Representatives of Irish local authorities gain knowledge to help in developing migrant integration plans at OSCE/ODIHR training event in Dublin

A two-day training workshop on good practices in the integration of migrants at the local level in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards took place in Dublin on 18 and 19 October 2017.

The event, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the Immigrant Council of Ireland, involved more than 30 participants from Irish local authorities, as well as the central Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration.

Issues discussed at the workshop included welcome programmes for migrants, language learning and civic orientation, migrant entrepreneurship and access to the labour market, access to social housing, as well as the political and civic participation of migrants at the local level. The development of local migrant-integration strategies, as part of the new national strategy in this area, was also high on the agenda.

“This training workshop is part of ODIHR’s efforts to support OSCE participating States in facilitating the integration of migrants into host societies, including through the promotion of co-ordination between local authorities and national governments,” said Christine Hirst, Deputy Head of the ODIHR Democratization Department. “We welcome Ireland’s new national strategy for migrant integration and its requirement that each local authority develop a migrant-integration strategy, and are glad that our first migration-related event here is providing practical assistance on this new policy task.”

“The sharing of ODIHR expertise is especially timely in examining key issues currently inhibiting effective integration, including difficulties in accessing housing, local language classes and the workforce,” said Brian Killoran, CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland. “The discussions during these two days should inform the development of effective and localized integration strategies here in Ireland and deliver real improvements in the lives of migrants as new members of our society.”