Cultures in Dialog 2005 for young Europeans Aabenraa (Denmark), 17-30.7.2005 Invitation to Cultures in Dialogue 2005 for young Europeans; 17-30 July 2005 H?jskolen ?sters?en will together with 8 other organisations carry out Cultures in Dialogue 2005. 180 young Europeans representing Europe's national, cultural and linguistic diversity, minorities and majorities, will be invited to the event carried out from July 17th to July 30th 2005 in the Danish-German border region. Cultures in Dialogue will be an opportunity for participants to experience Europe, explore its diversity face to face, and get insights into and influence Europe's current agenda. Cultures in Dialogue are also a social event, which will give participants the opportunity to expand their European network. Participants must be between 18 and 25 years of age, with good English language skills, and with a general interest in Europe and minority issues. For more information on application procedure (deadline on May 1st 2005), please visit the website of Cultures in Dialogue at: http://www.people.hojoster.dk/SEEEMS/3028.asp Cultures in Dialogue will debate how to give recognition to national minorities within the EU. Over 38 million or every 11th citizen in the enlarged EU belongs to a minority. This reality, however, is not reflected in any EU-policy or EU-programme dealing with minorities. This in spite of the fact, that respect for the rights of minorities are now included in the new EU-Constitution as being part of the Union's fundamental values. Minorities experience that they are not recognized by the EU as contributors to a Europe "united in its diversity". The 180 participants will therefore negotiate how to make the ideal a reality. Result will be a joint Resolution, which in follow-up is disseminated to the European public and decision-makers. The event will thus in itself become a manifestation of a public actively shaping the democratic processes of Europe. Cultures in Dialogue also invite participants to produce information-material (TV, booklet, articles for publication in regional media in Europe and website) presenting minorities in Europe and their expectations towards the enlarged EU. Cultures in Dialogue thus aim at promoting tolerance Europe's minority and majority population-groups in between. Cultures in Dialogue will as point of departure mark the 50th anniversary in 2005 of the so-called Copenhagen-Bonn Declarations agreed on by the Danish and German governments in 1955 with the aim of securing the rights of the minorities in the Danish-German border region. The Declarations have been important sources for the development of peaceful co-existence in the region. It is important to include on the EU-agenda the experience that minorities are a source of cultural richness (and not conflict) for Europe! For more information on programme, please visit the website of Cultures in Dialogue at http://www.people.hojoster.dk/SEEEMS/3028.asp Cultures in Dialogue are carried out on 3 independent schools in the Danish-German border region on both sides of the border: At H?jskolen ?sters?en (a Danish Folk High School), Jaruplund H?jskole (Folk High School of the Danish minority in Germany) and Deutsche Nachschule Tingleff (free school of the German minority in Denmark). Although the 180 participants work on 3 different schools throughout the 2 weeks, their work is closely co-ordinated with joint meetings, joint conference, joint negotiations and social events. Cultures in Dialogue is carried out by an association under the same name with the following member organisations, beside the 3 above mentioned schools: Sydslesvigsk Forening (association of the Danish minority in Germany, the region of South-Schleswig), Sydslesvigs danske Ungdomsforeninger (youth association of the Danish minority in South-Schleswig), Bund Deutscher Nordschleswiger (association of the German minority in Denmark, the region of South Denmark), Deutscher Jugendverband für Nordshcleswig (youth association of the German minority in South Denmark), Gr?nseforeningen (Danish association supporting Danish culture and language in South-Schleswig), Friisk Foriining (association of the North-Frisian minority in South-Schleswig). Jesper Nielsen, Project Co-ordinator Hojskolen Ostersoen/Cultures in Dialogue Flensborgvej 48 6200 Aabenraa Denmark Telephone: +45 74 62 47 00 Fax +45 74 62 47 01 jen@hojoster.dk Open Society Justice Initiative & Central European University Justice Initiative Fellows Program, 2005-2007 Justice Initiative Fellows Program 2005 - 2007, Central European University, Department of Legal Studies The Open Society Justice Initiative joins with the Central European University (CEU) to announce the Justice Initiative Fellows Program for 2005-2007. The aim of the program is to support and further develop a network of lawyers and activists working on human rights-related issues internationally. The Human Rights Fellows Program is a two-year program of study and practical work experience. Up to ten applicants will be selected in 2005 to participate in the program. Applicants from the following regions and countries are eligible: Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, West and Southern Africa, the African Great Lakes region, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru. Applicants must be nominated by a non-governmental organization concerned with human rights. The applicant must demonstrate a strong commitment to human rights, hold a university degree and be highly proficient in English. Criteria for selection will include the applicant's experience, his/her potential to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights, and the suitability of the applicant's proposed role in the nominating NGO. Upon selection, Fellows will be required to sign an agreement with the Justice Initiative committing themselves to the program for two years. The first year is spent at the Central European University, the second in the applicant's home country, working with the nominating NGO. Human Rights Fellows will reside a total of one year in Hungary, at CEU Legal Studies Department. They will undertake a degree program (M.A. or LL.M. in Human Rights, dependent on their undergraduate degree), in which they will be required to fulfill the requirements of the Human Rights Program at the Central European University. During their stay at CEU the Fellows will also participate in a three-month internship placement with leading NGOs in Europe from January until March. The Justice Initiative Fellowship will be administered by CEU Legal Studies Department, in partnership with the Justice Initiative, during the first year of the program. Financial conditions will be identical to CEU policies for full scholarship students. Human Rights Fellows will return to their nominating NGOs after the first year, where they will spend at least one year working in human rights advocacy on a non-profit basis: providing legal services, undertaking human rights litigation, providing training and education, etc. The Justice Initiative will pay a local salary during this second year equal to an amount determined to be similar to equivalent work by the nominating NGO. This amount will be provided to the nominating NGOs in the form of a grant. More information Katalin Horvath, Special Programs Coordinator, Legal Studies Department, Central European University, Nador u. 9, Budapest 1051, tel: +361 327-3205, email: horvathk@ceu.hu http://www.ceu.hu/legal Rita Bakradze, Fellows Program Coordinator at the Justice Initiative, Nador u. 11, Budapest 1051, tel: +361 327-3102; fax: +361 327 3103; e-mail: rbakradze@osi.hu http://www.justiceinitiative.org AINSEE