Beyond Borders: Migration and (In)Equality in Central Europe in Comparison ****************************************************************************************** * Beyond Borders: Migration and (In)Equality in Central Europe in Comparison ****************************************************************************************** "The 20th century led to the erosion of the Czech land's multicultural heritage. With the into the European Union and global economic structures, Czech society is becoming more div multicultural. A multicultural society enriches and stimulates but it can also create tens misunderstandings. The Multicultural Centre Prague aims to help all people understand and reality." On the 23rd and 24th January this year I attended a conference focusing on migration issue Republic, organised by the Multicultural Centre in Prague and hosted by the Faculty of Hum Charles University. With such an international community at our university, I believe that not have had more of an attentive and keen audience, and it succeeded at raising some very fiery discussions through a series of talks, presentations and debates. Upon receiving an invitation to the event I researched in to the Multicultural Centre, whi understated, highly active local organisation that I think students and migrants should be They define themselves as "a non-profit organization interested in issues related to the c different cultures in the Czech Republic and abroad" and have reached all vital corners of education in Prague by carrying out a variety of events and campaigns since 1999, includin screenings, educational fixtures, websites, seminars and discussions. They aim to address a spectrum of hot topics on identity, race, equality, nationality and including European Union policies, immigration, integration and most importantly, toleranc of diversity and "multicultural coexistence" in an ever-growing multiethnic society in cen the Czech Republic. They have a clear criterion of set goals in their mission and from wha the international conference Beyond Borders: Migration and (In)Equality in Central Europe are doing fantastically in spreading awareness, giving a voice to citizens, students, the migrants and minorities in the Czech Republic. Their work, of course, involves a good bit some fresh and bracing debate. It was very invigorating to see such a large audience at the event composed of different n backgrounds and occupations coming together to listen and educate one another. It was held although Czech translations were available, and funded by the International Visegrad fund, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the EU commission program Europe for Citizens, entailing a critical and analytical papers submitted to the hosts in December 2013. The event was divided into five panels, each given an allotment of twenty minutes for thei which was then vocally reviewed or added to by specialists on the topic – this included pr scholars and was followed or entwined with the viewpoints of other speakers, some of which migrants. The two days were well segmented in to morning and afternoon sessions with break eavesdropped on some lively discussion amongst audience members. The individual panels wer equally engaging topics with interdisciplinary approaches – this was my favourite aspect o as it was so embracing and topics were (rightly) broadly tackled – Migration, Citizenship of Belonging; Human Rights in the Context of State Security and Migration Control; Migrant and Outside of the Labour Code: A Case of the Electronics Industry and Migration; and Heal European Union. Both days were wrapped up with some informative and powerful film screenings, and question thoroughout. For me, it was the first two segments that stood out the most, both of which close study of human rights, European politics, and anthropology at university, confrontin current issues of the EU as a body, its hurdles and sucesses, asylum seekers, Roma and Sin policing, institutional discrimination, the cycles of poverty, the welfare state, state bo more subjective topics like culture, political recognition, selfhood and nationality. Thes in to the heart of where we belong, how do we politically belong, how human rights protect migration (and even the contradictions found within human rights and their practical imple legal status of individuals, how can social friction be created, what is the current posit communities; who are they and what can be realistically done. We also addressed how bodies can gain reliable statistics on migrants, asylum seekers and "floating" populations; whether the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has essentially communities or does it urgently require reform; what is the legal process accompanying hum violations and how can they be brought to justice and most eminently, to what extent can E as abiding members of the EU retain internal influence over their borders and immigration supranationalism? The conference was part of an extensive, long-term project Migration to the Centre [ URL " www.migrationonline.cz/"] , partnered with expert organisations that monitor and document raised including the Human Rights League, the Institute of Public Affairs and People in Ne predominantly specialises such debate on European identity, borders and immigration to the Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia through cross-country comparisons, research in to i and through facilitating a forum for the voice of migrants and minorities in these countri are have undergone large social changes since joining the EU and have had historical polit concerning identity, liberation, human rights, sovereignty and integration. The Migration to the Centre scheme foremost focuses on work and residence permits in centr migrants’ rights, how supranational policies are changing and impacting them, what the Dec Human Rights does for immigrants and workers, and what violations are occurring such as il and unfair working conditions. It moreover, highlights family reunification – the movement as units of migration, cultural and language issues, the law on permanent residence, housi benefits, healthcare – and lastly, studying and working as a migrant – the importance of i through studying; education rights; Islam, religion, religious students and tolerance in c schools and universities; asking whether migrants are a "burden" or a valuable "contributi enjoyed the depth, scope and speciality featured at the conference, which approached migra Europe through analysis of the job market, state security, citizenship, law and general so presenting hardline problems that migrants face and posing a refreshing, positive, liberal society and government should go about celebrating Europeanism, shared commonality, multic that migrants should be recognised as first-class citizens: something that is simple in th evidently quite different in the real world. All in all, I thought the conference held an ideal equilibrium of academic research, testi through encompassing public opinion, headlines in the media (both of which are interconnec expert input, guest speakers and partnerships. It caught my eye particularly as someone in current affairs relating to immigration and the subsequent public and political hysteria c them: racism, panic over jobs, mass scapegoating concerning the economic recession and hig rates, fear over shortages of housing, national loss of identity, religious differences, I The sensitive matters discussed at the conference were made tangible through my experience up in Britain, a nation which is multicultural in its historical roots but remains deeply intergration difficulties, racism, prejudice, Islamophobia and media scapegoating; all of activists are trying to hault through educational means. I truly believe that this – educa key, and workshops such as Beyond Borders is a wonderful example of congregating people to listen, become empathetic and communicate – something which communities arguably lack when intergration are societal partitions. I came away from the event with a positive feeling t very simple is missing – spaces where groups of disconnected people can become connected. Poppy Gerrard-Abbott is an Erasmus student studying BA Humanities at the Faculty of Arts, iForum to build on her journalism skills and meet other aspiring journalists; to grow clos through attending local events and researching Czech issues and current affairs. Poppy saw the iForum as an exciting opportunity to pursue her interests in politics, cultu has brought some exciting opportunities her way, extended her writing skills and her knowl