Training seminar on Intercultural Governance
Subotica, Serbia, 21-25 August, 2009

The School of Local Democracy has been a five day residential training seminar for local government officials and civil society organisations held by intercultural governance workshops. The participants came from partner organisations of LDA Subotica, local authorities included in ALDA network both from EU and the Western Balkans, local civil society organisations and multiethnic municipalities from the Vojvodina Region. Participants from Austria, Hungary, Italy, France, UK, Spain were also present at the event.

The topics of the workshops, included administrative capacities and human rights-related issues, with special regards to:

• European standards in human and minority rights protection;
• Local self-government system;
• Diversity management skills:
• Public policy making and power sharing;
• Conflict prevention and resolution;
• Citizen participation at local level;

Key thematic modules of the School

Workshop 1: European standards in human and minority rights protection presented. A team work and a specific focus on case studies have been the basic method of this part of the training. Ms. Snjezana Bokulic, MRG international, London

Workshop 2: The Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe has been presented and explained. The effectiveness and the utilisation of this juridical tool have been described in details. Ms. Alexandra Vuic, Vojvodina Centre for Human Rights, Novi Sad

Workshop 3: Diversity management skills as well as public policy making and diversity reporting has been the main topics of the seminar on the role of media in intercultural understanding. This workshop has been held by the same trainer of workshop 4 as the two topics are interconnected.

Workshop 4: “Citizen participation at local level: from the right to information to the right to participation” has been the issue of a series of thematic workshops on human and minority rights in local communities and in public service delivery.
Ms. Milica Pesic, Media Diversity Institute, London

Workshop 5: European experience – minorities and participation at local level; exchange of good local practice: case studies of: city of Osijek, city of Mostar, city of Seged. Ms. Stanka Parac, LDA Subotica Director, Subotica

Subotica background and it’s special impact on creating many cultural event has presented by Aleksandar T. Lovcanski member of the Mayor’s Cabinet.

Thematic Round Table: Intercultural local governance and co-operation programme perspectives

Interetno festival, Subotica, 22nd -26th August, 2009

For the eighth time, this summer occurred one of the most prominent events taking place in Subotica. Experienced folk associations from various areas as well as dance groups, musicians and craftsmen from the Vojvodina region convened in the town. Thanks to those who created the festival, the organising group, to the participants of the previous years , the 8th Interetno Festival has greatly succeeded in gathering people and artists under the patronage of CIOF. A playhouse, some craftsmen's' tents and naturally the wonderful location of the city have been the venues of this event which included ethno dance house nights and the special worshipping. The opportunity of attending at some of the events of the Festival was also a valuable occasion of promoting cultural, educational and social activities such as:

• Folk Art Fair on the Main Square;
• Ex Libris, an International Book Exhibition called in the Town souvenir shop;
• Who wants to play…? Children workshops;
• Eco Corner, an ecologic set of workshops and handcrafts;
• Dance Panorama, performance of the foreign groups;
• Etno Concert, music bands in “Etnopolis”;
• Festival Club , party every night with the participants of the festival in Népkör.

The Venue has been Hungarian Cultural Centre, in Kossuth Lajos Square, Subotica. More information are available in English, Serbian and Hungarian at: www.interetno.net

INTERETNO TRENING SEMINAR

INTERETNO STREET FESTIVAL