The colloquium will bring together interdisciplinary specialists from academia, policy and NGOs to critically analyse the structural causes of migration and the current limits to understanding of migration related issues in order to facilitate more-fair and just policy changes. The session will use evidenced based research to challenge the underpinning assumptions currently driving migration related decision-making processes.

As the first of two events (planned over the year) the colloquium will explore the ways in which policy makers and other influential actors can shift negative attitudes towards migrants and migration, and identify what positive citizenship looks like in this context. This colloquium will be convened to determine what effective inclusive economy, migration policy and processes should look like in a shared societies context.

Academics Stand Against Poverty and Global Justice Now are pleased to welcome members of World Leadership Alliance, Club de Madrid, Jigmi Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan from April 2008 to April 2013 and WLA-CdM NetPLUSS Member Kinga Göncz, Foreign Minister of Hungary from 2006 to 2009, and subsequently a member of the European Parliament to lead a discussion on what different countries can learn from each other about how to build a more inclusive society.

They will be joined on the panel by:

• Laura Hammond, Professor of Development Studies at SOAS

• Frances Webber, Vice-chair of the Institute of Race Relations Council of Management and prosecutor at the Permanent Peoples Tribunal of the London Hearing “Putting the Hostile Environment on Trial"

• Yva Alexandrova-Meadway, Policy and Campaigns Manager with Consonant

The morning panel will be chaired by Myles Wickstead, Visiting Professor (International Relations) at King’s College London and Associate Professor at the University of Exeter.

The afternoon panel will be chaired by Helen Yanacopulos, Professor of Political Science at the University of British Columbia.

The event will:

1. Provide opportunities for cross disciplinary collaboration with experts from policy, research, and campaigning

2. Produce a briefing document defining what information and / or knowledge is needed in order to effectively work with specialists from other sectors to influence migration discourse and policy making

3. Deliver 3 recommendations that can be taken forward (to discuss at the next session or to be actioned directly)

About Club de Madrid

The Club de Madrid is an independent non-profit organization created to promote democracy and change in the international community. Composed of 107 regular members, the Club de Madrid is the world’s largest forum of former heads of state and government. Its Shared Societies Project aims to challenge social divisions and supports a holistic approach to sustainable development, integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions, with social inclusion at its core.

This is a small event with limited seating: please register soon if you would like to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like more information, please contact global@academicsstand.org.