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The 6th Annual Peacemakers Conference and Workshop is organized jointly by the Office of International Programs (OIP) and the Migration Research Center at Koç University (MiReKoç). The Conference will take place on July 8 and the ensuing Workshop on July 9 – 11, 2017 in Istanbul.
The theme of the conference and worshop will be "Securitization of International Migration: The Politics of Populism," which will aim to further discuss associating international migration with national security, the securitization perspective results in the criminalization of migrants, without taking into consideration the fundamental human rights as well as the safeguarding of human security.
Further information can be found on the website: https://oip.ku.edu.tr/?q=peacemakers-2017
The Peacemakers Conference is open to public free of charge. However, we have limited seats. So if you wish to attend the Conference, please kindly send a confirmation e-mail to peacemakers@ku.edu.tr that includes your name, surname, institution where you work/study, your position and your mobile number.
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Turkish government revokes license of Mercy Corps
Right before the 'Tulip Crisis' between the Netherlands and Turkey took over reporting on Turkey, it was reported that the Turkish government has revoked the license and effectively forced MercyCorps to end all its operations in the country, in what may be an alarming precedent to other international organizations. MercyCorps said it has not been given any reason, but Turkish media was quick to accuse the organization of having ties with 'terrorist organizations'.
Increase in Hate Crimes in Europe
The anti-immigrant discourse has spiked hate crimes in both Germany and the UK. In the UK, these increases are seen in all forms of hate crimes, thought to be directly correlated to the ‘toxic’ language of the Brexit referendum. Most shockingly, the number of disability hate victims has increased by 216%. In Germany, every day of 2016 nearly 10 migrants were attacked, as well as their housing, and organizations and volunteers supporting them.
The Hungarian parliament has approved a new law to detain all asylum seekers in the country for unlimited time periods and be deported for ‘non-cooperation’, as PM Viktor Orban maintains the country is “under siege”. The law passed in an overwhelming vote of 138 to 6, amid increasing reports about border guards attacking and systemic violence against asylum seekers.
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Explaining what went wrong in Greece
Refugees Deeply investigates the failures of the European response to the ‘migration crisis’ in Greece. For the first time, the EU deployed its response unit inside Europe, embarking on what some experts deem the most expensive humanitarian response in history. A lengthy but worthy read about the politics and personalities that caused the money and efforts to go to waste. Meanwhile, an Oscar-nominated short documentary film, 4.1 Miles, provides a lens into a coast guard captain on the island of Lesbos.
Earlier this month, a report by Europol invited huge criticism as it lauded the efforts of the new European Migrant Smuggling Centre as successful, while more migrants have died at sea in 2017 than in earlier years. Yet, until today, European countries have carried out only 8% of the promised relocations.
Migration and Children
Experts estimate that for every child who claims asylum, one enters Europe without seeking legal protection. A New Yorker article traces the stories of unaccompanied minors as they cross to Europe. Another 5 million children across the world live without a nationality. A new report addresses the issue of childhood statelessness, including essays, interviews, photographs and more.
In Greece, more than 30% of stranded refugees are aged between 15 and 25 years old, facing a growing sense of uncertainty and concern, yet their needs are often overlooked. Despite their interest and potential for economic and social progress, they rarely have access to educational and skill-building opportunities, or to healthcare and shelter. In Lebanon, Syrian children continue to face challenges accessing proper education such as language barriers (for French schools), shortage of resources, lack of transportation to the schools, and bullying.
Corinne Squire, who taught an university short course “Life Stories” in Calais between September 2015 and October 2016, shares the stories of her former students after the demolition of the Calais Jungle camp, as well as continuing effort to support them and their education.
This year, our Summer School will discuss issues such as those above, as the 2017 theme is “Migration and Children”. The program will provide discussions on social, political, and psychological aspects of voluntary and forced migration putting its impact on children at the center of analysis. For more information, visit our website.
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Call for Papers: Borders, Fences, Firewalls: Assessing the changing relationship of territory and institutions, 19-20 October, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity
This international conference will provide a forum for addressing the complex and shifting interrelations between territory and institutions, bringing these various perspectives into productive exchange. Organizers invite contributions that engage with the relationship between territory and institutions from these various angles, and especially encourage innovative approaches and interdisciplinary perspectives.
Application deadline: 15 April 2017 - More information
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