2 October 2015
From 14 to 16 October, ECRE members will gather in The Hague for the 2015 Annual General Conference (AGC) and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the consultation that led to the founding of ECRE. UNHCR will hold NGO Consultations, creating the space to raise issues, network and exchange views with ECRE member organisations on asylum in Europe.
Over 100 experts from all over Europe will come together to celebrate ECRE and help shape our voice for the future. Keynote speeches will be delivered by Professor Halleh Ghorashi, an Iranian-born anthropologist listed by a Dutch magazine as one of the most powerful women in the Netherlands, and by Volker Türk, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection.
The topics of the workshops include: Protection in Europe and Schengen associated States, Safe and Legal routes, Integration policies, Reception conditions and Storytelling. A panel discussion will focus on the current situation in the Balkans. On Thursday 15 October UNHCR will hold workshops on Family Reunification, Statelessness and the Protection of people on the move.
“The AGC is not only ECRE’s most important annual event, it is particularly crucial in today’s circumstances,” ECRE’s Secretary General Michael Diedring said.
“While Europe is going through a solidarity crisis, with several countries turning their back on refugees, ECRE member organisations are playing an outstanding role in helping to relieve the suffering of those seeking international protection, by providing humanitarian relief, reception services, legal counselling and integration support. 40 years after ECRE kicked off as a consultation forum, this AGC will help sharpen our vision for a humane and sustainable European asylum system. It has never been as important to bring ECRE members together.”
Registration to the Annual General Conference is open. Please use this form by Monday 5 October.
For further information:
- ECRE Annual General Conference & UNHCR NGO Consultations 2015, Agenda
This article appeared in the ECRE Weekly Bulletin of 2 October 2015. You can subscribe to the Weekly Bulletin here.