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What Difficult Emotions Are Trying to Tell You

Emotions are running raw during the pandemic. How should we manage our difficult feelings, especially at work?




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How to Control Your Emotions During a Difficult Conversation

When you’re in the middle of a conflict, it’s common to automatically enter a “fight or flight” mentality, but it’s possible to interrupt this response and clear a path towards a more productive discussion.




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Lost My iPhone in Tokyo: A Lesson in Japanese Kindness and Culture on My Japan Study Trip

I'm thrilled to be back in Japan for the first time in five years. Today is the start of Katie Anderson's Japan Study Trip (learn more about joining her in May 2025). It's great to be here for another week of learning and great experiences. Little did I know, I'd kick off the trip by nearly losing my iPhone on the streets of Tokyo–a mistake that ended up teaching me a valuable lesson about Japan's […]

The post Lost My iPhone in Tokyo: A Lesson in Japanese Kindness and Culture on My Japan Study Trip by Mark Graban appeared first at Lean Blog.




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Don't Let Cultural Snafus Sink Your Global Remote Workforce

As businesses start to embrace global remote workforces, one of the challenges they must deal with is managing employees spread across different geographies. It's important to understand that this task involves much more than just being considerate of different time zones. For a global remote workforce to be truly successful, organizations must also take into account important differences in culture. The prevailing values, behavioral norms, and personal situations in different ...




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Culture Fit vs. Inclusion: What Matters More in Hiring?

These days, cultural fit is a key component of many hiring decisions. It's understandable why: Workers who align with the cultures of their companies tend to be more satisfied with their jobs, and therefore, they are more likely to stay with the company for a longer time and produce ...




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Easy Ain't Easy: Taking the difficulty out of making things easy to use.

Easy ain’t easy. Sounds like something said by cultural catchphrase artist and legendary baseball player Yogi Berra, but it sums up a conversation I had at a recent tradeshow in Atlanta.




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Everyone Thrives Somewhere: 3 Ways to Find the Right Company Culture for You

Article by Jeff Thompson I had always wanted to work at a place that had fun: lots of laughter and smiling faces, an open-door policy, people working together. In short, I wanted to work at a place I could call home. So, in the '80s, when I was working for a frozen pizza brand, I took it upon myself to seek out my




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Organizational Culture and Work

Recently a discussion centered on organizational empowerment, its relationship to employee self-determination, and the impact on opportunity. The following is a summary of a recent conversation with one of our readers.




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How to Leverage QMS Software to Promote a Culture of Quality

How can a QMS help your organization to achieve a strategic culture of quality? What can you learn from the unique challenges other organizations face in different industries? 




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Culture of Quality Takes Center Stage in Latest Boeing News

As the public trials and tribulations of Boeing continue, we have started to hear discussion of the loss of a culture at Boeing.




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Building Blocks to Improve Organizational Culture

An organization should be at least at level 3, Defined Systems Approach, of the Management System Maturity Model to reap the rewards of a culture of excellence.




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Video Podcast: Overcoming Threats to Quality Culture

Daniel Zrymiak highlights key threats to quality culture from his experience. Organizations must continuously check for these threats in operations and discussions, ready to respond appropriately.




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HVAC Products Designed for Indoor Agriculture Offer Precise Climate Control

The manufacturers of HVAC products for indoor farming say their equipment can help optimize growers’ crop yields.




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Tips to Cultivate HVAC Business in the Slower Season

Our heating and air business has to keep generating revenue even when the weather is not cooperating.




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Building a Data Culture

Not only are the right data-driven leaders required, HVAC contractors also need to go through the necessary process to build a data culture within their company.




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Episode 212: Randy Shoup on Company Culture

Tobias Kaatz talks to former Kixeye CTO Randy Shoup about company culture in the software industry in this sequel to the show on hiring in the software industry (Episode 208). Prior to Kixeye, Randy worked as director of engineering at Google for the Google App Engine and as chief engineer and distinguished architect at eBay. […]




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Cultivating Dragon Fruit’s Political Power in Ecuador

Amid ongoing colonization, the Indigenous Shuar people are taking back control of their economic and political futures.




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Tips for Cultivating Trans Joy

When everything that brings LGBTQ people joy is under attack, dancing, laughing, and celebrating our persistent existence are direct acts of resistance.




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National Agriculture Day - March 15th

CIMC Agricultural Education Catalog
Did you know the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE) offers Agricultural Education in 355 high schools? Did you know these programs prepare students for careers in production agriculture, agribusiness, and other emerging agricultural-related occupations?  Did you know the CareerTech Student Organization affiliated with Agricultural Education is the Future Farmers of America (FFA)?

Study Guide
Did you also know the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery (CADD) areas of ODCTE have been supporting this occupational area for decades?

CIMC produces competency-based instructional products and services for a variety of career and technical areas, including agricultural education.

The CareerTech Testing Center creates and offers online assessments as a measure of occupational readiness for students and industry workers. Free study guides include assessment information, standards and test content, sample questions, a list of abbreviations, symbols, and acronyms, strategies for test taking success.

ctYOUniverse
ctYOUniverse.com hosts online student-ready classroom sites for CareerTech-related subjects. Each fully customizable course site comes pre-populated with curriculum materials developed by CIMC. This one-stop shop for learning materials provides instructors with everything they need to teach in a blended, flipped, or traditional setting.

Many thanks to the men and women that produce and protect America's food supply!




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Coach's Corner: Culture by Design | Episode 1

This series is all about reversing a negative company culture, and its effects. 




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Coach's Corner: Culture By Design | Episode 2

Culture doesn't just happen overnight, and when a healthy culture isn't created and nurtured, negativity and an unhealthy environment can quickly follow.




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Coach's Corner: Culture By Design | Episode 3

Do you think culture is just a part of your company, or IS it your company?




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Coach's Corner: Culture by Design - Do You Walk the Walk? | Episode 4

Culture within your company does not happen by mistake - and cannot be faked.




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Company Culture for Restoration Contractors

Company culture is important for any business; we look at the crucial role it plays in the restoration and remediation industry. 




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Tips on having a better ROI and training culture for your Restoration Company

Episode 1 of Unlocking Training Success with Lisa Lavender gives advice on improving the impact of training and development in your company.




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Insights into trust across cultures

Trust is an important building block for organisational success, whether it is trust between managers and their subordinates or a brand and its customers. Tan Hwee Hoon is an Associate Professor of Human Resources & Organisational Behaviour at SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business. She has been involved in a multi-year study on trust that spans 30 countries across six continents. In this podcast, she shares her insights into the research which examines how factors of trustworthiness – that is, ability, benevolence and integrity – vary in terms of importance in trust-building across countries; and how one’s general willingness to trust, also termed ‘propensity to trust’, affects relationship-building in different countries.




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Podcast | Cultivating Sustainable Cannabis Packaging

In this episode, we talk with Ron Basak-Smith, Co-Founder & CEO, and James Eichner, Co-Founder & CSO, of Sana Packaging — a sustainable packaging brand that designs and develops differentiated, sustainable and compliant cannabis packaging solutions for a circular economy by using 100% plant-based hemp plastic, 100% reclaimed ocean plastic and other sustainable materials.




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Cleancult Debuts Home Care Products Packaged in Aluminum at Walmart, Albertsons

The refillable aluminum line pairs with Cleancult’s game-changing 100% recyclable paper-based refill cartons to remove 90% of plastic waste from cleaning rituals.




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European vs. US Packaging: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

From tethered caps to a plethora of recycle bins, a trip to Europe this summer revealed a variety of approaches to sustainable packaging.




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Grab'N'Go Culture: Uncovering Common Threads in Foodservice Packaging

At Packaging Strategies, we stay on top of packaging innovations. However, it's also important to gain a broader perspective on specific industry segments.






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Agricultural Packaging Market to Grow

The market will grow over $7.12 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 5.81%. 




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Cultivating Our Future: Student Shadow Program Fuels Industry Interest

Cultivating Our Future: Student Shadow Program Fuels Industry Interest jhammond@desti… Tue, 07/30/2024 - 18:28

Image

Despite the workforce development obstacles we face, the tourism industry offers countless professional opportunities for future generations. Destination organizations can work with local community partners to create meaningful engagement with underrepresented youth, increase industry awareness, and foster inclusion.  

This article highlights the experiences of three high school students with the NAACP Hillsborough County Chapter who shadowed industry professionals at Destinations International’s 2024 Annual Convention in Tampa. It serves as inspiration for destinations to embrace similar initiatives to drive workforce development and diversification.  

7 min read

For so many of us in the tourism industry, the question “how did you get started” is often followed by a smile, a laugh, and a realization that it happened unintentionally. While some may have formally studied hospitality, most industry professionals find themselves in destination organizations through traditional channels like hotels or convention centers. Despite where we began or where our paths have led us, we share a deep passion for our work. Last week at Destinations International’s 2024 Annual Convention in Tampa, it was hard not to hear the words “I love this industry!” passing from person to person, like the catchy chorus to a chart-topping summer hit.

Yet, we realize talent attraction and retention are two enormous challenges our industry faces. A recent study on emerging leaders published by FiredUp! Culture and SearchWide Global found that 48% of 358 30 Under 30 honorees no longer work for a destination organization. Of those still employed by destination organizations, 27% indicate they will not be working for their organizations in three years’ time. Meanwhile, Destinations International’s 2023 Social Inclusion Study on Destination Organizations found that while 73% of over 450 employees want to see more diversity in their organizations, the reality is from it.  

It’s no surprise then, that eight sessions at Destinations International’s 2024 Annual Convention addressed challenges and insights surrounding workforce development and diversification. These conversations served as a springboard to educate and inspire the nearly 2,000 industry leaders in attendance. From talent development to upward mobility, to pay equity and beyond, opportunities are abundant. And while much of this work will be long-term, creative solutions may be closer to home – and easier to implement - than we think. 

Community Partnerships Build Career Paths

Destinations International’s Social Inclusion framework encourages destinations to engage with their communities. By fostering trust and working together to eliminate barriers to inclusion, destination organizations and their stakeholders can create thriving and welcoming environments that lead to economic growth. Through this lens, talent attraction and retention can be addressed by engaging with our communities. When destinations establish a trusted presence, they can highlight the importance of this industry and create career pathways for residents of all backgrounds and abilities.  

The 2024 Annual Convention served as a tangible and inspiring opportunity for Visit Tampa Bay (VTB) and the NAACP Hillsborough County Chapter. Through an existing strong relationship, VTB’s Chief Operating Officer, JoLynn Lokey and Hillsborough County Chapter President, Yvette Lewis connected with DI’s Sophia Hyder Hock to explore arrangements during the July event. Lewis welcomed the idea of bringing three high school students onsite, providing them with the opportunity to gain exposure to the industry.  

She appointed three rising seniors, Malachi Brown, Kaejah Evans, and Taleah Scott, to attend the Annual Convention. Each student was given a curated schedule based on their interests to shadow industry leaders, attend educational sessions, and expand their professional network. In two jam-packed days, Malachi, Kaejah, and Taleah explored the breadth of our industry, through marketing and creative lenses, event management, and technology. Their experiences were overwhelmingly positive: the students realized that tourism offers promising, professional career paths and above all is a welcoming, inclusive sector.  

In Their Own Words

Malachi Brown, Middleton High School 

"To start I just wanted to say thank you for even thinking about exposing high school students to this industry, it was not on my radar at all but now I can seriously see a future in this space. My first thought about the travel and tourism industry was a whole bunch of timeshares and hotel managers. Being at Destinations International showed me that there is an entire ecosystem of business that is behind the scenes. Whatever internship, schooling, or even career I will pursue can be translated to the travel and tourism industry, from sales, marketing, data analytics, and more can all be done here and that has truly inspired me. The main highlights were interacting with so many people that were genuinely interested in making sure I was welcomed and comfortable. Connecting with all these amazing professionals not only expanded my network but expanded my horizons by learning and listening to everyone’s insights. Special shout out to the team at Soliman Productions and Paradise Advertising & Marketing for letting a brother tag along for a couple of days.”  - Malachi Brown

Kaejah Evans, Blake High School 

"Destinations International’s Annual Convention was one of the best experiences I could’ve been a part of. I’m truly grateful to have been a part of the convention and met such amazing people from such diverse backgrounds. Before attending the convention, I had a very small amount of information and interest in the world of travel and tourism. After meeting so many people that are a part of this company showed me an even bigger and more in-depth understanding of how great working in this level of hospitality can benefit someone. I’ve learned about some programs and have been introduced to several internships that I’d enjoy taking part in once I graduate.” - Kaejah Evans

Taleah Scott, Sumner High School 

"I truly enjoyed my time interacting with people who are passionate about their careers. The main highlight of my time at Destination International's Convention was attending the breakout sessions of my interest. Not only did it make me feel in control of the steps I'm taking toward my future, but it also exposed me to different aspects of the travel and tourism industry. I originally had no connection to the field, so I wasn't sure what to expect. To my surprise, the travel and tourism industry makes great efforts to follow sustainable practices and be mindful of the communities they're affecting. They also created a space to discuss products that improve accessibility for some users. This made me feel more connected to the experience because it showcased purpose in the work being done here. Another highlight was getting to see people in their element. The travel and tourism industry has so many wonderful facets and the people exude a passion for their positions I haven't seen in most places of work. This experience taught me you can work hard and enjoy life. Not a single person I encountered seemed unhappy to be there. This inspired me to take charge and work hard now so I can set myself up for my future. I plan to get more acquainted with networking (as was suggested by one of the amazing women I was shadowing) so I can pursue a career in cybersecurity. I also now have an interest in taking part in internships to improve my academic and experiential arsenal.” - Taleah Scott

A Promising Path Forward

The experiences of Malachi, Kaejah, and Taleah underscore a crucial truth: our industry shines when we invest in the next generation and pursue a sense of belonging. By engaging local students and providing them with hands-on industry exposure, we can inspire and cultivate future tourism professionals. In turn, we can make strides in overcoming talent attraction and retention obstacles.

The 2024 DI Annual Convention shadow experience is just the beginning for Visit Tampa Bay and the NAACP Hillsborough County Chapter. Together, these organizations will continue to collaborate and provide students with education and mentorship. Their partnership reinforces the importance of building strong relationships between destination organizations and their communities.  

This shadowing initiative sets a powerful example for other destination organizations to follow. We encourage all industry leaders to consider how they can implement similar programs in their own communities. Start by reaching out to local schools, organizations, or industry partners to explore collaborative opportunities. Share your successes and learn from others. Together, we can break down barriers, enhance educational opportunities, and mentor young talent. Together, we can build a resilient, innovative, and inclusive industry that thrives on the collective strength of its people.

As we reflect on the success of this first shadow program, let us be reminded of the words that echoed throughout the 2024 DI Annual Convention: “I love this industry.” It is through our passion and commitment to inclusion that we will shape a bright future for the tourism industry and the communities we serve. 

About the Author

Ava Wells

Social Inclusion Manager
Destinations International

Ava Wells is the Social Inclusion Manager at Destinations International, working under the guidance of Chief Inclusion Officer, Sophia Hyder Hock. In this role, Ava spearheads the development and implementation of strategies that further the organization’s social inclusion goals. She expertly manages programs and fosters stakeholder engagement to enhance DI’s impact in this vital area.

With a rich background spanning over a decade in member and partner engagement, Ava possesses deep expertise in harnessing insights and building robust relationships to drive strategic transformations. Her experience includes seven years in the tech sector, where she focused on advancing workplace inclusion, equity, diversity, and enhancing employee engagement initiatives.

Ava’s professional journey began in the travel and tourism industry, where she spent three enriching years at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation. She is excited about her return to this dynamic field, particularly driven by her passion for regenerative tourism, cultural vitality, and generating positive community impact.

A champion of collaboration and innovation, Ava values curiosity and the power of connection. Originally from Boston, she has embraced life in Montreal since 2018 with her Canadian spouse. In her leisure time, Ava enjoys cooking, running, and reading. She speaks French and maintains an active and travel-filled lifestyle. 

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Legacy EU Common Market Organisation Schemes: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Room 21, Parliament Buildings



  • Committee for Agriculture
  • Environment and Rural Affairs

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Bovine Tuberculosis, Lough Neagh and the Farm Sustainability Transition Payment: Mr Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Room 30, Parliament Buildings



  • Committee for Agriculture
  • Environment and Rural Affairs

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COM(2023)769: Proposal for Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Room 30, Parliament Buildings



  • Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

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Regulation (EU) 2024/2516 Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the Digital Labelling of EU Fertilising Products: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Room 30, Parliament Buildings



  • Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

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Draft Programme for Government 2024-27: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Room 21, Parliament Buildings



  • Committee for Agriculture
  • Environment and Rural Affairs

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Biodesign cultivates community partnerships to broaden understanding of health equity

Biodesign program aims to ensure all trainees have a better understanding of health equity and appreciate the ways in which new technologies can widen or narrow the gaps in access to care.

The post Biodesign cultivates community partnerships to broaden understanding of health equity appeared first on Scope.




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DevOps in the Real World: Culture, Tools, Adoption

DevOps is a hot topic, but is that heat driving adoption? Are organizations on the adoption path making headway in the cultural and technological changes necessary for DevOps success? A panel of DevOps experts discusses these and other issues in this freewheeling conversation.

The Panelists
  • Nicole Forsgen, Founder and CEO, DevOps Research and Assessment LLC, Beaverton, OR
  • Leonid Igolnik, Product Development Executive, Startup Mentor and Advisor, Sand Hill Angels, San Francisco Bay Area.
  • Alena Prokharchyk, Principal Software Engineer, Rancher Labs, Cupertino, CA
  • Baruch Sadogursky, Developer Advocate, JFrog, Cupertino, CA
  • Shay Shmeltzer, Director of Product Management, Oracle Cloud Development Tools, Redwood Shores, CA
  • Kelly Shortridge, Product Manager at SecurityScorecard, NYC
Coming Soon
  • Combating Complexity An article in the September 2017 edition of the Atlantic warned of The Coming Software Apocalypse. Oracle's Chris Newcombe was interviewed for that article. In this podcast Chris joins Chris Richardson, Adam Bien, and Lucas Jellema to discuss heading off catastophic software failures.
  • AI Beyond ChatbotsHow is Artificial Intelligence being applied to modern applications? What are the options and capabilities? What patterns are emerging in the application of AI? A panel of experts provides the answers to these and other questions.

 




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OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities holds fifth regional summer school on multilingual and multicultural education in Central Asia

A week-long regional summer school on multilingual and multicultural education was held from 10 July to 16 July 2016 in Cholponata in Kyrgyzstan - the fifth regional summer school organized as part of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities’ (HCNM) Central Asia Education Programme.

Organized by the HCNM in co-operation with Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Education and Science, UNICEF and the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in Kyrgyzstan, the summer school brought together 86 participants representing education institutions of the Central Asian States and of the wider region, including teacher trainers, methodological experts, university and pilot school managers and teachers, as well as international experts.

The summer school was aimed at providing practical expert support to further develop the capacity of education authorities and practitioners within multilingual and multicultural education.

Opening the summer school, Deputy Minister of Education of Kyrgyzstan Toktobubu Ashymbaeva highlighted the important role of the teacher in multilingual education programmes.

During the week, participants discussed pre-service and in-service teacher training, as well as facilitating the implementation of multilingual education programmes. Participants also developed training materials aimed at monitoring and evaluating multilingual and multicultural education programmes. As a result, eleven thematic materials were developed with the aim to further adapt them for practical use within the education institutions of the region.

Flera Saifulina, Head of the National Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, found that the diverse forms of activities enabled participants to express their opinions, raise concerns and receive comprehensive answers from fellow experts. She also expressed satisfaction to see how education is used for the integration of societies in the Central Asian countries.

Tatiana Aderikhina, Co-ordinator of Education and Child Protection Issues at UNICEF Kazakhstan, said: “I am glad that the cooperation between HCNM and UNICEF Kyrgyzstan continues as it brings synergies and benefits the target country.”

Zaiyrbek Ergeshev, representative of the Department of the Ethnic and Religious Issues of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan, concluded that multilingual and multicultural education is an important factor for forming a civic identity.

Since 2012, the High Commissioner has been implementing the Central Asia Education Programme, aimed at promoting multilingual and multicultural education and developing bilateral and multilateral co‑operation in the region to improve the education of national minorities and promote the integration of society.

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Roma remain one of most vulnerable groups, continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by independent bodies

BELGRADE, 8 April 2016 - On the occasion of International Roma Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the United Nations Country Team in Serbia, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade reaffirm our strong commitment to equality and non-discrimination.

Today, the Romani community, Europe's largest ethnic minority, still experiences multiple discrimination and marginalisation in countries throughout Europe, including Serbia.  Roma remain one of the most vulnerable groups; they continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by both relevant international mechanisms and independent bodies of the Republic of Serbia.

Thousands of Roma represent the most vulnerable and marginalised among the population of internally displaced, still facing obstacles in accessing rights and durable solutions.

International and European human rights standards clearly provide for equality before the law and prohibit discrimination on all grounds, including ethnicity. The realisation of Roma inclusion will reinforce everyday democracy and the rule of law. It is the only way to reach a society based on the principle of equality of opportunity where everyone has the right to participate and to be heard.

On this day, we therefore call on all relevant stakeholders to pursue with determination 
Roma inclusion policies in Serbia, pursuant to the recent adoption of a new Strategy of Social Inclusion of Roma for the Period from 2015-2025 and the Action Plan for Realization of Rights of National Minorities by the Government of Serbia.

The Delegation of the European Union, the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the United Nations Country Team in Serbia remain committed to improving the lives of Roma in Serbia and  ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected, and to supporting our Serbian partners in this endeavour.

International Roma Day is celebrated annually on April 8, in commemoration of the 1971 founding of the International Romani Union, the first major international Romani civic initiative.

Statistical information on Roma in Serbia

  • 90% of children in Roma settlements are growing up in poverty. The infant and under-5 mortality rate is two times higher than that of the general population, 15% of Roma children are born with low birth weights, one fifth is malnourished and only 13% are fully immunized.
  • Romani children continue to face discrimination in the education system. Only 6% of children from Roma settlements attend early learning programs, only 64% finish primary school on time, and  only 22% attend secondary school (of whom only 15% are girls).
  • Romani women and girls face multi-sectoral discrimination, as well as heightened barriers of access to services, including services for victims of violence.    Early, arranged marriage remains an issue in some segments of Serbia’s Romani communities, with very destructive consequences for – in particular – the child bride.

For more information & media inquiries please contact:

Aleksandra Stamenkovic, United Nations Country Team Communications Expert, email: aleksandra.stamenkovic@one.un.org, Phone +381 11 415 5314

Nadezda Dramicanin, Delegation of the EU to Serbia Communications Officer, e-mail: Nadezda.DRAMICANIN@eeas.europa.eu, Phone: +381 11 3083 200

Ivana Milatovic, OSCE National Political and Press Affairs Officer, e-mail: ppiu-serbia@osce.org, Phone +381 11 3606 151

Mona Alghaith, Council of Europe Office, Assistant to the Head of Office, e-mail: mona.alghaith@coe.int, Phone. +381 11 71 555 00

 

Related Stories



  • OSCE Mission to Serbia
  • Roma and Sinti issues
  • Tolerance and non-discrimination
  • South-Eastern Europe
  • Press release

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Roma remain one of most vulnerable groups, continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by independent bodies

BELGRADE, 8 April 2016 - On the occasion of International Roma Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the United Nations Country Team in Serbia, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade reaffirm our strong commitment to equality and non-discrimination.

Today, the Romani community, Europe's largest ethnic minority, still experiences multiple discrimination and marginalisation in countries throughout Europe, including Serbia.  Roma remain one of the most vulnerable groups; they continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by both relevant international mechanisms and independent bodies of the Republic of Serbia.

Thousands of Roma represent the most vulnerable and marginalised among the population of internally displaced, still facing obstacles in accessing rights and durable solutions.

International and European human rights standards clearly provide for equality before the law and prohibit discrimination on all grounds, including ethnicity. The realisation of Roma inclusion will reinforce everyday democracy and the rule of law. It is the only way to reach a society based on the principle of equality of opportunity where everyone has the right to participate and to be heard.

On this day, we therefore call on all relevant stakeholders to pursue with determination 
Roma inclusion policies in Serbia, pursuant to the recent adoption of a new Strategy of Social Inclusion of Roma for the Period from 2015-2025 and the Action Plan for Realization of Rights of National Minorities by the Government of Serbia.

The Delegation of the European Union, the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the United Nations Country Team in Serbia remain committed to improving the lives of Roma in Serbia and  ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected, and to supporting our Serbian partners in this endeavour.

International Roma Day is celebrated annually on April 8, in commemoration of the 1971 founding of the International Romani Union, the first major international Romani civic initiative.

Statistical information on Roma in Serbia

  • 90% of children in Roma settlements are growing up in poverty. The infant and under-5 mortality rate is two times higher than that of the general population, 15% of Roma children are born with low birth weights, one fifth is malnourished and only 13% are fully immunized.
  • Romani children continue to face discrimination in the education system. Only 6% of children from Roma settlements attend early learning programs, only 64% finish primary school on time, and  only 22% attend secondary school (of whom only 15% are girls).
  • Romani women and girls face multi-sectoral discrimination, as well as heightened barriers of access to services, including services for victims of violence.    Early, arranged marriage remains an issue in some segments of Serbia’s Romani communities, with very destructive consequences for – in particular – the child bride.

For more information & media inquiries please contact:

Aleksandra Stamenkovic, United Nations Country Team Communications Expert, email: aleksandra.stamenkovic@one.un.org, Phone +381 11 415 5314

Nadezda Dramicanin, Delegation of the EU to Serbia Communications Officer, e-mail: Nadezda.DRAMICANIN@eeas.europa.eu, Phone: +381 11 3083 200

Ivana Milatovic, OSCE National Political and Press Affairs Officer, e-mail: ppiu-serbia@osce.org, Phone +381 11 3606 151

Mona Alghaith, Council of Europe Office, Assistant to the Head of Office, e-mail: mona.alghaith@coe.int, Phone. +381 11 71 555 00

 

Related Stories



  • OSCE Mission to Serbia
  • Roma and Sinti issues
  • Tolerance and non-discrimination
  • South-Eastern Europe
  • Press release

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An Unlikely Cult Horror Movie Is Getting Remade With A Stranger Things Star

Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard is teaming up with his Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman to remake a rather zany '90s cult horror flick.




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[ F.740.2 (06/21) ] - Requirements and reference framework for digital representation of cultural relics and artworks using augmented reality

Requirements and reference framework for digital representation of cultural relics and artworks using augmented reality





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Young Gun Chad Westbrook: Leading Employees Young and Old to Succeed in Difficult Times

Castro Roofing of Texas Chief Revenue Officer Chad Westbrook may be a Young Gun, but he brings 15 years of roofing industry experience to his leadership role.




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Cierra la cafetería más alternativa y 'cultureta' de Málaga: "Tanto amor de tanta gente nos tiene desbordados"

El local se despide de los malagueños tras 12 años de actividad Leer




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Un voto particular a favor del derecho colectivo de acceso a la cultura

“El derecho del autor es necesario, para garantizar la creación cultural y la autonomía creativa. Pero no puede entrar en contraposición de los derechos ciudadanos y del acceso a la cultura. La propiedad intelectual debe contribuir al fomento de la creación, a la formación y potenciación de nuevos creadores y creadoras. Los pagos de derechos de autor, las royalties, las patentes y demás incentivos similares no deben ser considerados un fin en sí mismos, sino como un medio de promover el interés público, la innovación y el acceso a la ciencia y a la tecnología.”




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Agricultores españoles reclaman a Von der Leyen que no nombre comisaria a Ribera por su "cuestionable gestión" de la DANA

Para ASAJA, la "inacción y falta de intervención directa para gestionar riesgos" de Ribera han revelado "una serie de graves omisiones, con consecuencias devastadoras". Leer



  • Teresa Ribera
  • DANA
  • Ursula von der Leyen
  • Artículos EL MUNDO
  • Artículos Daniel Viaña

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El cohete de la música latina no tiene fin: "Estará en la cima de la cultura global otros 20 años"

Karol G, Bad Bunny, Shakira y Residente serán algunos de los protagonistas de los Grammy Latinos, que se celebran el jueves en un clima de euforia. España se queda en fuera de juego: "Es uno de los países con menos socios de los premios, nos ha faltado compromiso y visión" Leer