Naima Azough, former member of the lower house of the
Netherlands Parliament
Speaking
in the debate, Naima Azough stressed the need for integration
through education and work. “The more educated and economically independent women are, the better able they are to participate
fully as citizens of your countries,” she said. She also pointed
out that it was important not to “Islamise” the debate, and to
encourage mutual dialogue in order to curb a growing hostility
towards each other and combat Islamophobia.
Speech
Eunice Campbell-Clark (United Kingdom)
On the same day,
the Congress held a debate on the integration of young people
from disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The report presented by the
rapporteur Eunice Campbell-Clark raises the question of the
“youth divide” which lands young people from disadvantaged
neighbourhoods in situations of social exclusion. The resolution
adopted calls upon European local and regional authorities to
develop programmes for their inclusion: creating youth services;
introducing assessment procedures; involving young people in
decision-making processes; and setting up mentoring systems.
This also depends on the development of education, training,
guidance services, and better access to new information
technology. Furthermore, the resolution asks local and regional
elected representatives to be guided by the European Charter for
the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life and
to guarantee its application.
Speech