Intergenerational Dialogue 2022

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The subject of refugees and migrants is currently very important for Geneva's society and economy. The arrival of the victims of Russia's aggression against Ukraine brings back the historic tradition of Geneva as a "City of Refuge". But refugees and migrants from the most diverse latitudes have always helped to shape the life of Geneva for several generations. Behind the statistics, laws and policies are individual and unique journeys and integration journeys, lives of men, women and children that have been forever transformed in this city. What has changed compared to the refugees and migrants who arrived in Geneva in the 1950s or 60s? How have Geneva's norms, policies, institutions evolved, and especially the perceptions of the population as well as those of refugees and migrants? In this regard, what has been the role and attitude of "International Geneva", its various organizations and its population of international civil servants, diplomatic representations and NGOs? This Intergenerational Dialogue is an opportunity to learn, understand and compare the lives of refugees and migrants in Geneva from a realistic — and above all human, in the light of the testimonies.

INTERVENTIONS BY THE GENEVA AUTHORITIES

Ms Christina KITSOS, Administrative Councillor, City of Geneva, Department of Social Cohesion and Solidarity.
Mr Antonio HODGERS, Vice-President, Council of State of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.

EXPERTS EN MIGRATION

Migrants and refugees in Geneva: recent developments and current situation. Presentation by Mr. Patrick TARAN, President, Global Migration Policy Associates, Geneva.
The situation of refugees in Switzerland: key opportunities and challenges. Presentation by Ms Anja KLUG, Representative of Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

PANELS

PANEL 1
PANEL 2
PANEL 3
Additional contribution

CONCLUSIONS

Ms Albana KRASNIQI MALAJ, Director, Geneva University of Cultures / Albanian People's University, Member of the Federal Commission for Migration.

POST-DIALOGUE TESTIMONIES

COCKTAIL PHOTOS AND ARTISTIC PERFORMANCE BY MR. ARMANDO BALACOSTA, (DRC), MS. TANIA NERFIN (CUBA) AND MR. PACO CHAMBI (PERU)

Mr. Armando Balacosta (DRC)
Mr. Armando Balacosta. "I think, therefore I write" (Lyrics)
Ms. Tania Nerfin (Cuba) and Mr. Paco Chambi (Peru)
Ms. Tania Nerfin (Cuba) and Mr. Paco Chambi (Peru) "Pieces"

DOCUMENTS, TESTIMONIES, FILMS AND PRE-DIALOGUE DRAWINGS

EYNARD PALACE

PRE-DIALOGUE TESTIMONIES

Adiba
Adiba (Iraq), Yazidi refugee, arrived in 2015.
Blanca (Colombia) arrived in 2001. Maid
Lionel (Portugal), who arrived in 1991. Restaurateur.
Maria (Portugal), who arrived in 1990. Conservator)
Fiore (Italy), who joined in 2001. Concierge
Carmelo. (Italy) arrived in Geneva in 1980 as a seasonal worker.
Ali GOLSHARAND (Iran), civil engineer, refugee for political reasons, awaiting approval of his asylum application since 2020 (Dublin process first, then application in Switzerland). In the meantime, he studied and worked in the social field in Geneva.
Habib FATAH (Afghanistan), who arrived in Switzerland in 1991 at the age of 27, has been in Geneva since 2004, naturalised in 2007, works in the maritime transport sector
Ricardo (Colombia), Colombian political refugee, arrived in Geneva 25 years ago, geographer.
Mohamad (Turkey), refugee, civil engineer, arrived in Geneva 20 months ago, wants to continue his academic training and do a Master's degree.
Bagra (Turkey), political refugee, accused of terrorism in his country while working with an NGO for young high school students, arrived in Geneva in 2018.
Masoumeh. (Afghanistan ) Nurse, 31 years old, refugee in Geneva for a year thanks to the help of the UNHCR in a refugee camp in Turkey, where she spent 5 years after leaving Afghanistan because of violence and the difficulties of schooling for her 2 daughters aged 9 and 13. Her eldest daughter is still in Turkey and she hopes to obtain a refugee permit for her to join her in Geneva. Mr. Bager SEN, Kurdish, 27 years old, musician, refugee in Geneva for a year, after having obtained a refugee permit thanks to the UNHCR in Turkey.
Awet AREGAY (Eritrea), political refugee in Geneva since 2012 (emergency asylum application at the Swiss Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan in 2011. He is a journalist (University of Asmara) and a member of Reporters Without Borders. He had to leave Eritrea in 2010 because of the risks of his job. He now has a B license and works as a freelance journalist.
Clemencia (Colombia), Colombian political refugee, who arrived in Geneva 25 years ago, is a schoolteacher
Fanny (Colombia), Colombian migrant, arrived 17 years ago without a permit.
Mehmet (Turkey), political refugee, arrived in Geneva in 2019.
David (Colombia), who arrived in 1995 when he was only 8 years old. His family left Colombia for economic and political reasons.

"Homo Migrans", by Giovanni Tortora, the humorous history of migrations, 1971, Geneva.

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Humanity has evolved from "Homo Sapiens" to "Homo Faber" and then to "Homo Migrans": migrations are an essential part of world history. Giovanni Tortora, himself a migrant and migration expert, summed up this story in cartoons. According to him, "the migrant who has succeeded in his new life is the one who has mixed his identity of origin with that of the host country, and created a new one". This book was published in Geneva in 1971 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM, predecessor of the International Organization for Migration-IOM), whose author was a civil servant for more than 30 years.

Films related to the theme of intergenerational dialogue

This film illustrates the difficulties of an Italian seasonal worker in Switzerland. Coming soon.
The Swiss Makers
The journey of a young Afghan refugee. (Trailer of the film)
....there were signs like this one in the 60's -70's (Movie Trailer)
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