Collaborate
The main purpose of the ICR development process, besides preparing the ground for our international conference, is to enable the creation of a global ‘network of (refugee) networks’. Working groups are at the very core of this development.
By setting up a working group under the ICR banner, activists, networks and organisations are effectively creating a bridge between our movement/process and their network or organisation. The more activists, networks and organisations we can convince of doing this the better. With each working group set up under the ICR banner our ‘network of networks’ grows larger – and stronger.
Therefore, to join us in our efforts to create the International Committee of Refugees, grounded in a global network of networks, please join this process and either set up a new working group, or join an existing group below.
The ICR Facebook Group
Aims and objectives:
- Advertise our work and opportunities
- Inform everyone about our work and how to work with us
- Provide orientation over existing working groups
ICR Refugee Cultural Heritage Working Group
Contact: Anna Catalani [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Develop and promote the understanding of the cultural heritage of refugee groups among the groups themselves and the hosting societies;
- Foster and initiate collaborations with heritage and cultural organizations (including ICOMOS) to support the documentation, representation and dissemination of cultural heritage among refugee groups, through traveling exhibitions and pop-up events;.
- Support the development of transferable skills (in the field of cultural heritage) that can help refugees to become ‘curators’ and custodians of cultural heritage across borders;
- Develop a cultural heritage networks among refugees in order to safeguard, promote and curate the cultural heritage of refugees in Europe.
ICR Pan-African Migration Network (The Gambia)
Contact: Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- To work towards establishing an ICR Pan-African Migration Network, which will act as ‘the eyes and ears’ of the ICR across the African continent. To this end we will establish groups of networks across the Continent and work with activists and NGOs interested in taking this initiative forward. Furthermore, we will 'recruit' coordinators/organizers for the ICR African Migration Network and, as the ICR campaign gathers momentum, link up with other campaign groups in Africa who pursue similar objective.
- To serve as a major ICR-Headquarters in Africa that will create an ICR Pan-African Migration Network of migrants, internally displaced persons, refugees and people living in exile in Africa, and to strengthen the aims and objectives of ICR by reaffirming a strong commitment with a network of African youth organizations and serving as a legitimate and authentic voice, able to represent displaced persons vis-à-vis through local authorities, state and federal/national parliaments, the European Parliament and the UN.
- To embark on an ICR Pan-African Development Process which will spearhead the establishment of various ICR Networks in Africa and to make sure that participating individuals and groups endorse the foundational values of openness, equality and diversity.
The Women's Rights Group
Contact: Sagal Bafo [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Identify obstacles that might prevent female refugees from participating in the ICR election and find solutions to insure women do vote and put themselves forward as candidates.
- Campaign for better protection of, and more support for internally displaced women and girls, female refugees, and women and girls living in exile.
- Develop a global refugee-led women’s support network to help female refugees better protect and support both themselves and those depending on them.
- Work with NGOs, governments and other stakeholders to achieve these goals.
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Working Group
Contact: Ake Achi [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Empower refugees both by identifying the causes of economic exclusion, exploitation and human trafficking, and by providing training on economic, social and cultural rights.
- Establish ICR Right2work Councils (initially across Europe, Turkey and the Middle East) to monitor working conditions within refugee communities and camps.
- Produce a multi-lingual "First Step" guide refugees can refer to not only for information on their basic rights, but also for support if these rights are being curtailed or violated.
European Relocation Campaign
Contact: Kester Ratcliff [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Organise a complex of country-level campaigns across the EU to get the EU Relocation scheme working fairly and efficiently,
- support citizens who are willing to practically welcome refugees to offer support for their resettlement and integration,
- campaign to legally amend paragraph 25 of the Relocation Decision to make it non-discriminatory, and extend its scope for the benefit of both refugees and Greece and Italy. and
- through these activities help to develop an effective, solidarity-based refugee-centric international campaigning infrastructure.
Critical Incidents Response Team
Contact: ICR Dev Team [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Formulate a collective response to (and find creative ways of engaging with) the events of 31 December 2015 in Cologne and Hamburg, Germany.
- Develop long-term strategies to minimise/counter the negative impact such events can have on the lives of refugees and people living in exile.
The Translations Group
Aims and objectives:
- Bring together people with an interest in languages
- Translate ICR existing documents into various languages
- Improve existing translations where possible
- Provide interpretation services at events
Communications Group
Contact: ICR Dev Team [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Create and maintain a ‘depository of best communications practice’ and help working groups improve their communications strategies and plans.
- Provide a forum to discuss communications from the various working groups, and how to keep a sufficient degree of coherence, the ICR 'brand of brands'.
- Act as a first point of contact for all media-related enquiries, administer our central press distribution list and manage key media relationships.
The Petition Group
Contact: Democracy School [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Promote our international petition
- Collect at least 1,000 signatures from refugees
- Deliver the petition to the Bundestag and European Parliament
Refugees Speak Up
Contact: Democracy School [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Engage refugees across Europe and the Middle East in our initiative
- Strengthen our ties with refugees and build a grassroots network
- Learn more about the needs of refugees so that we can serve them better
- Make the ‘business case’ for an elected committee of refugees (the ICR)
Activists Unite
Contact: ICR Dev Team [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Identify and engage refugee groups, orgs and networks across Europe
- Promote interchange of info and ideas between groups, orgs and networks
- Identify and engage experienced refugee leaders to build our network
- Collectively develop our conference programme
Human Rights and Refugee Law
Contact: Micha Streibelt [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Bring together International/European law, refugee law and human rights practitioners
- Identify and analyse issues affecting internally displaced persons, refugees and people living in exile
- Develop practical (actionable) high-impact solutions around these issues
Democratic Governance and Political Leadership
Contact: Nico A. Heller [more info]
Aims and objectives
- Bring together theorists with political activists
- Explore the frontiers of democratic governance and political leadership within the transnational context of migratory flows
- Publish a series of think pieces around issues that emerge to stimulate debate
- Contribute to the drafting of the ICR’s constitution, should elections be called.
Refugees' Documents Archive
Contact: Stefan Römer [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Promote and debate the idea, and support the development of a Refugees' Documents Archive.
- Cooperate with academic partners, including university institutes specialising in image sciences.
- Cooperate with internet corporations and others who altruistically provide the project with technical support.
- Develop freeware apps that allow refugees to upload documents safely and securely to the archive and administer them from their phone.
Refugee Health Network
Contact: Raghed Barakat [more info]
Aims and objectives:
- Save refugees’ lives and help manage health risks during their dangerous journey.
- Develop a global refugee-led medical support network capable of providing basic medical care.
- Improve the physical and mental health and well-being of displaced people everywhere.
- Work with NGOs, governments and other stakeholder to achieve these goals.