Bini Community 'Igue' Festival eventThursday, January 22, 2009 4:21 PM

The Bini Community event is on this Saturday 24th January between3.00pm and 11.pm at Greenhill Community Centre, off St Peter's Road,rear of St Joseph's Road, Greenhill, Dublin 12

All are invited

Chinese New year festival

ICI News BulletinIssue 34

- Thursday January 15, 2009Discussions on promoting greater participation by migrants in civic life"Pathways to Parental Leadership" research updateProject to examine service provision for victims of trafficking receives fundingCOSC visits the ICIOne-stop-shop project handbook to be launchedVisit to Áras an Uachtaráin to celebrate NCCRI's workStaff changesDiscussions on promoting greater participation by migrants in civic lifeChief Executive Denise Charlton, Research and Integration OfficerFidèle Mutwarasibo and Media and Communications Officer Ruth Evans aremeeting a number of organisations in London today to discuss promotingthe "migrant voice".Denise, Fidèle and Ruth are meeting colleagues from the Institute ofRace Relations (IRR), the Migrant Resource Centre and the Migrants'Rights Network.The three organisations have been at the forefront of immigration andintegration issues in the UK and it is hoped learning from theirexperiences will inform the ICI's work on promoting greaterparticipation by migrants in civic life in Ireland."Pathways to Parental Leadership" research updateThe first phase of research for the Pathways to Parental Leadershipproject has been completed, with 15 semi-structured interviews carriedout with staff in the five participating Dublin schools (CastleknockCommunity College; Holy Rosary National School; Castaheany EducateTogether; Mater Dei Primary School and St George's Church of IrelandNational School).Those interviewed included principals, teachers, language supportteachers, resource teachers and home school liaison teachers. Theproject advisory committee met yesterday (January 14) to discuss thepreliminary findings and next phase of the research, which willinvolve interviewing parents.A transnational steering committee has been established and will meeton February 11 at UCD. Participants from Ireland, Scotland, Denmark,Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany will attend the meeting.The aim of the research is to promote greater involvement by migrantparents in school life. For further information, please contact SarahSheridan – research_intern@immigrantcouncil.ieProject to examine service provision for victims of trafficking receives fundingThe European Commission's Daphne III Programme has approved fundingfor a joint ICI-Dublin Employment Pact project which seeks toestablish a model for interagency work to deliver high-qualityservices for victims of sex trafficking in Ireland.The project, entitled "Dignity", has been endorsed by other Irishpartners including the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform,the Anti Human Trafficking Unit, Sonas Housing and the Women's HealthProject.The Irish partners will work with counterparts in Spain, Lithuania andthe UK as part of a consortium of multi-disciplinary stakeholders whowill look at promising practice in legislation, policy and serviceprovision. The models will then be replicated and mainstreamed todeliver high-quality services for victims of trafficking and to helpto combat trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexualexploitation in the EU. For further information, please contact ICIAnti Trafficking Coordinator Nusha Yonkova – nusha@immigrantcouncil.ieCOSC visits the ICIEimear Fisher, head of the National Office for the Prevention ofDomestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (COSC), and Tony Flynn,Assistant Principle Officer, visited the ICI recently.Chief Executive Denise Charlton and Anti Trafficking Coordinator NushaYonkova gave a presentation on the ICI's work in providing legaladvice and support to vulnerable migrants, such as migrant womenexperiencing domestic violence in Ireland and victims of traffickingand sexual exploitation.Migrant representation on the COSC National Steering Committee onViolence Against Women was among the topics discussed during thevisit. For more information, please contact Nusha –nusha@immigrantcouncil.ieOne-stop-shop project handbook to be launchedThe transnational project looking at one-stop-shop service provisionfor migrants will launch the handbook developed by the projectpartners on February 6 in Lisbon.The six participating countries – Ireland, Germany, Italy, Greece,Spain and Portugal – provided country reports which were used toexamine best practice and current challenges. The ICI was the projectrepresentative from Ireland. Research and Integration Officer FidèleMutwarasibo attended a meeting for the project last week in Lisbon.The aim of the project and the handbook is to promote promisingpractices on the delivery of public services to migrants across theEU. For further information, please contact Fidèle –fidele@immigrantcouncil.ieVisit to Áras an Uachtaráin to celebrate NCCRI's workThe National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism'sstaff and board have been invited to visit President Mary McAleese atÁras an Uachtaráin today. Senior Legal Advisor Catherine Cosgravewill represent the ICI, which was a member of the NCCRI's partnershipboard.The meeting was organised in recognition of the NCCRI's work andcontributions over the past decade. The organisation has been woundup after the Government announced in the last Budget that it would nolonger provide funding.The ICI has expressed concern to the Government over its decision tostop funding the NCCRI and to significantly cut funding to otherequality and rights organisations.Staff changesThe ICI is delighted to welcome Senior Legal Advisor CatherineCosgrave back from maternity leave.While on maternity leave, Catherine transferred her qualificationsfrom barrister to solicitor. She is now working in this capacity inthe ICI's Legal Service.If you no longer wish to receive this News Bulletin, please contactRuth Evans at communications@immigrantcouncil.ieRuth EvansMedia and Communications OfficerImmigrant Council of IrelandMobile: 087 067 3676Ph: 01 645 8048Fax: 01 645 8059email: communications@immigrantcouncil.ie