European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

Seminar with national specialised bodies to combat racism and racial discrimination on mediation and other forms of dispute resolution in cases of racism and racial discrimination

16-17 February 2006
Strasbourg, Human Rights Building
Salle de la Direction

PROGRAMME

1st Day - Moderator: Mr Michael HEAD, member of ECRI

SESSION 1: Setting the frame

9:30

Welcome by Mr Michael HEAD, member of ECRI

9:35 – 9:55

Standards of ECRI and the Council of Europe for dispute resolution in cases of racism and racial discrimination, by Ms Isil GACHET, Executive Secretary to ECRI

9:55 – 10:30

Discussion

10:30 – 10:45

Coffee Break

SESSION 2: Dispute resolution through mediation – general principles

10:45 – 11:00

Mediation: principles and practice

 

    - Presentation by Ms Siri KEMÉNY, Chair of the European Forum for Victim-Offender Mediation and Restorative Justice

11:00 – 11:15

Mediation and restorative justice for victims of racism and racial discrimination

 

    - Presentation by Ms Anne SALBERG, ACOR SOS Racisme

11:15 – 12:30

Discussion

12:30 – 14:00

Lunch Break

SESSION 3: Dispute resolution through MEDIATION – the role of national specialised bodies

14:00 – 14:15

Dispute resolution through mediation by a national specialised body: the Irish example

 

    - Presentation by Ms Melanie PINE, Director of the Equality Tribunal (Ireland)

14:15 – 14:30

Dispute resolution through mediation by a national specialised body: the Belgium example

 

    - Presentation by Mr Johan OTTE, Centre pour l'égalité des chances et la lutte contre le racisme (Belgium)

14:30 – 15:45

Discussion

15:45 – 16:00

Coffee Break

SESSION 4: Dispute resolution through a formal decision of a national specialised body

16:00 – 16:15

Dispute resolution through a non-binding decision of a
national specialised body

 

    - Presentation by Ms Mieke van der BURG, Vice-Chair of the Equal Treatment Commission (The Netherlands)

16:15 – 16:30

Dispute resolution through a binding decision of a national specialised body

 

    - Presentation by Mr Dezideriu GERGELY, member of the Steering Board of the National Council for Combating Discrimination (Romania)

16:30 – 17:30

Discussion

17.30 – 18.30

Reception

2nd Day - Moderator: Mr Marc LEYENBERGER, member of ECRI

SESSION 5: Dispute resolution before the courts and other competent authorities

9:30 – 9:45

The role of national specialised bodies in dispute resolution before the courts and other competent authorities

 

    - Presentation by Mr Anthony ROBINSON, Legal Director of Legal Services and Enforcement of the Commission for Racial Equality (United Kingdom)

9:45 – 10:00

Strategic litigation: principles and practice

 

    - Presentation by Ms Isabelle CHOPIN, Deputy Director of the Migration Policy Group (MPG)

10:00 – 11:15

Discussion

11:15 – 11:30

Coffee Break

CLOSING SESSION

11:30 – 11:45

Presentation of the main findings of the Seminar

11:45 – 13:00

Discussion and assessment of the different methods of dispute resolution in cases of racism and racial discrimination

13:00

Closing of the Seminar