central
Asia and their influence on neighbouring states;
- Regional mechanisms to regulate migration flows;
- The development of national strategies for migration policy;
- Legislation and practice in the sphere of human displacement;
- The activities of international organizations (UNHCR, IOM, OSCE and
others) in the region;
- The Geneva process and NGOs in the migration field: what has been
achieved?
- forms of cooperation between NGO and state structures in carrying
out the Programme of Action;
- migration tendencies in the 21st century: prognosis, fears, possible
solutions for the future.
Russian is the working language of the seminar. When necessary,
translation will be provided into English.
Collaboration and Finances: The project is not only aimed at the
Central-Asian region, but also at the countries of Eastern Europe
which have similar problems and interest in solving them. We will also
be happy to accept participants from other parts of the world.
Participants representing national migration departments, foreign
policy departments, parliaments, NGOs which work in the sphere of
migration and refugee protection and human rights NGOs are
particularly welcome.
Participants from the Soros network must apply to the co-ordinator of
the "East-East" programme in their own city or country for payment of
their return travel to Bishkek. Other participants must independently
find the means for their transport expenses.
Consultants of the Forced Migration Projects, OSI, will receive
invitations from Arthur Helton, the Projects director.
The "East-East" programme of the Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan will pay
for all the expenses in Bishkek (including meals, hotel and local
transport) for everyone who confirms their participation by 25 October
1998.
Natalia Ablova,Director,
Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law,
40 Manas avenue,Room 77,Bishkek 720001,
Kyrgyzstan
Tel.+3312 211874
Fax +3312 223924
e-mail:[email protected]
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