[Bilimsel Haber] CFP: Interdisciplinary Research Seminar on Diversity - Human Rights - Participation

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

Interdisciplinary Research Seminar on Diversity - Human Rights - 
Participation

DIVERSITY - HUMAN RIGHTS - PARTICIPATION

A seminar organised in the framework on the Partnership on Research in 
the Youth
Field between the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

European Youth Centre, Strasbourg 11 - 13 May, 2006

Call for applicants from the field of inter-disciplinary research

Deadline - March 10, 2006

Preamble

The Council of Europe will, with the support of the European Union, 
organise a
campaign on the themes of Diversity, Human Rights and Participation in 
2006. The
campaign will be based upon the slogan "All Different - All Equal", 
successfully
used by the European Youth Campaign against racism, xenophobia, 
antisemitism and
intolerance run by the Council of Europe in 1995.

The members of the network of researchers - the expert group for the 
research
dimension of the Partnership - at its 11th meeting, held in September 2005,
called for a seminar to be organised around the themes of the Campaign.

This document outlines the proposal for a seminar to be organised around the
three main pillars of the Campaign. Its aim is to critically assess the 
meaning
of each of these terms in view of the contemporary social, economic and
political climate and analyse how they impact directly on the lives of young
people in Europe.

The seminar may be seen as emerging from the research work already started
during the highly successful seminar on "Resituating Culture". This 
seminar and
the report on the future of Intercultural Learning, written by Dr Gavan 
Titley,
have engendered a timely questioning of the core principle of intercultural
learning (ICL) and its meaning today, more than thirty years since the 
birth of
the European Youth Centres of the Council of Europe. The outcome of the work
around the meaning of culture led to an understanding that ICL may run 
the risk
of reifying and essentialising cultures. This process arises out of the 
tendency
to see minority groups as internally homogeneous, and therefore relative or
comparable to other groups, rather than recognising the internal diversity
within them. In Europe, this has meant that while minority groups may be
recognised, and their traditions, religions, languages etc. tolerated, 
they are
nevertheless still generally denied full access to participation in 
political,
social and economic life. The strong conclusions of the seminar on 
"Resituating
Culture" and the subsequent publication and reports was that the mere
recognition of cultural diversity must be replaced by a commitment to the
opportunity for equal and full participation of all people living in Europe.

Background to the seminar theme

The seminar should base itself upon the three thematic pillars proposed 
for the
Campaign: Diversity - Human Rights - Participation. In order to be 
relevant to
the Campaign and to make a serious scientific contribution, the seminar 
should
critically assess the meaning of each of these three concepts. This 
assessment
is conceived chronologically; going from diversity, through human rights 
towards
participation.

     * The theme of diversity is essentially linked to the theme of 
culture (or,
more precisely, interculturalism) already dealt with extensively by the 
research
agenda. The Youth Programme of the European Commission made ^ÓPromoting
diversity and in particular reducing all forms of racism and 
xenophobia^Ô one of
its key priorities for 2005. The SALTO Youth Resource Centres have 
established a
Cultural Diversity Resource Centre.
     * The theme of human rights has, since the 1995 Campaign, become 
central to
the work of the Youth Directorate. There has not yet been a scientific
evaluation of the concept as there has been for Intercultural Learning 
through
the work on resituating culture. It would be opportune, within the 
framework of
the Campaign, to address this theme from a critical viewpoint.
     * The theme of participation signifies the end point, or the aim of the
Campaign. As has been realised through the experience of minority youth 
work and
human rights education, working in this domain is of little use if it 
does not
lead to full and equal access to participation in social, economic and 
political
life for all. The White Paper on Youth has emphasised the promotion of
participation among all young people in Europe.

Therefore, seminar should aim to be:

    1. Analytical of the conceptual baggage behind terms such as 
diversity and
human rights;
    2. Constructively critical of how these concepts are applied in 
practice (in
formal and non-formal education, training, youth work, diversity 
training, human
rights education, anti-racism work, social work, outreach work, urban
development etc.);
    3. Yet, facilitate a discussion of how more egalitarian 
participation can be
increased through evidence-based examples of good practice (e.g. research
carried out on projects or initiatives - planned or spontaneous - that 
led to
increased rights, freedoms and opportunities for participation).

The Issues

What are the main challenges posed by each of the three pillars: Diversity -
Human Rights - Participation?

Diversity

Diversity is a fact. We in Europe have all always lived in societies 
made up of
various individuals and groups who differ according to gender, physical 
ability,
religion, sexuality, ethnicity, skin colour, nationality etc. That idea 
that we
once lived in monocultural societies is largely an invention of the 
twentieth
century: the so-called age of immigration. In an era before passports 
and border
controls, there was much more freedom of movement than there is today. The
coming and going of peoples from various regions of the world since travel
became possible means that our European societies have known diversity for
several centuries.

Today, the word diversity like its predecessors multiculturalism and
interculturalism has come to stand for an objective. Diversity, for many 
people,
does not just describe a social fact. We constantly hear that it is 
necessary to
increase diversity, provide diversity management or, in contrast, that 
too much
diversity is bad for social cohesion.

As an idea about a vision of society, diversity has suffered the same 
fate as
multiculturalism: it is either taken to be a factor that can be 
increased and
enhanced, through programmes and policies; or it is considered a dangerous
notion, too much of which will permanently change what is presumed to be the
unique character of Europe or the nation-state. This pro and contra 
approach to
diversity may have the effect of obscuring the simple fact that our 
societies
are diverse. If we fear diversity as a result, we run the risk of those 
who are
considered different (e.g. minority groups) being scapegoated and 
targeted. This
is already the case today, as the stringent control of immigration and 
the rise
of phenomena such as Islamophobia demonstrate.

The end of 2005 was marked by concern over diversity following the riots 
that
spread throughout the urban suburbs of France in November. Young people from
non-white immigrant origin lashed out against the police and their
neighbourhoods in anger at the their situation: poor, socially excluded, and
often the victims of institutional racism. Liberal responses to the riots in
France and elsewhere called for increased mixité or diversity; 
particularly in
social housing, schools, employment and state institutions, such as the 
police.
However, it may be argued that advocating increased diversity as a 
solution to
the ingrained social and political malaises - racism, poverty and 
exclusion -
that arise out of the history of colonialism and immigration may be
insufficient.

In contrast, we should commit ourselves to conceiving of diversity as a 
fact of
our societies, both historically and contemporarily. This approach would 
allow
us to see increased diversity as a rich resource, rather than as a special
measure taken in the hope of avoiding social unrest.

A panel on diversity should examine these (and other) critical analyses 
further
and discuss concrete examples such as diversity training, diversity 
management,
diversity and social exclusion, diversity and institutions etc.

Human Rights

Universal Human Rights are considered to be the basic principles 
governing the
protection of the individual in society. Whereas other rights are 
concerned with
groups (the nation, the family, identity-based groups, etc.) the individual
character of human rights sets them within a history that goes back to 
the 18th
century ideals of Enlightenment.

Human Rights are considered tantamount to all other rights in democratic 
Western
thinking. Human Rights gained this position of hegemony through the 
growth of
international institutions in the post-war world such as the United 
Nations and
the Council of Europe and the signature of the Geneva Convention and 
other core
charters.

It has been increasingly noted by researchers, mainly legal scholars and
political and social theorists, that Human Rights may not be as universal as
they are presumed to be. Human Rights are considered to pertain to all human
beings in every corner of the globe. However, the notion is a culturally
specific Western one that is grounded in the particular history of emergent
democracy in continental Europe. It is bound to a political philosophy 
that is
critical of communalism and insists on a secular individualism that is 
seen as
the prerequisite for Reason.

Human rights have taken the lead as the number one framework for 
demonstrating
grievances and demanding justice. This process has evolved since the 
1980s and
the rise in importance of professionalized, transnational NGOs, such as 
Human
Rights Watch and Amnesty International. It has also been abetted by the
incorporation of the language of human rights into official discourse. 
This can
be seen in the way in which democratisation and human rights have become 
central
to the discourse of the US administration and its allies in the context 
of the
War on Terror.

Both the lack of knowledge about the foundations of human rights and their
hegemonic status in both state and non-governmental spheres, means that 
human
rights are often the only way that discriminated groups or individuals 
can frame
their protest. This means a legalisation, and consequent 
professionalisation, of
activism and a dependency on human rights texts for legitimating action. 
The way
in which the language and tools of human rights have entered into the 
domain of
social justice activism may have led to the marginalisation of other 
forms of
action. We can witness a diminishing in more spontaneous or direct 
action in a
variety of fields. Demands for justice, retribution, equality, 
recognition and
respect through grassroots mobilisation and confrontation have often been
replaced by a recourse to legal processes, lobbying and politicking that may
result in a lack of grassroots identification and support.

Nonetheless, the diffusion of human rights activism has led actors to 
interpret
human rights from their own perspective. Therefore, group or community 
rights
have come under the heading of human rights in general. One of the core
priorities of the Council of Europe's Youth Sector, for example, is 
Human Rights
and social cohesion. This includes the promotion of human dignity and stands
against social exclusion, violence, racism, intolerance and 
discrimination. It
also seeks the empowerment of young people to develop strategies and 
activities
to address racism, xenophobia, discrimination and gender-based forms of 
violence
affecting them.

We can see, therefore, how human rights have been applied and extended 
to a wide
range of themes generally related to the principle of ensuring human dignity
that veer away from the original conception of human rights as a more
individualistic idea. It is important to note how the origins of human 
rights
are being challenged and filled with other meanings by actors in the 
field of
social justice.

Papers under this heading should attempt to address both the 
foundational and
the practical implications of human rights for youth work around themes of
racism and other forms of discrimination, social exclusion, poverty etc. 
They
should discuss the way in which the understanding of human rights has been
transformed within activism and youth work etc.

Participation

The first Council of Europe - All Different - All Equal - Campaign paved 
the way
for the greater participation of young people from minority backgrounds 
of all
kinds in the local, national and international youth fields. The 
possibility for
multiplying this effect among young people in Europe more generally is 
hindered
by the current atmosphere of mistrust of different others and the 
growing social
exclusion experienced in many sectors of society.

The discussion on participation should focus on the possibilities for young
people who face racism, homophobia and discrimination of all kinds to
participate fully in social, economic and political life. Initiatives, 
whether
they are instigated by governments or by groups and individuals in civil
society, should be evaluated in light of the current political situation 
and,
therefore, in terms of the possibility for the transformation of the 
conditions
of inequality faced by many young people. How have young people 
themselves taken
initiatives to develop strategies for participation? In particular, in 
what ways
are the Internet and mobile phones increasingly used by young people 
taking an
active interest in political life. Examples from the protest against the 
War in
Iraq reveal how young people, some as young as ten years old, used these 
methods
to communicate and mobilise protest.

Participation can be conceived of at all levels, and should not be narrowly
restricted to associative life. Sports and the arts as well as education,
employment and the voluntary sector are all important areas for 
participation.
The social dimension of participation should also be explored. How are 
groups
and individuals in diverse societies restricted from regular social 
activities
that are part of the daily life of young people? The growing segregation 
within
disadvantaged neighbourhoods may severely affect the possibilities for young
people from different ethnic, religious or class backgrounds to interact
socially and commonly participate in everyday social activities. In what 
ways
are such barriers on social participation challenged by young people?

In general, what are the various, less narrowly defined, ways in which
participation can be interpreted? In what ways have young people initiated
mechanisms for their own and others^Ò participation? What challenges 
have young
people been faced with when trying to participate in existing 
structures? Under
what circumstances is participation truly egalitarian and non-tokenistic?

All of these questions and more should be addressed in this panel. Special
emphasis will be placed on research carried out on examples of 
participation in
a variety of spheres (politics, sports, the arts, associations etc.).

Link with the Campaign

The aim is to enable the establishment of an information-bank of quality
research on the issues that may be used in the running of the - All 
Different -
All Equal- Campaign. An on-line forum will be started in which both 
participants
and others can discuss the seminar themes in advance and which will continue
after the end of the seminar.

Resources

     * Council of Europe Youth Sector Priorities:
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operation/Youth/
     * The White Paper on Youth:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/whitepaper/index_en.html
     * SALTO Cultural Diversity Resource Centre:
http://www.salto-youth.net/diversity/
     * Priorities of the Youth Programme of the European Commission:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/priorities/promoting-diversity_2005_en.html

Logistics

The three-day seminar will take place on 11-13 May 2006 in the European 
Youth
Centre, Strasbourg. 20 applicants will be selected to give papers. Other
participants shall include non-researchers (policy makers, youth trainers,
secretariat of the Council of Europe and European Commission) who will 
join the
debate but will not present a paper.

Working language

The working language of the seminar will be English.

Profile of participants

Participants shall be:

     * Researchers with or about to complete Masters or PhD studies on 
relevant
topics;
     * Researchers interested to contribute to the development of 
thinking in the
specific field of youth with regards the seminar themes;
     * Applicants may apply who have practical experience of working on 
the topic
but they must also have a research profile.

Selection

A wide range of participants is encouraged to apply to give a paper at the
seminar. Applicants should send in a CV and an abstract explaining their
potential contribution to the seminar and its outcomes. Selection of 
presenters
will be made on the basis of quality and relevance to the seminar 
themes. All
participants must be able to work in English. The final selection will 
also take
into account gender and regional balance amongst participants.

The number of papers shall be restricted to not overburden the 
discussion and
ensure an in-depth analysis of each theme. Papers shall, therefore be 
organised
according to thematic panels, coordinated by a chair. Paper-givers will be
contacted by their session chair in advance of the seminar to coordinate the
running of each session.

Papers must be presented within the time limit of 25 minutes. Those 
participants
whose abstracts have been accepted for the seminar must deliver their 
completed
papers by 14 April, 2006. We reserve the right to make papers available 
on the
internet prior and/or after the research seminar on the European Knowledge
Centre for Youth Policy (www.youth-knowledge.net).

Those interested in participating in this seminar should send the following
documentation to the address below by 10 March, 2006:

     * a completed application form (attached below);
     * a succinct CV (maximum one page);
     * 500 word abstract of the proposed presentation.

The organisers of the research seminar reserve the right to select 
papers for
presentation.

Presentation of papers for publication

The outcomes of this seminar will be published as an edited collection. 
Papers
presented at the seminar may be selected for inclusion (as one of 
approximately
15 chapters) in this collection; the organisers will make the selection.
Selected contributors will receive a fee of 500 once the collection's editor
accepts the final manuscript. Paper presenters invited to publish their
contribution in the collection should expect to revise and edit their 
manuscript
to publication standard and in accordance with the editor's 
recommendations. All
papers will be available after the seminar on the European Knowledge 
Centre for
youth policy website.

Financial and Practical Conditions of Participation

The research seminar will take place at the European Youth Centre in 
Strasbourg,
France. Arrival is foreseen on Wednesday 10 May, 2006, preferably before 
dinner,
which will take place at 19h00. Arrival time should be determined by the 
cost of
the flights. Should more reasonable travel expenses (APEX flights) 
require early
arrival, the organisers will cover additional board and lodging. 
Departure is
foreseen for May 14, 2006, after breakfast. Board and lodging in rooms with
en-suite bathroom is provided at the European Youth Centre, Strasbourg. 
Further
information concerning how to get to the EYC from the different points of
arrival in France shall beforwarded at a later date to confirmed 
participants.

Participants are expected to make use of the most economical means of travel
available and to take advantage of reduced tariff, APEX or weekend 
fares. Travel
arrangements should be made according to the travel rules of the Council of
Europe, which will be communicated to confirmed participants at a later 
date.
Only those who travel according to the rules and who participate for the 
entire
duration of the seminar can be reimbursed their travel expenses.

Please submit your proposal/abstract, CV and application form in 
electronic copy
by clicking on this link: European Knowledge Centre for Youth Policy

NO LATER THAN March 10, 2006

If you have technical difficulties please contact the webmaster
Laetitia.Pougary@coe.int

Applications sent by post, fax or e-mail shall not be accepted

Email: alana.lentin@coe.int

Visit the website at
http://www.youth-knowledge.net/INTEGRATION/EKC/Research/allseminar