Webinars on Human Rights, Equality, Anti-Discrimination and Social Inclusion

Due to the COVID-19 related restrictions, Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece held online first seminar of 2020 entitled “Human Rights, Equality, Anti-Discrimination and Social Inclusion” during the period from May to early June.

As this was an innovative digital learning pilot, expediated by the changing and strenuous circumstances, the Seminar/webinars aimed to discuss in depth and analyse the core issues our School’s Network is based on: rule of law, human rights, equality and democracy/non-discrimination, Europe, interculturalism, diversity, with a special focus on the strength of our School, namely social inclusion and migration in an intensive programme. In particular, the webinars consisted of five asynchronous thematic lectures accompanied by five live Q&A discussions implemented by the speakers.

Since the spreading of COVID-19 virus, public authorities at all government levels and worldwide faced a large-scale emergency. The ‘future’ is already announcing more challenges to human rights acquis, social, economic and institutional structures, apart from the immediate threat to health posed by the pandemic, with serious implications in all areas of our shared daily reality. State boarders have been closed to contain contagion, travel restrictions have been imposed, and personal data collection and exploitation are being authorised to a greater extent than ever. While exceptional situations call for exceptional measures, it is equally important to ensure that democracy and human rights, solidarity and cohesion are safeguarded in societies.

The presentations and discussions involved some of the outstanding University Professors in Greece, on Law, Politics and Intercultural Education. In particular, the speakers were: Ioannis Papageorgiou, Associate Professor, School of Political Science, Aristotle University (AUTh); Konstantinos Tsitselikis, Dean, Professor of International Law, Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies, University of Macedonia; Andreas Takis, Associated Professor, Faculty of Law, AUTh; Eleni Hodolidou, Associate Professor in the Department of Education, Faculty of Philosophy, AUTh, and finally; Despina Syrri, Director of Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece.

 

Programme

 

Asynchronous Sessions and Modules

Module I	Human rights in Europe and migration: law, policies and practices –        Introduction to international refugee and migration law –        Current EU framework for the third-country nationals –        Constitutional reforms of the current EU framework	Ioannis Papageorgiou
Module II	Equal in Law, Equal in Society –        Protection of minorities and the Council of Europe –        European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and protection from discrimination	Konstantinos Tsitselikis
	–        Equal Treatment for all – The Case Law of the Court of the EU –        EU as a human rights actor globally	Andreas Takis
Module III	Equality and anti-discrimination policies –        Basic concepts of equality and anti-discrimination –        Equality and anti-discrimination law in the EU –        Religious, racial and ethnic discrimination	Andreas Takis
Module IV	Social inclusion and Intercultural Education –        Intercultural education –        Equality of opportunity and social inclusion	Eleni Hodolidou
Module V	Cultural Diversity, Us and the Others –        Cultural diversity and equality: approaches and conflicts	Despina Syrri

 

 

Week of Live Q&A Discussions: 1 – 4 June 2020

Day 1, Monday

1st Q&A Live Session: Human rights in Europe and migration: law, policies and practices Speaker: Ioannis Papageorgiou

 

Day 2, Tuesday

2nd Q&A Live Session: Equal in Law, Equal in Society – part A Speaker: Konstantinos Tsitselikis

 

Day 3, Wednesday

3rd Q&A Live Session:

Equal in Law, Equal in Society – part B

Equality and anti-discrimination policies

Speaker: Andreas Takis

 

Day 4, Thursday

4th Q&A Live Session: Social Inclusion and Intercultural Education Speaker: Eleni Hodolidou

5th Q&A Live Session: Cultural Diversity, Us and the Others Speaker: Despina Syrri