ALDIC Holds Final Conference on Racism & Racial Discrimination Project

On Wednesday 4 December 2024, a “Final Conference” to mark the culmination of the two-year project “Building Together a Strong and Inclusive Society” was held at Neumünster Abbey in Luxembourg-Grund.

The project, which was implemented by the Luxembourg Association for Intercultural Dialogue (ALDIC) and supported by the Living Together Division of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, was co-financed by the European Union. The project aimed to upskill various members of municipalities and civil societies in Luxembourg to identify and fight against racism and racial discrimination, as well as creating a networking platform.

ALDIC’s Project Assistant, Lamine Bangoura, opened the conference and welcomed Luxembourg’s Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, Max Hahn, as well as municipality representatives and participants. He thanked everyone involved in the project before introducing ALDIC’S President, Sabrina Benfriha, to the audience. Ms Benfriha once again thanked all those involved, stating that the project’s success was the result of collaboration between all parties, both in the public and private sectors. She gave special mention to the certification of the training courses by the National Institute of Public Administration (INAP).

Minister Hahn acknowledged the importance of the project to him in his ministerial role. He mentioned education, housing and workplace as being three of the main areas in which victims can feel the effects of racism and discrimination. He spoke of the many nationalities in Luxembourg, with approximately 50% of the population coming from outside the country and 50% of the remainder having foreign ancestry. The importance of the municipalities as a first port of call for new arrivals was discussed. He stated that the ministry invited all Luxembourg municipalities to a forum exclusively discussing racism and racial discrimination. Many suggestions were considered and acted upon, leading to an increasing number of municipalities taking action to counteract these issues.

Before concluding, Minister Hahn confirmed that the National Plan against Racism will be published in 2025.

Lindita Redjepi, Project Manager at ALDIC, then presented the project’s achievements.

Training courses for various groups, including municipal officials and employees, social workers, youth workers and 45 young people took place in a series of modules in Esch-sur-Alzette and Bettembourg. The modules included the study of the origins of racism and prejudiced behaviour, the promotion of diversity and human rights and the means to counteract racism and discrimination.

All the anti-racism and discrimination training courses provided by ALDIC are certified by INAP.

A “Community of Practice” was also established. This involved the creation of community networking and online platforms to allow participants to share and exchange best practices and to discuss problems and solutions in the fight against racism and racial discrimination. Ms Redjepi emphasised that the “Community of Practice” would not cease once the project finished.

Minister Hahn subsequently presented awards to participants.