European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

ECRI’s Round Table in Germany

in co-operation with the German Institute for Human Rights

12 May 2010
NH Hotel Berlin-Friedrichstrasse 96
10177, Berlin

PROGRAMME

REGISTRATION: 8:45

9:00 – 9:20

OPENING

 

- Mr Nils Muiznieks, Chair of ECRI
- Ms Beate Rudolf, Director of the German Institute For Human Rights
- Mr Michael Tetzlaff, Head of Department, Department M1, Migration, Refugees, European Harmonisation, Federal Ministry of the Interior
- Mr Markus Löning, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, Foreign Office

9:30 – 10:30 - SESSION I – ECRI’S REPORT ON GERMANY

   

Moderator of session I: Mr Nils Muiznieks, Chair of ECRI

9:20 – 9:40

Report’s main conclusions
Ms Gudrun Holgersen, Member of ECRI

9:40 – 10:00

Measures to follow-up on ECRI’s recommendations
Mr Michael Tetzlaff, Head of Department, Department M1, Migration, Refugees, European Harmonisation, Federal Ministry of the Interior

10:00 – 10:15

European standards: Case law of the ECHR and ECRI’s General Policy Recommendation N°7
Mr Stephanos Stavros, Executive Secretary to ECRI

10:15 – 10:30

Questions from the floor

10:30-10:45

Coffee break

10:45 –12:30 - SESSION II – LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ON COMBATING RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

Moderator of session II : Mr Matthias Mahlmann, University of Zurich

10:45 –11:00

Challenges in the implementation of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG)

Issues to be addressed:

    - Legislation and case law development
    - Role of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency

Speaker: Ms Christine Lüders, Head of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency

11:00 – 11:15

Racial Discrimination in Employment

Issues to be addressed:

    - New policy developments
    - Access to employment, including access of young migrants to the labour market, job advertising and CVs, wearing of headscarves and finding employment
    - Measures taken to change employers’ attitude towards persons with an immigrant background
    - Good practices

Speaker: Mr Thomas Becker, Coordinator of the Federal Programme XENOS – Integration and Diversity, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

11:15 – 11:30

Comments on Session II themes by Ms Banu Bambal, Antidiskriminierungsverband Deutschland

11:30-12:30

Discussion open to the floor

12:30-2:00

Lunch break

2:00 – 3:10 - SESSION III – PREVENTING AND EFFECTIVELY RESPONDING TO RACISM

Moderator of session III: Ms Barbara John, ECRI member

2:00 – 2:40

Current state of play
Issues to be addressed:

- Issues of criminal legislation and policy
- National Action Plan against Racism
- Understanding of racism in Germany
- Role of the police and the prosecution
- Local initiatives

Speakers:
Ms Almut Wittling-Vogel, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Issues,Ministry of Justice
Mr Yonas Endrias, Chair of Working Group on Racism, Forum Menschenrechte
Mr Arnold Rossberg, Legal Advisor, Central Council of German Sinti and Roma
Mr Levi Salomon, Commissioner for Fighting Anti-Semitism, Jewish Community of Berlin

2:40 – 3:10

Discussion: open to the floor

3:10 – 3:30

Coffee Break

3:30 – 5:30 - SESSION IV – INTEGRATION (Panel Discussion)

Moderator of session IV: Ms Beate Rudolf, Director of the German Institute For Human Rights

3:30 – 5:30

Panel Discussion:

    - How have Germany’s National Integration Plan, National Action Plan against Racism and the German Islam Conference contributed to the prevention of racism and racial discrimination in Germany?
    - How should they be further developed in the light of ECRI’s recommendations to Germany?

Sub-questions to be addressed:

    - Successes and failures – an assessment after two years of implementation of the National Integration Plan
    - Language learning and naturalisation test
    - Family reunification
    - Persons with tolerated status
    - Dialogue with the Muslim community: the role of the German Islam conference
    - Participation of minority communities in public life (including the issue of double citizenship)

Panelists:
Ms Margit Gottstein, Head of Division, Task Force of the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration
Mr Norbert Seitz, Head of Department, Department G I – Fundamental Issues of Domestic Policy, Religious Affairs, Federal Ministry of the Interior
Ms Mely Kiyak, journalist
Ms Berrin Alpbek, Turkish Community in Germany, Federation of Turkish Parents’ Associations in Germany
Mr Aiman Mazyek, Secretary General of the Central Council of Muslims
Mr Nils Muiznieks, Chair of ECRI

5:30 – 6:00

CONCLUSIONS of the Round Table

 

Wrap-Up of conclusions and concrete steps for action by moderators for sessions II, III and IV

Conclusions of the Round Table by Nils Muiznieks, Chair of ECRI