The EUnify2014 project aims at providing a platform for voice amongst those marginalized from the centre of power by identifying and communicating key messages to combat racist and xenophobic speech by those seeking (re)election in 2014. The project is funded by the Open Society Initiative for Europe and its “European Election Grants” programme.
During our Italian workshop, which took place on Friday 4 April 2014, several local organisations and members of diaspora and migrant groups in Palermo participated in the discussion. After a comparative analysis on racism in the 4 partner countries, analogies and differences were identified and discussed in small groups.
For example, it was noted how in all partner countries, in times of racism, extremist parties tend to behave in the same way, by scapegoating minorities and developing xenophobic speech. Or how even more than in other partner countries, in Italy there’s still a very strong racist speech against Southern Italians, and not just against migrants.
The final aim of the workshop was to identify 5 key messages to combat racist speech. After several sessions and a final vote, the five chosen key messages were the following ones:
1) The difference is our presence/ We’re not different! It’s our added value that makes the difference.
2) We won’t go very far if we don’t help each other afar.
3) More migration, better generations.
4) Who’s next? People will always migrate, and the next person could be you!
5) Migrating ain’t no threat, but a right to respect.
As next steps, we will meet with our project partners and agree on 10-15 European messages to communicate to politicians, EU election candidates, media contacts and civil society from now until EU elections at the end of May. To this end we will avail ourselves of social networks.
Therefore we strongly invite you to join us on Facebook and Twitter!
For any further information on the project, please contact partnership@cesie.org.
Project partners:
- International Alert (UK) – Coordinator
- Symbiosis (Greece)
- Commission for Filipino Migrant Workers (Netherlands)
- CESIE (Italy)
