Third regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in Teruel
The regional platform is set up in the framework of the Share SIRA project, our European project co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, which aims at strengthening and expanding the social orientation and overall integration of newcomers in rural territories in Europe. Besides Teruel, regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platforms have also been set up in 9 other rural regions in Europe. Click here to find out more about these regions!
On 26 November 2021, IOM Spain and Fundación CEPAIM, with the support of ICMC Europe (lead of the SHARE Network), organized the third roundtable of the regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in the Province of Teruel, Spain.
17 stakeholders joined the event online including regional authorities and agencies, NGOs, migrant and refugee led organisations.
After a presentation of the long-term vision for EU’s Rural Areas, and of the pilot action selected in the framework of the Share SIRA project, a space for discussion was opened to address the topic of migrants' participation in fora and activities. The discussion revolved around a series of questions:
What constitutes genuine participation?
What does participation entail? What opportunities does social and community participation offer?
What tends to be the main motivation for participating in forums and meeting spaces?
What is the level of involvement of migrants in community activities and participation forums?
What are the main challenges to participation, especially for migrants?
In order to encourage the participation of newcomers, stakeholders stated that workshops should be held in shared spaces, such as cultural centres or town halls. They also pointed out that giving very direct, simple, and easy information to migrants – considering all barriers, whether linguistic, cultural, etc. – is fundamental to facilitate participation. Activities’ organizers must be clear about how, where, and who to contact to participate, get information, etc.
Moreover, participants put forward the idea of organising more cultural exchange festivals and activities for teenagers who may be at risk of exclusion and young migrants, the goal would be to create a dynamic of understanding and support.
The participants insisted that both professionals in the sector and the general population should be informed of all the work that is implemented in the territory. Therefore, they value the regional platform as an opportunity to stay informed, network and connect with others. Participants also discussed the importance of disproving fake information about migrants and changing the discourse around migration in order to encourage the general population to be more accepting of newcomers.
The stakeholders involved in the regional platforms will gather on one more occasion in 2022. You can find more information on the activities in Teruel on the regional webpage.