European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

ECRI’s Round Table in Austria

Diplomatic Academy of Vienna
Vienna, 13 September 2005

PROGRAMME

 

German version (pdf)

8:45

REGISTRATION

9:00 – 9:15

OPENING

 

Opening Address by Mr Matthias ELLMAUER, parliamentarian

Welcome and introductory statement by Prof. Stefan KARNER, member of ECRI and Moderator of the morning session of the Round Table

9:15 – 10:15 THEME I – ECRI’S REPORT ON AUSTRIA

9:15 – 9:25

Introduction to ECRI’s work

by Mr Michael HEAD, Chair of ECRI

9:25 – 9:45

Conclusions to be drawn from ECRI’s Report on Austria

by Prof. Arvydas Virgilijus MATULIONIS, member of ECRI

9:45 – 10:15

Discussion: open to the floor

10:15 – 10:30

Coffee Break

10:30 – 12:30 THEME II – ASYLUM, IMMIGRATION AND INTEGRATION: POLICIES AND PRACTICES

10:30 – 10:45

Asylum procedure and the reception of asylum-seekers in Austria,

by Mag. Wolfgang TAUCHER, Head of the Federal Asylum Office

10:45 – 11:00

The situation of asylum seekers and new coming immigrants in Austria,

by Mag. Andreas LEPSCHI, Head of Department for Refugees and Migration, Caritas Austria

11:00 – 11:15

Practical initiatives for the integration of immigrants and ethnic minorities at the local level,

by Dr. Kurt STÜRZENBECHER, member of the Vienna City Council

11:15 – 12:30

Discussion: open to the floor

12:30 – 2:00

Lunch break

Moderator of the afternoon session: DI Helmut STROBL, deputy member of ECRI and member of the EUMC Management Board

2:00 – 3:30 THEME III – RACISM, ANTISEMITISM AND XENOPHOBIA IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND IN PUBLIC SPHERE

2:00 – 2:15

The use of racist, antisemitic and xenophobic arguments in political discourse – the European perspective,

by Mr Michael HEAD, Chair of ECRI

2:15 - 2:30

Racism, antisemitism and xenophobia in political discourse and in public sphere in Austria,

by Prof. Ruth WODAK, Head of the Research Center “Discourse, Politics and Identity”, Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Vienna and Professor of Discourse Studies at the Lancaster University

2:30 – 3:30

Discussion: open to the floor

Special Contribution by Dr. Beate WINKLER, Director of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC)

3:30 – 3:45

Coffee Break

3:45 – 5:30 THEME IV – THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY – IMPLEMENTING ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS

3:45 – 4:00

ECRI’s General Policy Recommendation No.7 on national legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination,

by Ms Isil GACHET, Executive Secretary to ECRI

4:00 – 4:15

Recent developments in the field of anti-discrimination legislation in Austria,

by Mag. Dieter SCHINDLAUER, Director of ZARA and President of the Litigation Association of NGOs against Discrimination

4:15 – 4:30

The establishment of a national specialised body to combat discrimination – the challenges ahead,

by Dr. Ingrid NIKOLAY-LEITNER, Ombudsman for Equal Treatment

4:30 – 5:30

Discussion: open to the floor

5:30 – 6:00

Conclusions of the Round Table

 

Presentation of the conclusions of the Round Table by the Moderator of the afternoon session