UNESCO Chair in Intercultural Policy for an Active Citizenship and Solidarity – Chaire de Politique Interculturelle pour une citoyennete active et solidaire

University of Macedonia

2004

September 2013 – May 2014

Paraskevi  Naskou-Perraki, Professor of International Law and International Organisations at the Department at International and European Studies of the University of Macedonia, Director of UNESCO Chair in Intercultural Policy for an Active Citizenship and Solidarity

The outcomes of the work of 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 the ones involved with the protection of vulnerable groups, such as immigrants, refugees, disable 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 the Ministry Press. The leaflet was distributed to all public sectors and schools. Currently, the UNESCO Chair is in talks with the Greek-German School of Athens with regard to the reproduction of this leaflet. The 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 has uploaded this leaflet on the website of UNESCO Chair so that it can be accessible to any one. 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.

The UNESCO Chairholder, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, have been re-invited for a second year 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 2013-2014). For the preparation of the module, all teaching materials and legal instruments on the protection of culture were prepared by the collaborators of the Chair.

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)

i) Education
(leading to certificate)

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” and “Cultural Diplomacy” are offered at undergraduate level taught by Professor P. Naskou-Perraki. The course of ‘’International Protection on Human Rights’’ is taught to undergraduate Erasmus students in English by Professor P. Naskou-Perraki. 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.

Moreover, for the academic year 2013-2014, the UNESCO Chairholder, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, which is part of the MA in Law, Arts and Economy of the International Hellenic University (October 2013-2014).

ii) Training  
(short term)

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 senior 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. Apart from that the UNESCO Chair gives student the opportunity to enhance and expand their research and communication skills by participating in the Chair’s internship.

This year’s research and training is focused on Cultural Rights and Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The internees at the UNESCO Chair are divided into two working groups. The tasks of each Working Group are the following:

The First Working Group, works throughout the academic year on the collection and of International Acts (Conventions, Treaties and Declarations) and the analysis of provisions on Cultural Rights and their protection in international law. The First Working Groups has been responsible to research on the different mechanisms for the protection of human rights both international and regionally and analyze the jurisprudence of judicial organs around the globe dealing with the protection of individuals (European Court of Human rights, Human Rights Committee). 

The Second Working Group aims in the presentation of information on the monuments of the World Heritage List. Here the students prepared were called upon to prepare presentations of all monuments in different countries protected by UNESCO.

The entire student’s work is being under process, and the UNESCO Chair intends to upload the students work on the website. For the time being all names of the internees can been found on the website of the UNESCO Chair : http://afroditi.uom.gr/chaireunesco/

iii) Research

Training and research at the UNESCO Chair are materializing through internship at UNESCO Chair (see above). Furthermore, the UNESCO Chair organises events 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.

This year’s research was focused on Cultural Rights and Cultural Heritage ( protection and promotion of both notions)

b) Conferences/Meetings

(key conferences and meetings organized by the Chair or to which its Chairholder contributed)

i) Key conferences and workshops hosted by the Chair

Information-awareness workshops or events organised by the UNESCO Chair

On 23-24 May 2013, UNESCO Chair for Intercultural Policy organized an event entitled “Diplomacy in the 21th century” that took place at the University of Macedonia.

On 24 March 2013, the UNESCO Chair honored Dr. Mr. Anastassopoulos, for his invaluable contribution to the achievement of the UNESCO’s aims through his work.

On 27 November 2013, UNESCO Center for Women and Peace in the Balkan Countries jointly organized by the General Secretariat for Gender Equality and in cooperation with the UNESCO Chair for Intercultural Policy organized a workshop on Women Entrepreneurship, which included workshop on “Fundamentals marketing and promotion strategies” and took place at the University of Macedonia.

On 29 November 2013, the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO and the General Directorate of European and International Educational of the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Policy hosted the Meeting of the Associated Schools of UNESCO (ASPnet) of the Eastern, Western and Central Macedonia.

  On 4 December 2013, UNESCO Chair for Intercultural Policy along with the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Center for Women and Peace in the Balkan Countries organized an event on the occasion of celebrating 150 years since the birth of Konstantinos Kavafis (Anniversary year UNESCO 2013) that took place at the University of Macedonia.

On 18 March 2014, UNESCO Chair for Intercultural Policy along with the UNESCO Youth Club of Thessaloniki on the occasion of celebrating 10 years of their foundation organized an event entitled “Cultural Rights – Monuments of World Cultural Heritage” that took place at the University of Macedonia.

On 7 April 2014 , the UNESCO Chair honored Mrs Aikaterini Tzitzikosta, President of the Hellenic Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Center for Women and Peace in the Balkans for her invaluable contribution to the proliferation of the ideas and the goals of the organisation.

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 supervision of Professor P. Naskou-Perraki. ThessISMUN is a simulation of International Organisations such as the United Nations principal organs (General Assembly, ECOSOC, and International Court of Justice ) and NATO’s North Atlantic Council as well as regional Organisations such as the Council of Europe and gathers students from Greek Universities and from all over the world, willing to demonstrate their diplomatic skills. ThessISMUN is the only Model UN organised in Greece and has supported throughout the years the establishment 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 by assuming the roles of ambassadors. ThessISMUN offers students educational experience and is an effective educational tool showing 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, negotiation and deliberation skills, learn about other countries, promote democracy, explore conflict resolution alternatives. ThessISMUN has managed to be considered as one of the best conferences around Europe, since 2004 more than 400 delegates, honour us with their presence each year at the University of Macedonia for such a unique experience. Each year the conference is dedicated to a Greek personality that has contributed to the work of International and Regional Organisations.

This year ThessISMUN is being held at the University of Macedonia for the 13^th year and this year it is organized under the auspices of the Thessaloniki: European Youth Capital 2014.

iii) A selection of conference presentations by the Chairholder and other colleagues

On 17^th October 2013, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, gave a speech  about “The role of UNESCO in the protection of cultural goods” at a conference organized by the House of Europe in Rhodes entitled ‘Cultural Heritage: I mean, Legal Framework and Practices’.

On 26^th November 2013, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, participated as a coordinator in the first section and speaker on “Cultural Diplomacy through the Protection of Cultural Property in the second section of the workshop titled” Religious and Cultural Diplomacy”, organized by the Headquarters Security and Strategy of Supreme Joint War College.

On 5^th February 2014, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Prof.P.Naskou-Perraki, gave a speech on the ‘’ The Notion and function of the institution of asylum in public international law’’ in the conference organised by the Kalliopi Koufa Foundation under the title ‘’Refugees and Asylum: From Theory to Practise’’ which took place in the the Bar Association of Thessaloniki.

On the 13^th of March 2014, the Director of the UNESCO Chair, Prof.P.Naskou-Perraki, gave a speech about the: ‘’Legal Framework for the Protection of persons with disabilities and contemporary Challenges’’ on the 5^th International Conference on Disability and Mass Media Integration and Crisis in the Digital Era, which was organised by the General Directorate of Mass Media, Information and Communication on the 13-14 March, Athens.

On 18 March 2014, the Director of the Chair Professor P.Naskou-Perraki was coordinator of the event entitled “Cultural Rights – Monuments of World Cultural Heritage” that was organised by the UNESCO Chair for Intercultural Policy along with the UNESCO Youth Club of Thessaloniki on the occasion of celebrating 10 years of their foundation.

On 31^st March 2014 the Director of UNESCO Chair Professor P. Naskou-Perraki participated as a key note speaker on “The Contribution of International Law to Global Governance” at the 1^st IAPPS World Congress.

On 7^th April 2014 the Director of UNESCO Chair Professor P.Naskou-Perraki, participated as a coordinator at the second panel of the Conference : ‘’ Democracy and Equality: The Role of the European Parliament” that was organised by the Jean Monnet Chair of the University of Macedonia and the Europe Direct of the American Farm School.

On 10^th April 2014 the Director of UNESCO Chair Professor P.Naskou-Perraki, gave a lecture at the  Open Public University in Thessaloniki, ‘’Human Rights Violations by the Government Bodies’’

On 11^th April the Director of UNESCO Chair Professor P.Naskou-Perraki, gave a lecture at the 2^nd High School of Larisa on: ‘’Human Rights and Children’s Rights, UNESCO and the Convention against Discrimination in Education’’.

c) Interuniversity Exchanges/Partnerships

(principal exchanges/partnerships between the Chair and other institution,s including UNESCO Chairs/UNITWIN Networks)

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. Additionally the UNESCO Chair is in close cooperation with the Jean Monnet Chair of the University of Macedonia.

The Director of the UNESCO ChairProf.Perraki participates in CREAN Master’s Program on Children’s Rights and Network which consists of 37 universities all over Europe, which works on the sensitisation of students and Universities on the serious issue of children’s rights. The Chairholder, Prof.Perraki, attended both meeting of the Network so far and undertook the initiative to write a Chapter on the upcoming Teaching Material of the Network on ‘’ The rights of the Child and Non-Discrimination’’

The Director of the UNESCO Chair Prof.Perraki participated on 17^th of April on a workshop on which an ongoing Project Framework between the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Czech Republic was presented.

Emphasis was given on the co-operation with the 3^rd Primary School of Municipality of Rizas (Zakynthos) on ASPnet’s Programmes.

d) Publications/Multimedia Materials

(major publications and teaching/learning materials)

Give details of major publications and materials including full citations.

i)  Publications

Books

1. 1.European Citizen: learn your[in Greek] edited by UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Policy and the Hellenic College. (Publications of the Hellenic College, Thessaloniki, 2013)
2. 2.Rights and obligations of children to[in Greek] edited by UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Policy and the Hellenic College. (Publications of the Hellenic College, Thessaloniki, 2014) 2^nd Edition
3. 3.P. Naskou-Perraki, K. Tararas, K. Chainoglou, Translation of the UNESCO Book “Human Rights: Answers and Questions”  [in Greek] (Ant. N. Sakkoulas, Athens-Komotini, 2013) 2^nd edition.

e) Cooperation with UNESCO Headquarters, Field Offices

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” by the President of National Hellenic Commission of UNESCO, Mrs. E. Tzitzikosta. The book has already been published in 2.000 copies and is being distributed to all schools of primary and secondary education, universities, public libraries, libraries of Bar Associations, National School of Judges etc.

Essay and Poetry Competition.  The UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Policy and the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki under the auspices of the Hellenic Commission and the Ministry of Education a Essay and Poetry Competition has been planned for students of primary and secondary education that will be launched soon (2014).

f) Other

The UNESCO Chair supports along with the UNESCO Youth Club the nomination of Thessaloniki as a European Youth Capital 2014.

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)

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 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.

Moreover, UNESCO Chair will organised three seminars for professionals, jurists, social and political scientists, sociologists, professionals in education, school councillors, civil servants, postgraduate students, etc. 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 2013-2014, 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 UNESCO Chair for Intercultural Policy on the occasion of celebrating 10 years since its foundation has planned and organised a series of events and conferences. Namely:

1. 1)In cooperation with UNESCO Youth Club of Thessaloniki, an institutional visit to the Archaeological Museum under the title “Museums and New Technologies” has been planned. Participants are going to attend a demonstration of how new technologies are being applied in the premises of the museum.
2. 2)
3. 3)
4. 4)The UNESCO Chair of Intercultural policy is planning an event in honour of a professor who has been successfully contributing to intercultural education.

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.

4) In cooperation with the Jean Monnet Chair of University of Macedonia, the Director of the Chair, Assistant Professor Dr. D. Anagnostopoulou and Member of the European Parliament Professor Dr. Ch. Paliadeli, the UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Policy is publishing a book on the Rights of the European Citizen and the Role of the European Parliament. The book is going to be printed in 10.000 copies and will be distributed for free.

1) Human Resources

Number of posts

One Professor – Full time

Five Researchers – Full 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

Other Persons:

b) Christos Tsironis (part time)

Lecturer at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Faculty of Theology

e-mail: tsironis@theo.auth.gr

d)Stefanos Katsoulis

PhD Candidate at the University of Macedonia

E-mail : stefanoskatsoulis@gmail.com

e)Goniadis Giorgos

Master’s Student in International Hellenic University

E-mail: g.m.goniadis@gmail.com

f)Margarita Boulaki

Master’s Student  in International Studies at the University of Macedonia

e-mail: margarita.mpoulake@gmail.com

   g) Manos Kalaintzis

LLB Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

e-mail : manoskalaintzis@gmail.com

Former Researcher:

a) Kalliopi Chainoglou (temporarily in England)

Elected Lecturer at the University of Macedonia, Department of International and European Studies

e-mail: kchainolgou@gmail.com

 b) Zafeiris Tsiftzis

LLM in Public International Law

e-mail: zafiris.tsiftzis@gmail.com

1.2. Number of Persons invited

1) Aikaterini Tzitzikosta, President of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO

2) Dr. Polykseni Adam-Veleni, Director of the Archaiological Museum of Thessaloniki

3) Dr. Georgios Anastasopoulos, Ambassador

4) Dr. Thomas Gerasimidis, Professor at the School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

5) Dr. Chrysanthos Zamboulis, Emeritus Professor at the School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

6) Mr. Koptsidis Gabriel, former Greek Ambassador

7) Dr. Papastathis Konstantinos, Teacher at the the Department of Political Science of Aristotle’s University of Thessaloniki

8) Jean Monnet Chair of University of Macedonia

9) Representatives of the Associated Schools with UNESCO in Thessaloniki

10) UNESCO Youth Club

11) Navarino Network

12) Hellenic College of Thessaloniki

1.3. Other Persons participating in the activities of the Chair

Internship: 40 persons

Undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University of Macedonia, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and International Hellenic University.