16-04-2020
More than 70 participants, from 16 different countries of origin, took part in the annual meeting and networking day for diaspora women and peace activists with the theme 'Women Refugee Security' and with a focus on UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
The meeting elaborated on the Manifesto of the same name that was drawn up in 2017 by five Dutch women's organisations, including the Dutch Women's Council (NVR).
Mayor Anny Attema van Ridderkerk gave the opening lecture. She argues for more projects such as those in Rotterdam, including financial support, where migrant and refugee women can share their experiences with each other and thus work on their integration into Dutch society. The municipality of Ridderkerk financed this meeting and networking day.
On the basis of a PowerPoint presentation, Ted Strop-von Meijenfeldt gave an introduction to resolution 1325 and Coby Meyboom tested the participants' knowledge of this resolution with a quiz.
Then women talked about their innovative projects, such as: Tahmina Ashraf about the Afghan Wo=Men project in Rotterdam, Hanan Chaleb about their project at the asylum seekers' center in Emmen and Nour Saadi about the integration of Syrian and Eritrean women in Emmen. Various experience experts also provided information about the current situation in their countries of origin.
Recommendations were then formulated in four discussion groups, which were presented at the end of the day to the chairmen of the collaborating organisations: Ted Strop-von Meijenfeldt (PVDV), Stephanie Mbanzendore (MWPN) and Farida van Bommel (VvVM).
The chairmen have taken on the task of presenting these recommendations to the Association of Dutch Municipalities, the VNG.
One of the recommendations is: 'Integration into Dutch society means much more than learning our language. Integration must come from two sides: from the side of the refugees who will stay here for a longer period of time, but also from the side of Dutch society. Dutch municipalities and Dutch organizations (NGOs) must invest in refugees with attention, involvement and finances. Refugees should be able to feel at home here, together with the Dutch.”
Another recommendation is that the forthcoming Dutch national action plan for 1325, NAP (2021 – 2026), translates into the reception and integration of migrant and refugee women in the Netherlands with an important role for the municipalities.
Chair of the day Christine Nanlohy, chair of the Moluccan Women's Council, succeeded in ensuring that the broad and varied program went smoothly.
