UNESCO CHAIR/UNITWIN NETWORK PROGRESS REPORT FORM
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UNESCO Chair in Intercultural Policy for an Active Citizenship and Solidarity |
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2004 |
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May 2011- November 2012 |
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Paraskevi Naskou-Perraki, Professor of International Law and International Organisations at the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Macedonia, Director of UNESCO Chair in Intercultural Policy for an Active Citizenship and Solidarity |
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The outcomes of the work of the UNESCO Chair have been to promote the protection of human rights, with emphasis on the right to education, and the promotion of human rights education, intercultural policy, intercultural dialogue and intercultural education at all levels of our society (academic, civil, etc.) The UNESCO Chairholder has established a network between the UNESCO Chair and the museums in Thessaloniki and cooperate with the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the Direction of Secondary Education in order to promote the goals of UNESCO. The outcomes include a remarkable contribution to research, publications, raising awareness and distribution of information concerning the protection of human rights and cultural diversity in order to achieve an active citizenship, in other words, a democratic citizenship. Another aim for the UNESCO Chair is to establish cooperation with NGO’s, and particularly with those ones involved with the protection of vulnerable groups, such as immigrants, refugees etc. The UNESCO Chair progressively appeals to more and more students every year who wish to be involved in various aspects of the work of the Chair as internees. At the same time Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, the UNESCO Chairholder and a well-established academic, is invited to numerous events and conferences to lecture on human rights and the promotion of intercultural dialogue, and has contributed significantly to nurturing and establishing networks and links across academic disciplines as well as other social, public policy and civil society areas. The work of the UNESCO Chair has contributed significantly to raising awareness on the protection of human rights; this is evidenced in the collaboration with schools of primary and secondary education; receiving funding from public bodies on UNESCO Chair’s publications; as well as in publishing leaflets and books which are distributed for free to schools and University students. For example, following a conference with representatives of primary education, UNESCO Chair undertook the preparation of a leaflet on the Rules of Behaviour towards people with disabilities. The publication costs for this leaflet were initially provided by the General Secretariat of Press. The leaflet was distributed to schools and hospitals. Currently, the UNESCO Chair is in talks with the Greek-German School of Athens with regard to the reproduction of this leaflet. UNESCO Chair intends to distribute electronically this leaflet on the rules of behaviour towards people with disabilities in order to reach out to the general public and disseminate information on the protection of the rights of people with disabilities. UNESCO Chair intends to upload this leaflet on the website of UNESCO Chair so that is can be accessible to any member of the society. The value of this leaflet is further attested by the fact that the Library of the Ministry of Press has requested for the electronic version of this leaflet in order to upload it on the website of the Library. Also, the UNESCO Chair co-edited with the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki in 2012 a book on the Obligations and the rights of the child at school which is also distributed for free. Moreover, in 2012, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, published a book which is a compilation of the most international legal instruments on the protection of human rights and which is distributed for free to any of the University students in Greece. The UNESCO Chairholder, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, and the scientific collaborator to the UNESCO Chair, Dr. K. Chainoglou, have been invited to teach in English at postgraduate level the module of “UNESCO and Culture” which is part of the MA in Law, Arts and Economy of the International Hellenic University (October 2012-January 2013). For the preparation of the module, the UNESCO Chair has drafted teaching materials and a compilation of legal instruments on the protection of culture. |
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a) Education/Training/Research (key education programmes and training delivered and research undertaken by the Chair during the reporting period, target group and geographical coverage) |
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i) Education |
Various courses are taught at the University which aim in human rights education and the promotion of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue as a means to gain an active/democratic citizenship. At the Department of International and European Studies, the courses of “International Protection of Human Rights” (taught by Professor P. Naskou-Perraki) and “Cultural Diplomacy” (taught by Dr. K. Chainoglou) are offered at undergraduate level. The course of ‘’International Protection on Human Rights’’ is taught to undergraduate Erasmus students in English by Professor P. Naskou-Perraki (some lectures are delivered by Dr. K. Chainoglou). On postgraduate level the course of “Human Rights and the Rights of the Child” is taught at the Master on European Youth Policies by P. Naskou-Perraki. Also, seminars for professionals, jurists, social and political scientists, sociologists, professionals in education, school councillors, civil servants, psychologists, postgraduate students, etc, are offered twice a year by the Department of International and European Studies. Professor P. Naskou-Perraki is the Director of a series of seminars which cover various issues on human rights, the protection of culture, intercultural dialogue and international organisations. For the academic year 2012-2013, the following thematic seminars are taught: 1) The right to Education and Intercultural Education; 2) Tools for Intercultural Teaching of Human Rights at School; 3) Gender Equality and Women’s Rights; 4) Protection of the Rights of Social Vulnerable Groups: People with Disabilities; Refugees; Immigrants; Roma; and Women. The seminars entitled “The right to Education and Intercultural Education” include lectures on: 1) The right to education: a right for all; 2) The protection of the right to education through programmes of UNESCO and the International Labour Organisation; 3) Human rights learning at school: a form of education for peace; 4)Religious symbols at schools: freedom of religion and the right to education; 5) Bullying at school: critical analysis and preventative policies; 6) The protection of children from the malevolent use of Internet: critical analysis and preventative policies; 7)Intercultural education and intercultural dialogue: the programmes and actions of UNESCO, Council of Europe and the European Union which aim in the inclusion of social vulnerable groups (immigrants, Roma, people with disabilities, etc); 8) Intercultural education, tolerance and elimination of xenophobia and racism; 9) Intercultural education abd intercultural schools: immigrants, ex-patriates; 10) Intercultural education and intercultural schools: Roma, Muslims in Thrace. The seminars entitled “Tools for Intercultural Teaching of Human Rights at School” include lectures on: 1) The obligations of Greece for intercultural teaching/education under the international conventions and other legal instruments; 2) The fundamental international conventions on the protection of intercultural teaching/education: from the Universal Declaration on Human Rights to the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; 3) The rights and obligations of children at school; 4) Education, intercultural education and tolerance and elimination of xenophobia and racism; 5) Religious tolerance and intercultural education (Teaching the course of “Religion” at school); 6) Intercultural education and the concept of common European heritage (Teaching the course of “History” or “Holocaust” at school); 7) Linguistic minorities and their rights; 8) The implementation of intercultural education in practice for Roma, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The seminars entitled “Gender Equality and Women’s Rights” include lectures on the: 1) Gender-based discrimination and multiple discrimination; 2) Women’s rights protection mechanisms: From the United Nations to the National Ombudsman; 3) Contribution of International Labour Organisation to gender equality and women’s rights; 4) UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); 5) Women’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Strasbourg court case law; 6) Women’s rights in the European Union; 7) European policies on gender equality; 8) Elimination of violence against Women; 9) Women’s rights in Greece: National Reports and the National Action Plan on the Substantial Gender Equality 2010-2013; 10) Contribution of non-governmental organisations to the protection of women’s rights The seminars entitled “Protection of the Rights of Social Vulnerable Groups: People with Disabilities; Refugees; Immigrants; Roma; and Women;” include lectures on the: 1) Introduction to the international protection of human rights and human rights protection mechanisms; 2) Protection of the rights of refugees (Dublin Regulation and policies); 3) Protection of the rights of people with disabilities (legal instruments, case law and policies); 4) Protection of immigrants’ rights at European and international level (legal instruments, case law and policies); 5) Protection of the rights of the Roma (legal instruments, case law and policies); 6) Protection of women’s rights (legal instruments, case law and policies); 7) Social and educational policies for children with disabilities; 8) Social and educational policies for Roma children. Moreover, for the academic year 2012-2013, the UNESCO Chairholder, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, and the scientific collaborator to the UNESCO Chair, Dr. K. Chainoglou, have been invited to teach in English at postgraduate level the module of “UNESCO and Culture” which is part of the MA in Law, Arts and Economy of the International Hellenic University (October 2012-January 2013). For the preparation of the module, the UNESCO Chair has drafted teaching materials and a compilation of legal instruments on the protection of culture. |
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ii) Training |
Training and research at the UNESCO Chair are materializing through internship at UNESCO Chair. The main purpose of offering an internship to undergraduate and postgraduate students at the UNESCO Chair is to familiarize students with the purposes and the programmes of UNESCO at global and regional level. Under the supervision of Professor Perraki the students are encouraged to study the international instruments under which the protection of human rights is guaranteed. This year’s research and training is focused on non-discrimination. The tasks of internees include the translation and critical analysis of the jurisprudence of various international bodies, the collection and assessment of political initiatives adopted by various international organisation is as well as the assessment of the implementation of these initiatives at national level, especially with regard to intercultural policy, the promotion of cultural diversity in various sectors. The number of internees reaches approximately 39 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The internees at the UNESCO Chair are divided into three working groups. The tasks of each Working Group are the following: The First Working Group, known as the “Journalists’ Team”, works throughout the academic year in order to collect any information on the activities of UNESCO. The Journalists’ team translates into Greek the collected information which is then edited and published either in print or on the website of the UNESCO Chair (http://afroditi.uom.gr/chaireunesco/). The work of the Journalists’ team is purely informative. The Second Working Group, aims in conducting research on international case law (i.e. CERD, etc) and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. The members of this Group studies and translates cases into Greek. The Third Working Group aims in the collection of data and information on the activities of international organisations, i.e. the International Labour Organisation, World Health Organisation, etc. with regard to their activities on the protection of human rights and the impact of the global economic crisis on human rights. |
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iii) Research |
Training and research at the UNESCO Chair are materializing through internship at UNESCO Chair (see above). Furthermore, the UNESCO Chair organises events and workshops in order to stimulate dialogue between various stakeholders, i.e. academics, postgraduate students, PhD students, non-governmental organisations, public bodies, etc, and to encourage research on issues that are troubling the contemporary Greek society. |
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b) Conferences/Meetings (key conferences and meetings organized by the Chair or to which its Chairholder contributed) |
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i) Key conferences and workshops hosted by the Chair Information-awareness workshops or events organised by the Chair for UNESCO Chair On 28 March 2012, the Assistant Professor of the University of Western Macedonia, Mr. Stavros Kamaroudis, gave a lecture on “The geopolitics of the Greek language”. The lecture took place within the course of the taught module “Cultural Diplomacy” of UNESCO Chair. On 6 April 2012, Dr. Angelos Chatzinikolaou, teacher at the Intercultural School of Menemeni in Thessaloniki, and Ms. Magka, Representative of the Roma Women of Dendropotamos in Thessaloniki, were invited to speak to the internees of the UNESCO Chair on Roma children and Roma women. On 21 February 2012, Dr. Angelos Chatzinikolaou, was invited to speak to the internees of the UNESCO Chair on Roma children and any educational issues and difficulties which arise when teaching to Roma children. On 9 May 2011, the UNESCO Chair organized an event on “Pictures of the world: Greece and the global art history”, whereby Dr. Christina Stephan-Kaissis, delivered a lecture and presented a critical analysis of key-dimensions of the issue. ii) Other conferences/organizational activities undertaken by the Chairholder Education (Annual Student Conference) Since 2002 the Annual Thessaloniki International Student Model United Nations (ThessISMUN) is organised at the University of Macedonia under the academic direction of Professor P. Naskou-Perraki. ThessISMUN, a successful Model UN, Council of Europe and North Atlantic Council, gathers students from Greek Universities and from all over the world, ready to show their diplomatic skills. ThessISMUN is the only Model UN organised in Greece and is supportive of other UN Models in neighbouring countries, as well Regional Models in other parts of Greece. ThessISMUN gathers undergraduate and graduate students from around the world for a 5-day youth summit to simulate discussions of different bodies of UN and regional organisations and assume the roles of ambassadors. ThessISMUN offers to students educational experience and is an effective tool to learn about the complexities of the world, how international community deals with economic and environmental concerns, human rights violations, disarmament and political conflicts and other global issues. The educational value of ThessISMUN is further enhanced by the fact that it presents a multicultural and multinational forum where students can enhance their communication skills, learn about other countries, promote democracy, explore conflict resolutions and develop negotiations skills. iii) A selection of conference presentations by the Chairholder and other colleagues On 27 September 2012, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, delivered a keynote speech on “Rights of the Child” at the Conference on Active Citizenship which was organized by the Vice-municipality of Youth, Sports and Volunteers and under the auspices of INCLUDE. On 28 August 2012, Mr. Z. Tsiftzis, LLM Candidate, was invited to speak on “Intercultural Dialogue and Human Rights” at the Summer Camp of YMCA of Thessaloniki. On 14 May 2012, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Professor P. Naskou–Perraki, gave a lecture on the “International Protection Mechanisms of Women’s Rights” at the Conference on “Women and the Contemporary Crisis” which was organized by the Department of Theology of the Aristotle University. On 6 April 2012, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Professor P. Naskou–Perraki, and the scientific collaborator to UNESCO Chair, Dr. Kalliopi Chainoglou, were invited at the event on the “World Day of Roma” which was organised by the Intercultural Public School of Menemeni, in the Dendropotamos area of Thessaloniki. On 28 November 2011, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Professor P. Naskou–Perraki, and the scientific collaborator to UNESCO Chair, Dr. K. Chainoglou, were invited to speak on ‘UN Policies which promote gender equality at the Regional Training Seminars entitled “Gender equality and the Media”. The seminars took place between 27 November and 4 December under the auspices of the UNESCO Centre for Women and Peace in the Balkan Countries. On 14 June 2011, the scientific collaborator to UNESCO Chair, Dr. K. Chainoglou, spoke on the “European framework for the freedom of expression and the Greek reality” at a two-day conference which was organised by the Journalists’ Association of Macedonia-Thrace within the framework of the European campaign on the elimination of discrimination and the protection of the freedom of expression and the rules of journalists’ ethics. On 17 May 2011, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Professor P. Naskou–Perraki, spoke on “EU Identity” at a event that was organised under the auspice of the Film Festival of Thessaloniki |
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c) Interuniversity Exchanges/Partnerships (principal exchanges/partnerships between the Chair and other institution,s including UNESCO Chairs/UNITWIN Networks) |
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The UNESCO Chair has already established co-operation with the other two UNESCO Chairs of the Aristotle University. Furthermore, UNESCO Chair is in co-operation with intercultural schools of Thessaloniki and other primary and secondary schools as well as museums, non-governmental organisations, etc. |
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d) Publications/Multimedia Materials (major publications and teaching/learning materials) |
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Teaching/Learning Materials |
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Give details of major publications and materials including full citations. i) PhD Theses 1. The protection of underwater cultural heritage (in preparation)
ii) Publications Books
Journals:
Contributions to Books :
Teaching materials :
Conference proceedings :
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e) Cooperation with UNESCO Headquarters, Field Offices |
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1) The UNESCO Chair, applied before UNESCO for a permission to translate the upcoming UNESCO Book “Human Rights: Questions and Answers” from English into Greek. The UNESCO Chair has received funding for the publication costs of the UNESCO Book “Human Rights: Questions and Answers”. 2) The UNESCO Chair is currently liaising with UNESCO in order to prepare and publish a book on the protection mechanisms of women’s rights at global and regional level. |
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f) Other
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The UNESCO Chair supports along with the UNESCO Youth Club the nomination of Thessaloniki as a European Youth Capital 2014. Moreover, the UNESCO Chair is actively supporting the Culture of Peace and Non-violence UNESCO Contest (<http://www.unesco-hellas.gr/gr/news_display.aspx?id=224>) by encouraging pupils and students to participate therein. The Director of UNESCO Chair, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, has been appointed as a consultant for the above contest by the Ministry of Education. |
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3. Future Plans and Development Prospects: Outline of action plan for the next biennium and short/medium and long-term development prospects. Please do not hesitate to refer to difficulties that the Chair has experienced (Not exceeding 300 words) |
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The UNESCO Chair has already established co-operation with the other two UNESCO Chairs of the Aristotle University. And the UNESCO Chair supports the work of UNESCO Youth Club of Thessaloniki; members of the UNESCO Youth Club participate in the activities of the UNESCO Chair as internees or on a voluntary basis. Additionally, the UNESCO Chair participates in information awareness events organised by the UNESCO Youth Club. The UNESCO Chair is in co-operation with groups of volunteers from the civil society and will embark on the organization of events in order to celebrate the 2013 Year of Water Cooperation and promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. The promotion of human rights and the need for intercultural dialogue is necessary to the achievement of the goals of UNESCO. It may seem endless but it is the most rewarding and effective process. The commitment of the UNESCO Chair in studying, analyzing, distributing information and raising awareness on intercultural policy for a democratic citizenship (a concept that describes best the term “active citizenship”) contributes to the goals of the UNESCO. The UNESCO Chair recognizes that raising awareness on human rights education is a means to implementing successfully intercultural policies. For this reason, the UNESCO Chair aims in broadening the existing networks that have been established under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair and will continue to work towards promoting human rights for a democratic citizenship by reaching out to policy-makers, professionals (i.e. educators, teachers, lawyers, etc.) and civil society. The UNESCO Chair is collecting international instruments and information concerning intercultural policies and intercultural dialogue within the context of international and regional organizations. Furthermore, the UNESCO Chair is co-operating with the Municipality of Thessaloniki and other stakeholders to promote the goals of UNESCO. A number of events are organized on the World Days that celebrate human rights of vulnerable groups, i.e. children, women, people with disabilities, refugees, immigrants, etc. Also, a number of books are in preparation: 1) Professor P. Naskou-Perraki is preparing an updated version of the International Mechanisms protecting human rights: Texts, Comments and case law which was originally published in the series of the UNESCO Chair Publications of the University of Macedonia. The book benefits from a compilation of fundamental international legal instruments on human rights and their protection mechanisms, supplemented by schematic tables and case law [in English]. 2) Professor P. Naskou-Perraki and a group of young academics under her supervision are preparing a book on the right to education [in Greek]. The purpose of this book is to present how the right to education is implemented at global, regional and national level, especially with regard to vulnerable groups, i.e. immigrants, refugees, repatriated Greeks, and Roma. The book benefits from intriguing analysis of various dimensions of the right to education. 3) A book on the protection of women’s rights is also underway. The UNESCO Chair is currently liaising with UNESCO on the content of the book as well as the publisher’s house. |
Appendix:
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1) Human Resources |
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Number of posts One Professor – Full time One Lecturer – Full time One administrative person – Part time a) Paroula Naskou-Perraki Professor of International Law and International Organizations Department of International and European Studies University of Macedonia, Office 421, Tower K P.O. Box 1591, 156 Egnatia Str. Thessaloniki, 54006 Greece Tel. 00302310891499, 00302310891491 Fax. 00302310891439 E-mail: perraki@uom.gr b) Kalliopi Chainoglou Dr. (PhD in International Law) Elected Lecturer in International and European Institutions Department of International and European Studies University of Macedonia, Office 421, Tower K P.O. Box 1591, 156 Egnatia Str. Thessaloniki, 54006 Greece Tel. 00302310891491 Fax. 00302130891439 E-mail: kchainoglou@gmail.com Other Persons to conduct c) Zafeiris Tsiftzis Candidate LLM in Public International Law e-mail: zafiris.tsiftzis@gmail.com 1.2. Number of Persons invited 1) Ms. Tzitzikosta, President of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO 2) Dr. Caisis Stephan Christin 3) Dr. Stavros Kamaroudis, Assistant Professor at the University of Western Macedonia 4) Representatives of the Associated Schools with UNESCO in Thessaloniki 5) Representatives of the Intercultural School of Pylaia in Thessaloniki 6) UNESCO Youth Club 7) Navarino Network 8) Dr. Angelos Chatzinikolaou, Teacher at the Intercultural School of Menemeni, in Thessaloniki 9) Ms. Magka, Representative of the Roma Women, of the Dendropotamos area in Thessaloniki 10) Hellenic College of Thessaloniki 1.3. Other Persons participating in the activities of the Chair Internship: 39 persons Undergraduate and postgraduate students of our University and Aristotle University |
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2) Financial Resources |
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Please tick sources of financial contribution and specify the amount in U.S. dollars |
Host Institution UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA _venue, technical infrastructure, computers, printing materials, etc ____________________ Other Public Institution/Body Hellenic Commission for UNESCO, covering the publication costs for the UNESCO Book “Human rights: Questions and Answers” |
End of the Form