**Apologies for cross-posting**
ROMA AND ASYLUM IN BRITAIN: GLOBAL ISSUES, LOCAL CONCERNS
A ONE DAY CONFERENCE
SEPTEMBER 3 2003
UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
The Fenwick Room, Castle Leazes Halls of Residence
Spital Tongues, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4NY
Tel: 0191 222 8362/8368
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/conferenceteam/
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/geps/
“People should connect the influx of Romani asylum seekers with the failure
of the states concerned to eliminate inequality. If countries eliminated
violence and discrimination, people wouldn't be asking for asylum."
Lord Avebury, The Guardian, 27.2.03
"Roma are consistently bottom of the pile. Unless their situation improves,
these states should not be accepted into the EU. The human rights record of
the EU is at stake."
Mr. Peter Mercer, Roma Rights and Access to Justice, The Guardian, 27.2.03
As both Lord Avebury and Mr. Mercer have recently noted, these are very
worrying times for Europe’s twelve million plus Roma population. With recent
changes in asylum and immigration legislation, people originating from
European Union accession countries (such as Hungary, Poland, the Czech
Republic and Slovakia) who are seeking asylum in Britain can now be deported
without appeal. In the eyes of existing European Union member states and the
law, the ten countries set to join the EU in May 2004 are now judged to be
‘safe’ and their respect for social justice and human rights beyond
reproach. However, organisations such as the European Roma Rights Centre
have grave doubts regarding how serious many of the Central and Eastern
European governments take the issue of anti-Roma racist violence and the
prejudice and discrimination their Romani minorities endure on an almost
daily basis.
The central purpose of this one-day conference in Newcastle upon Tyne is to
examine the ‘global issues and local concerns’ of Roma who have had to leave
their home countries and enter Britain to claim asylum. In the morning
session, key papers by recognised experts in the field will address such
‘global’ topics as the reasons and patterns of recent European Roma
migration as well as the legal and human rights issues at stake. After a
buffet lunch, the afternoon session will involve a number of ‘hands-on’
workshops that will critically examine some of the ‘local’ concerns
regarding how Roma in Britain (and the North East in particular) are
provided for in terms of key services - such as education, housing, health
and the law. This will be a real opportunity to tease out the issues of
trying to implement ‘joined-up’ policies in the general area of asylum and
immigration, as well as an opportunity to network with people working in the
field.
The conference is likely to appeal to a number of different audiences, in
particular academics, post-graduate students, policy-makers, local authority
and central government agencies and council departments, voluntary sector
organisations and, not least, Roma/Gypsy/Traveller civil rights groups.
ROMA AND ASYLUM IN BRITAIN: GLOBAL ISSUES, LOCAL CONCERNS
A ONE DAY CONFERENCE
SEPTEMBER 3 2003
UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
The Fenwick Room, Castle Leazes Halls of Residence
Spital Tongues, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4NY
Tel: 0191 222 8362/8368
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/conferenceteam/
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/geps/
REGISTRATION AND COFFEE: 9.30 – 10.00am
10.00 - 10.15am Welcome and introduction
Colin Clark, Newcastle University
10.15 - 10.45am The patterns and politics of Roma migration in Europe
Thomas Acton, Greenwich University
10.45 - 11.15am Issues facing Roma in Britain today
Josef Cina, Roma North East organisation
COFFEE BREAK: 11.15-11.45am
11.45 - 12.15pm Roma, asylum and the law
Luke Clements, Traveller Law Reform Unit, Cardiff Law School
12.15 - 12.45pm The NGO perspective on Roma issues in Europe
Claude Cahn, the European Roma Rights Centre
LUNCH: 12.45 - 1.45pm - buffet lunch (Dining Hall, Castle Leazes)
1.45 – 2.45pm: workshops - please choose 1 from the 5 available:
Workshop A: Asylum, human rights and the Law
Workshop B: Asylum and Housing
Workshop C: Asylum and Education
Workshop D: Asylum and health
Workshop E: Asylum and European lobbying
COFFEE BREAK: 2.45 - 3.15pm
3.15 – 4.15pm: Feedback from each workshop group and discussion of issues
arising
4.15 – 4.45pm: Closing "Questions and Answers” panel session (with Acton,
Cina, Clements, Cahn)
END
ROMA AND ASYLUM IN BRITAIN: GLOBAL ISSUES, LOCAL CONCERNS
3rd September 2003
Registration Form
Name ______________________ Address _________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Email Address ____________________________________________________
*Full cost £50 _ **Reduced cost £20 _
*Full cost = academics, central/local government employees and organisations
etc.
**Reduced cost = postgraduate students, voluntary sector employees and
organisations etc.
AFTERNOON WORKSHOP (please tick one only)
A (law) _
B (housing) _
C (health) _
D (education) _
E (lobbying) _
Have you any special dietary needs? Yes _ No _
Please Specify _______________
(NB: The fee includes a conference pack, buffet lunch and refreshments
throughout the day)
UK Cheque, Please Make Payable to: ‘The University of Newcastle upon Tyne’
Visa Master Switch
Card No: ________________ Exp. Date: ___________ Issue No: __________
Deadline: 1/8/03 (Places are limited to 80 people so please book early)
Please send to: Colin Clark
Post: Sociology and Social Policy, University of Newcastle, Claremont Road,
Newcastle, NE1 7RU
Fax: +44 (0)191 222 7497 / Email: [log in to unmask]
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Castle Leazes Halls
JOINING DIRECTIONS FOR ARRIVAL BY ROAD, RAIL AND AIR
Location - off A189 on the West side of Newcastle. Adjoins Fenham Barracks.
One inch Ordinance Survey Sheet No. 88, Tyneside and Durham, Ref: NZ
236653.
Road Approaches
From the North Leave A1 at roundabout for Newcastle West (A186) and take
A186 (West Road). Cross over 3 roundabouts and after the General Hospital
on the left, turn left at the first traffic lights onto Brighton Grove
(C116). Follow signs for Castle Leazes straight through two sets of traffic
lights, then first right into Fountain Row and straight along to Main
Entrance.
From the South Leave A1 by first slip road after Granada Services and at
Eighton Bank roundabout take A167 Gateshead South along Gateshead Highway
and over the Tyne Bridge. Take the underpass onto the Central Motorway
(A167(M)) and follow signs for North and West. Take the third slip road
signposted University and RVI. At roundabout take third exit onto Claremont
Road, take fourth left onto Hunters Road, third left into Fountain Row
(signposted Castle Leazes Halls) and carry on straight along to Main
Entrance. Alternatively continue on A1 to approach from the west as below.
From the West Take A69 to Newcastle, straight over first roundabout and stay
on A186 (West Road) into town, crossing three roundabouts. After the
General Hospital on the left, turn left at the first traffic lights onto
Brighton Grove (C116). Follow signs for Castle Leazes through two sets of
traffic lights, then first right into Fountain Row and straight along to
Main Entrance.
Rail From Newcastle Central Station, Numbers 71 - 72 - 73 - 87 - 88 - 36A
buses to Fenham Barracks. Cross road and walk through Barracks down Holland
Drive to Main Entrance - two minutes' walk. Or, take the Metro from Central
Station to Haymarket, then walk up St Thomas' Street, up Richardson Road and
across the Moor to Castle Leazes - 15 minutes' walk. Alternatively, a taxi
from the Central Station to Castle Leazes takes approximately 7 minutes.
Air Take the Metro from Airport to Haymarket, then walk up St Thomas'
Street, up Richardson Road and across the Moor to Castle Leazes - 15
minutes' walk. Alternatively, take a taxi direct to the Halls -
approximately 20 minutes. The Airport Bus will take you to Newcastle
Central Station.
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Dr. Colin Clark
(Sociology and Social Policy)
School of Geography, Politics and Sociology
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Claremont Bridge Building
Claremont Road
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
England NE1 7RU, UK
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel: +44 (0) 191-222-7494
Fax: +44 (0) 191-222-7497
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/geps/
"Before you play two notes learn how to play one note
- and don't play one note unless you've got a reason to play it."
Mark Hollis (1998)
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