National consultation on ethnic

minorities

Programme in the Netherlands on the

5th of June 2012

 The National Consultation Platform on Minorities

The alliances of the National Consultation on Minorities (LOM)

are the partner in dialogue for the Dutch government .

Eight representative alliances: citizens of Caribbean,

Chinese, Moroccan, Moluccan, Surinamese, Turkish and South

 European descent and refugees in the Netherlands

Goals

• Increasing effectiveness of integration-policy by increasing

support of minorities

• Increasing emancipation and participation of

minorities/migrants.

Tasks of the alliances

• Antenna function: through consultations the government will obtain better understanding

• Quality function: improvement of the quality of policy thanks to an effective dialogue

• Broadening public acceptance : trust of the target group for integration policy

• Channeling of (potential) conflicts: enter into dialogue with ethnic minorities quickly at criticial moments and mediate between opposing groups 

Minority Policy Consultation Act

Starting point of integration policy is the interaction between the society andMinorities/migrants  

1997 Minority policy constulation Act  entered into force.

Legal basis of the consultation.

Agenda-setting by LOM alliances

Honour-violence, forced marriages, freedom of (partner)choice

Homo-emancipation

Female gential mutilation

Agendasetting by LOM alliances

• Political participation; legal   status

• Employment /labour     participation 

• Education

•Health care

Strenght and weaknesses

An unique mechanism that fits in the poldermodel 

Strengths and weaknesses:

+  Pragmatic recognition of ethnic pluriformity

+  Short lines for consultation

+  Ongoing dialogue (not incidental) 

+  Broad representation of the main ethnic groups 

-  Internal coordination is difficult

-  It lacks the connection with regular consultative bodies

Ongoing need for dialogue

• Eyes and ears for detecting of developments in our dynamic and

complex society.

• Having contacts when there are local tensions or incidents, receiving

‘early warnings’.

• Monitoring the effects of policy changes for ethnic minorities. Does it

reach our grassroots?

• Government should be receptive to agenda setting by ethnic minorities.

Why change a winning team?

• Superdiversity representation no longer adequate or even an issue.

• Post-modern society view on active / interactive citizenship.

• National government is one player among others.

Discussion - questions

1. How does the GFM coordinate the linkage between the different ethnic groups?

2. What are the main topics and concerns of the migrants in Greece?  

3. In Greece on municipal level Integration councils are established, what are the experiences? 

www. Minderheden.org