2014: From one Centre to two

Brussels, 4 February 2014

The Centre today

• Created by the Law of 15 February 1993

• Independent public service

• Areas of competence: Racism and equal opportunities (93) > Negationism (95) > Human trafficking (95) > Migration (2003) > Non-racial discrimination (2003) > CRPD (2011)

• Accredited as a type B NHRI

2 pillars

The Centre today

Three tasks:

Processing individual reports

Informing, training and awareness raising

Drafting opinions and recommendations

The Centre today

Four strategic goals (2011-2013):

• To fulfil its role as an independent public service

• To reinforce its partnerships => common goals

• To be a centre of expertise

• To address cross-cutting themes

Governance structure today

Collège

Board – 21 members

Director and deputy director

Coord.

Appointment by federal

government

Coord. Coord. Coord.

The Centre today

Evaluation of the Centre's work:Strategic plan 2011-2013

Strengths:

•Expertise, monitoring, acting as a guardian of values •Recognised as indispensable and accessible

•Perceived in a (very) positive light

The Centre today

Weaknesses:

• The Centre's role as a pivotal institution needs consolidating (platform for encounter)

• Not sufficiently cross-cutting

• Certain themes are still relatively neglected (Romani, age, disability, Islamophobia, etc. )

• Collaboration and synergy with the different grassroots bodies

From one Centre to two: Why?

• European Directives: race, gender (employment) equality body

• 1 body vs 6 bodies• Cooperation agreement of 12 June 2013 DIV• Separation of MIG competences

“Nothing is created, nothing is lost, everything is transformed”

From one Centre to two

Federal Centre for Migration (MIG)Federal Centre for the Analysis of Migration Flows, the Protection of the Basic Rights of Foreigners and the Fight Against Human Trafficking

Interfederal Centre for Diversity (DIV)Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism and Discrimination

From one Centre to two

Accessible during the works !

The future Federal Centre for Migration

Federal Centre for the Analysis of Migration Flows, the Protection of the Basic Rights of Foreigners and the Fight Against Human Trafficking

Legal and regulatory framework

•Current law on the Centre minus competences relating to DISC

3 missions:

• To ensure respect for the fundamental rights of foreigners• To inform the authorities about migration flows and stocks• To stimulate the fight against human trafficking (de facto national rapporteur)

+•Assuming powers attributed by other Royal Decrees

The future MIG Centre

Legal tools for the performance of its missions :

• Performing its missions in complete independence• Issuing formal opinions/recommendations to the authorities• Producing information/documentation• Providing support/guidance• Conducting legal proceedings in trafficking cases and relating to the Sanctions Law/Directive

The future MIG Centre

Main focuses:

• Annual report (migration, trafficking, statistics, demographics)• Studies/research as needed (studies on Congolese, Turkish and

(soon) Moroccan migration, etc.)• Ongoing issues (INADS centres at regional airports, detention

centres complaints panel, etc.)

The future MIG Centre

10 members

Appointed by Royal Decree

5FR/5NL – 5F/5M

= 10 'federal' members of the DIV Board

The MIG Board

• 15 FTEs• Annual budget: €1,500,000• Remains in same building• Cross-disciplinary support services

The future MIG Centre: Numbers

The future Interfederal Diversity Centre

Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism and Discrimination

The future DIV Centre

Interfederal:

= Federal + Regions + Communities Simpler for the general public!

Decentralised:

Local contact points: Espaces Wallonie - Meldpunten Closer to the public!

The future DIV Centre: Roles

• Studies and research (Article 4)

• Opinions, recommendation and guidance (Article 5)

• Reports, appeals and legal action (Article 6)

• CRPD (Article 3)

• Annual reports to Parliaments (Article 7)

The future DIV Centre

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2011)

Functioning:

•Service: promotion, protection and monitoring

+ preparation of strategic plan/annual action plans

•Guidance Committee: ensures representation and participation of civil society

+ approves strategic plan and annual action plans

19 criteria:Nationality, alleged race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, marital/civil status, birth, wealth, religion or belief, political beliefs, trade union conviction, current or future health status, disability, physical or genetic characteristic or social origin.

The future DIV Centre: Competences

And therefore:

19 criteria in laws against discrimination/racism/gender inequality, except for…

The future DIV Centre: Competences

The future DIV Centre: Issues

Regional and Community level• Network and relations

• Topics

• Actions and reporting

Decentralised presence• Network of contact points

• Local network

The DIV Centre Board

• 21 members• 10 appointed by the Chamber• 4 appointed by the Flemish Parliament• 2 appointed by the Walloon Parliament• 2 by the Parliament of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles• 2 appointed by the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region• 1 appointed by the Parliament of the German-speaking

Community

• Alternating joint presidency:

Male/Female - NL/FR – Federal/Entities

• System of chambers

The future DIV Centre

Joint management = Collegiate body:

Parity

MaleFemale

Linguistic

+ possibly coordinators

Appointment by the

interfederal Board

The future DIV Centre: Stages

•Approved by all governments (June - Sept 2013)•Vote by the 6 assemblies (July 2013 - February 2014)•Appointment of Board members ( March - April 2014)

- By each of the Parliaments

- Public call for candidates?•Interfederal Board formed:

•Call for candidates for management•Adoption of procedural rules•Installation of chambers•Three-year strategic plan, etc.

Synergies

Synergies

Shared themes

MIG DISC

Nationality

Integration

CRPD…

Synergies• Collaboration agreements

• Trade unions• NGOs• Institutions (Actiris, CSA, etc.)• etc.

• Academic partnership• 'DISC tour' – 'Gay/lesbian/bisexual tour'• Represented in various places:

• Walloon Committee for the Integration of Foreign Persons or Persons of Foreign Origin

• STIB-MIVB Diversity Committee• Flemish Educational Council• etc.

• Idea: Advisory Committee // Disability Committee

Synergies

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS DISC MIG

European Union (EU)

X

X X

X X

X

BIDDH X

The Centres and international bodies

NCPI

SynergiesINTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS DISC MIG

Council of Europe

X x

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

X x

United Nations (UN)

ENNHRI x (CRPD) X

X X

XOHCHR

+ bilateral contacts

Thanks!

www.diversitybelgium.be