Apologies for cross posting
Citizenship, rights, obligations and the role of Language
Social Market Foundation morning Seminar
11 Tufton Street, London SW1. Nearest stations Westminster/St James's Park
2nd November 2004
10-1pm
Keynote speaker: Des Browne, Minister, Department for Work and Pensions
I am very pleased to invite you to this event, which will look at discuss
the rights and obligations of new citizens to the United Kingdom and the
role of language in this regard.
The Social Market Foundation, as a think tank interested in exploring
issues which contribute towards creating a just free and prosperous
society, have long been interested in issues surrounding immigration and
asylum questions. We have held events inter alia, on multiculturalism,
questions of Britishness and integration.
The morning’s proceedings will start with a panel debate which will
include Maeve Sherlock, Director of the Refugee Council and Barbara Roche,
MP. The panel will discuss the question of what is needed to make any
newcomer a ‘fully functioning and informed’ member of British society, and
the role that language plays in this. Citizenship classes and ceremonies
have been posited as a way of making newcomers aware of their obligations
to the host nation. But how important is the learning of the host language
in this regard, and does taking on a new tongue necessarily mean
abandoning important elements of one’s own culture, or should language
skills be an integral part of citizenship? What indeed, do we mean by
integration in this context?
The debate will be followed by a keynote speech by Des Browne, Minister of
State in the Home Office, entitled ‘Rights, Obligations, Responsibilities:
Public Services, New Citizens and the Role of Government’ where he will
explore the relationship between new citizens and the state where
balancing rights and obligations are concerned.
I very much hope that you will be able to join us for what will be a
interesting and thought provoking session. If you would like to come
along, or send a colleague, please contact me on 020 7227 4401 or email
[log in to unmask]
Valerie Johnson
Social Market Foundation
www.smf.co.uk
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