December: The international Migrants day

1)    International Migrants Day : Organization of a consultative debate

In order to demonstrate its commitment to migration issues, particularly for women, the FORIM (ULG member) and the County of Val de Marne organized, the 16^th of December 2016,  an event called « Je résiste, j’existe : Récits d’une lutte cachée » “I resist, I exist : Stories of a Hidden Struggle”. This happening highlighted the forms of resilience of women's associations here (France) and there (Origin country).

The aim of this event was to highlight the different initiatives taken by migrants, migrant associations and especially women in order to promote the rights of migrant women in various economic, political, social and cultural contexts.

The county has taken advantage of this strong presence of Val de Marne’s associations to lead a roundtable on the topic:  "Actions aiming at strengthening women and fighting for their rights in France".

This was an opportunity to remind the commitment of the Department and its partners to the challenges of migration and to present the European program and its ultimate goal of reaching a concerted action plan.

The consultation, in the framework of this debate, made it possible to gather the expectations, the proposals as well as the advantages and obstacles encountered by migrants or their associations.

More than 50 people, mainly women participated to this consultation that was rich, since several proposals and leads have emerged.

2)    Participation to  THE MADIBA AWARD

In the framework of the event of the 16th of December, with, the support of the Department, the FORIM launched the MADIBA AWARD in order to honor and reward the initiatives of migrants associations.

The theme of the call for proposals was to contribute to the empowerment and the fight against violence against women and teenagers.

Honoring the memory of Nelson Mandela, this prize is intended to reward initiatives, actions and projects carried out by migrant associations in the fields of co-development, living together, social cohesion and citizenship, In France, and / or in the country of origin.

The 3 winners, Grand Prize, 2nd Prize and 3rd Prize received a financial reward ranging from 500 to 1,500 €.

The Department and the members of the ULG, due to their commitment to values ​​such as respect for human rights, gender equality, empowerment of women and the fight against violence against women and girls, and most of all in response to expectations expressed during the consultation of November 12th 2016 committed to sponsor one of the winners with a funding of 1,000 euros.

The projects of migrant associations had to meet the following criteria:

·         Participation of women and girls in key sectors of social, economic and political life;

·         Valorization of the role of women at work and family life;

·         Promote women's and girls' access to education;

·         Contribution to the fight against violence against women and girls;

·         Encourage women's contributions to cultural expression;

·         Respect for human rights;

·         Valorization of voluntary work and international solidarity

This action corresponds to two axes of the action plan:  Axis 2: "Social cohesion to live together" and Axis 3 "Migration and development".

The Department participated to the awards ceremony. ADESAF (an association from Val-de-Marne), winner of the 3rd prize, was honored.

Further information are available at this link: MADIBA AWARD