Washington: United States Commission on security and cooperation in Europe: events to focus on minority politics and minority pressures (15 semptember 2010)

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HELSINKY COMMISSION NEWS
UNITES STATES COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE

COMMISSION EVENTS TO FOCUS ON MINORITY POLITICS, MINORITY PRESSURES

Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Washington, 1539 Longworth House Office Building

 
In the wake of the Manhattan mosque debate, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and Co-Chairman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) announced that they will hold two events focusing on challenges faced by ethnic and religious minorities in the United States and Europe in national politics and other aspects of life.

11:00 a.m. Roundtable Discussion: Minorities in France

French minority leaders will discuss current issues impacting their communities, related public and private sector anti-discrimination and diversity initiatives, and similarities with the U.S. situation.

Discussants:

· Jackie Celestin-André, Director of Diversity, L’Oreal, France
· Rokhaya Diallo, President, Les Indivisibles; Contributor, CanalPlus and RTL, France
· Alain Dolium, 2010 Regional Candidate for the Democratic Movement, France
· Khalid Hamdani, Director, Institute for Ethics and Diversity, France

Moderator: Rene Lake, LTL Strategies, US

1:30 p.m. Briefing: Minority Political Participation in the Obama Era

President Obama’s historic election has increased attention to minority political leaders and others working in the public sector worldwide. In the United States and Europe, this has raised questions about the current status of racial and ethnic minority political participation in comparison to the past. Speakers will address successes and challenges to the inclusion and effective participation of racial and ethnic minorities in the political sphere. The briefing will conclude with Q & A.

Speakers:

· Gay McDougall, United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Issues, Organizer of the United Nations Forum on Effective Minority Political Participation

Special Guest:

· Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressional Black Caucus Chair; United Nations Forum on Effective Minority Political Participation Chair

*Other speakers may be added

For many information: www.csce.gov