Bremen Council for Integration
The Bremen Council for Integration was established in December 2004 by a resolution of the Deputation for Social Affairs, Youth, Senior Citizens and Foreigners Integration Bremen . The aim of the work of the Bremen Council for Integration is to make a contribution to strengthening the integration of people with a migration background as an important social task and to contribute to increased cooperation between all actors in integration policy and work in the state of Bremen .
tasks and goals
The task of the Bremen Council for Integration is to promote and support the integration of immigrants and equal coexistence in a multiethnic society in the state of Bremen. This task includes:
- the preparation of statements on integration policy issues and projects,
- Accompanying the implementation of the integration policy concepts and resolutions of the Bremen citizenship and the Senate and contributing to their further development. A particular focus is on improving the education and training of people with a migration background and their integration or reintegration into the labor market,
- promoting the cooperation of all Bremen actors in integration policy and the institutions that significantly accompany, influence and support the integration process,
- the initiation, organization and accompaniment of specialist events and discussion forums,
- promoting the political participation of migrants, especially groups that were previously underrepresented,
- promoting active participation in shaping the integration tasks of the associations,
- the promotion of intercultural dialogue and intercultural opening ,
- Accompanying surveys and expert interviews / hearings,
- the initiation of an inventory of the situation of people with a migration background in the state of Bremen in all important areas of society,
- dealing with legislative issues at state, federal and EU level, e.g. B. in questions of anti-discrimination .
Support and collaboration
The Senate Chancellery supports the Bremen Council for Integration in fulfilling these tasks and, in particular, provides it with the necessary information. The Senate Chancellery provides the Bremen Council for Integration with information on its questions and concerns in a timely manner, insofar as it relates to its responsibility. The Senate Chancellery involves the Bremen Council for Integration in the planning of measures that affect the integration of migrants in good time, so that it has the opportunity to prepare and make recommendations. The Bremen Council for Integration is entitled to submit proposals, recommendations and statements to the competent parliamentary bodies. The Senate Chancellery hears the Bremen Council for Integration before adopting laws, guidelines, concepts and programs that affect questions of integration. All social forces and institutions dealing with questions of integration policy are called upon to support the Bremen Council for Integration in fulfilling these tasks. The Senate Chancellery provides the Bremen Council for Integration with the financial and material resources necessary to carry out its tasks. The chairman of the Bremen Council for Integration takes part in the meetings of the parliamentary committee responsible for integration as a permanent guest in an advisory capacity.
membership
Members of the Bremen Council for Integration are entitled to vote:
- 4 representatives from the municipality of Bremerhaven (named: Magistrat Bremerhaven),
- 4 representatives of the religious communities active in the state of Bremen (named: Islamic religious communities, Bremen Evangelical Church, Catholic Office Bremen, Jewish community in the state of Bremen),
- 2 representatives of the labor market actor group active in the state of Bremen (named: DGB and business associations in the state of Bremen),
- 2 representatives of the education and further training actor group active in the state of Bremen (designation: the Senate department responsible for education and the state committee for further education),
- 2 representatives of the charities active in the state of Bremen (named: LAG Bremen),
- 2 representatives of the culture, science and research actor group active in the state of Bremen (designation: the Senate departments responsible for culture and science),
- 1 representative of the state sports federation,
- 1 representative of the media active in the state of Bremen (named: state press conference),
- 1 representative of the refugee organizations active in the state of Bremen (named: Bremen Refugee Council),
- 1 joint representative of the organized parent representatives (named: ZEB / ZEV),
- 1 joint representative of the school and student representatives in the state of Bremen,
- 8 people who are particularly experienced in integration work.
A deputy member is appointed and appointed for each member who represents the member with a seat and vote in the Bremen Council for Integration if he is unable to attend. The alternate members can also attend the meetings if the member is not prevented from attending.
Working groups
Nine working groups are devoted to various topics of integration work
The members of the Bremen Council for Integration meet four times a year in a public meeting at different locations. "But the real work takes place in the time between the meetings." Nine working groups were set up for this purpose.
The purpose is to concentrate on a topic and develop specific ideas. The projects developed in the working groups then go to the seven-member board. Because he ultimately decides on all matters of the council. He weighs up whether the implementation of an idea is feasible and affordable or, unfortunately, has to remain a utopia. The statutes stipulate that each member of the board of directors presides over a working group. But “simple” members can also lead a working group.
AG 1: Promote coexistence
For their work in the city districts, this working group obtains information about the coexistence of immigrants and locals, for example from the neighborhood managers. In 2008, the group campaigned for the establishment of so-called “rooms of silence” in the Bremen hospitals. Rooms in which all people, regardless of religion, should find peace. On August 19, 2009, the “Room of Silence” was inaugurated in the Diakonie Hospital in Gröpelingen. "We will build on this work, the topic is still relevant," says Halime Cengiz.
AG 2: Pre-school and school education
This working group was also active in the BRI's first legislative period. The working group has already received current inquiries on the subjects of school attendance and care for unaccompanied minors (together with the refugee group) as well as the Cito language test before starting school. In addition, the working group wants to set its own thematic priorities.
AG 3: Professional qualifications and labor market
The AG deals with the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. In addition, topics from the Bremen agreement for training and securing skilled workers from 2011 to 2013 (extended from 2014 to 2017) will be dealt with. Focus: to attract young people with a migration background to dual training.
AG 4: Anti-Discrimination
The working group is committed to the continuous development of an anti-discrimination culture, the effective fight against the causes of discrimination in various areas of life, such as B. on the job market, when looking for accommodation and in contact with authorities as well as for the establishment of a central and independent anti-discrimination office in the state of Bremen.
AG 5: Africa
The AG wants to give the many different associations and other associations on the subject of Africans in Bremen as well as interested, committed individuals the opportunity to network. The aim is to make social and political connections clear and thus contribute to the integration of the Africans living with us.
AG 6: Refugees
Topics are currently urgent questions regarding accommodation, meals and schooling for refugees. The working group seeks contact with decision-makers from politics and administration in order to jointly develop quick and needs-based solutions.
AG 7: Bremerhaven
This is about problems specific to the sister city. "We are currently in talks with the magistrate, customs and the health department about the problem of increasing crime in the city, the victims of which are primarily the 'new EU citizens' who have immigrated from Bulgaria and Romania", says Daniel de Oliveira Soares.
AG 8: Health
Do migrants have different health problems than the long-established residents? Who will take care of them in old age? How are the so-called paperless taken care of? These are some of the many topics that the Health WG deals with. The AG Health of the Bremen Council for Integration works closely with the Intercultural Network Health.
AG 9: Culture
The working group wants to reach immigrants and locals alike with culture and wants to support political issues with culture. There is plenty of space for creative ideas. It should u. a. Events such as readings, concerts, exhibitions etc. can be organized.
AG 10: Integration concept
In 2011, the BRI had already taken on the updating of the Bremen integration concept from 2012 and initiated and organized a public participation process in the form of a day-long expert hearing. To this end, 24 integration experts from different areas were invited to critically discuss the draft of the “Concept for the Integration of Migrants in the State of Bremen 2011-2015” in terms of both content and form. The results were incorporated into the drafting of the redesigned “Development Plan for Participation and Integration 2012–2015”. In the middle of the political legislative period, the working group would like to take a critical look at the current implementation status of the “development plan” at the beginning of 2014.
Publications
Newspaper with each other
Everyone in our society is called upon to make their contribution to integration and to ensure peaceful coexistence. Many people, groups, associations, institutions and initiatives are already continuously involved in this process. To make them aware of each other and ultimately to promote their networking is what the newspaper MITHEN of the Bremen Council for Integration sees as its task. It appears in an edition of 5000 copies and is distributed to all organizations and individuals actively involved in the integration process. In addition, it gives all those actively involved an insight into the work of the Bremen Council for Integration. It is published by the Bremen Council for Integration in conjunction with the Department for Immigrant Affairs and Integration Policy at the Senator for Labor, Women, Health, Youth and Social Affairs and appears about every two months.