News

The III MULTIHURI International conference on human rights, diversity and conviviality will be held on 1-2 June 2017 at the University of Valencia Law Faculty. The meeting will pursue four objectives: 1) identify obstacles to intercultural conviviality in the migration context of Spain, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada; 2) analyse the impact of human rights institutions on processes of ethnic minority stigmatisation and discrimination, taking into account the gender dimension; 3) describe experiences of civic mobilisation in favour of the rights of migrants and their descendants, as well as the results obtained; 4) formulate jurisprudential, legislative and administrative proposals to guarantee equality and promote inclusion in diverse societies. The activity is aimed at professors, researchers and students as well as professionals and activists interested in these issues.

With the spread of racist attitudes and discourses at the core of democratic institutions, the mobilisation of civil society provides an essential bulwark for protecting the rights of stigmatised minorities. On 23 March at 3.30pm, several activists belonging to some of the most consolidated organisations in this field will share their experiences as part of the II MULTIHURI seminar series on racism, multidiscrimination and human rights. Ángel Galán, coordinator of the Movement against Intolerance in the Valencian Community, will analyse the growing support for political projects based on the rejection of immigrants and defend the importance of neutralizing the stereotypes that associate them with unemployment and delinquency. Mariana Yñurrigarro (CEPAIM) and Ana Fornés (Service of assistance to victims of racial or ethnic discrimination) will explore the perspective of discrimination victims and redress mechanisms. Finally, Carolyn Phippard will describe the activities against xenophobia developed by Valencia Acoge, including theatrical performances and meetings between immigrants and decision-makers. Free access (see poster below).

Albert Mora Castro, researcher of the MULTIHURI project at the University of Valencia Human Rights Institute, presented the results of an in-depth study on conviviality in the neighbourhood of Vallet (Puçol), supported by the European Social Fund and the Valencian Government, on 13 February. The report concludes with eleven policy recommendations to local authorities, including the promotion of intercultural dialogue and gender equality, the improvement of urban infrastructure and the natural environment, the promotion of sports, culture and youth activities and the development of employment services. These recommendations were supported by an extensive survey with 335 residents. (Picture on left: open space in Vallet. Credits: Coentor).

From the building of walls against potential asylum seekers to the rise of far-right parties, the restriction of foreign nationals' social rights, the imposition of obstacles to naturalisation and the selective prohibition of minority practices, the institutionalisation of racism is undermining the fundamental principles of conviviality in European societies. In keeping with its mission of legal-political evaluation and criticism, the MULTIHURI team organises its II Seminar series on racism, multi-discrimination and human rights, going on until the spring of 2017. Once a month, various academic and civil society experts meet at Valencia University's Faculty of Social Sciences to identify the challenges surrounding racist discriminations and propound ways of tackling them effectively and fairly. On 23 February at 17:30, Mariam Barouni, president of Valencia Islamic Cultural Centre, and Amparo Sánchez Rosell, coordinator of the Civic Platform against Islamophobia, will join Jaime Bonet, professor of State Ecclesiastical Law at the University of Valencia, to impart a session on islamophobia in Spain. Free access.