1999 Advocacy and Training Seminar in Hungary

RAINBOW, along with many other minority organizations and NGOs, participated in an advocay seminar in Hungary. The seminar was immensley useful especially on a practical level. Below is an overview of the seminar and workshops.

Orientation and Introductions: In addition to going over the programme for the seminar, participants had an opportunity to introduce themselves, their work, the type of issues they are working on, and their expectations for the seminar.

Roundtable Discussion: Using international standards in international and domestic advocacy. Case studies from Macedonia and Romania. Participants were invited to share their experiences.

The International and European Framework for Minority Rights Protection: development of a minority rights paradigm; mapping out the main international standards & institutions; relevance of international law for domestic situations & the role of advocacy.

Each evening, the next day's trainers were invited to join participants for dinner so that all could get to know each other informally and share specific interests.

Council of Europe: Relevant instruments and their associated procedures; enforcement mechanisms.

Advocacy Opportunities - Roundtable: Ideas for using Council of Europe mechanisms to address specific minority rights problems. Focus on Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and its monitoring mechanism. Participants were invited to share their experiences and discuss strategies to address problems.

Skills Focus - Documentation & Reports: How to prepare effective materials for consideration by international bodies monitoring compliance with international standards. This session was participatory and included case studies.

OSCE: Relevant instruments and procedures; enforcement mechanisms; relevance to domestic legislation and bilateral treaties.

Advocacy Opportunities - Roundtable: Ideas for using OSCE mechanisms to address specific minority rights problems. Focus on High Commission for National Minorities and Human Dimension Implementation Meeting. Participants were invited to share their experiences and discuss strategies to address problems.

Skills Focus - Lobbying Strategies: Dynamics of lobbying in international fora. This session was participatory and included case studies.

Advocacy Opportunities - Roundtable: Ideas for using UN mechanisms to address specific minority rights problems. Focus on Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and the Working Group on Minorities. Participants were invited to share their experiences and discuss strategies to address problems.

Skills Focus - Preparing Interventions: strategies for drafting effective interventions for delivery at international meetings. This session was participatory and included case studies.

Anna-Maria Biro, Project Manager, MRG Hannu Halinen, Ambassador of Finland to Hungary

Working Groups: Developing an Advocacy Campaign Strategy - participants work in small groups or on their own to develop a strategic plan to address a relevant problem in their country / community.

Mr Jarabik Balazs, Sandor Marai Foundation, Bratislava, Slovakia
Ms Julia Borisov, Community of Russian Lippovans from Romania, Bucharest, Romania
Ms Elizabeta Buova, European Integration Office, Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, Macedonia
Mr Attila Dudas, Hungary
Mr Bumbu Gruia, Romani Criss, Bucharest, Romania
Mr Istvan Haller, Liga Pro Europa, Tirgu-Mures, Romania
Mr Bill Iatrou, Gazeta 'Lajko Vima', Sarande, Albania
Ms Mirela Ilusca, The Ukrainians Union, Bucharest, Romania
Mr Ernest Jovic, Center for Information and Support to NGOs, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Ms Petra Klein, Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Zagreb, Croatia
Mr Iliya Kochev, Cultural, Educational and Social Development Foundation, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Ms Liliana Kovatcheva, Network Women's Programme, Kyustendil, Bulgaria
Mr Suad Missini, Civil Society Resource Center, Skopje, Macedonia
Mr Ninko Miric, Serbian Democratic Forum, Zagreb, Croatia
Mr Albert Musliu, Association for Democratic Initiatives, Gostivar, Macedonia
Ms Nafsika Papanikolatos, Minority Rights Group-Greece, Kifisia, Greece
Mr Krisztian Posa, FR Yugoslavia
Ms Christina Rougheri, Greek Helsinki Monitor, Kifisia, Greece
Ms Ramiza Sakip, Roma Community Center of Skopje, Skopje, Macedonia
Mr Boguslaw Salej, Union of Lemkos, Gorlice, Poland
Mr Matej Sipicki, National Slovak Self-Government, Budapest, Hungary
Mr Zoran Stankovic, Serbian Community of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Ms Silvia Sujanova, Foundation Citizen and Democracy/MRG-Slovakia, Bratislava, Slovakia
Ms Usnija Vladisavljevic, Foundation for Open Society, FR Yugoslavia
Mr Pavlos Voskopoulos, Vinozhito - Ouranio Toxo (Rainbow) Organisation of the National Macedonian Minority in Greece, Florina, Greece
Ms Goksen Yunusoglu, Young Academicians' Club, Western Thrace, Greece
Ms Vanda Zamicka, Latvia