Ariadne’s Thread – March 2016

Ariadne’s Thread – March 2016
mars 23, 2016 Lori Stanciu

March 2016

Ariadne’s Thread is a monthly update of events, briefings and research for social change and human rights funders. 

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Ariadne News & Events

Tallinn_how-to-get-there_9 (1)FEW PLACES LEFT: 2016 ARIADNE POLICY BRIEFING, TALLINN: Ariadne will hold its annual Policy Briefing this year from April 20th-22nd in Tallinn, Estonia. All Ariadne participants are invited to the meeting, and can see the agenda or register for the event here. There will be plenary sessions on Migration, Counter-terrorism and Closing Space for Civil Society and a look at what happened at New Year in Germany and the reaction to it. There are planned trips to visit Tallinn’s fortress prison in the company of a former inmate, a feminist walking tour of Tallinn and more. There will be new data released on grant making in Europe for Countering Hatred and Supporting tolerance and new research on funding for LGBT rights by private and Government funded funders.

REGISTER NOW: VALUE BASED INVESTMENTS – HOW TO SUPPORT THE EMERGENCE OF AN ECONOMY BASED ON JUSTICE AND SUSTAINABILITY: The next joint Ariadne and Edge Funders webinar on Ethical Investment is on Value Based Investments – how to support the emergence of an economy based on justice and sustainability. Contributors will be Dr Charly Kleissner, impact investor and co-founder of Toniic, the global action community of impact investors and Jo Andrews, currently Director of Ariadne, but shortly to take up a role as co-founder of a combined gender investing initiative and grant-making foundation. The webinar will be moderated in English by Matthias Fiedler, Director of the Bewegungsstiftung and take place on April 11th 1500-1600 CEST, 1400-1500 BST. Deadline for registration is 10 April. Confirmed participants will receive log in information before the webinar. Kindly note that this is a funder only space.

REGISTER NOW: UNACCOMPANIED CHILD REFUGEES – WHAT CAN BE DONE BY FUNDERS? Ariadne will hold its next refugee tele-briefing on Tuesday, May 4th 2016. 16:00-17:00 CEST, 15:00-16:60 BST, 10:00-11:00 EST. Among the migrants arriving in Turkey and Europe there are several thousand lone children, unaccompanied by an adult. There are many reasons why they travel alone, they may have been sent to safety by their families, they may become separated along the way or they may have lost their close relatives. In a Europe hardening its attitudes against migration there is great concern about these children, with reports that up to 10,000 of them have ‘disappeared’ along the way. A new report has just been issued by a number of European organisations about how to keep these children safe. This tele-briefing, which is being held by Ariadne, and Elevate Children – a global funders’ affinity group, will look at what should be done to help them and what funders can do to help make this happen. Xenia Papastavrou of the Bodossaki Foundation in Greece (TBC), and Carola Carrazone of Assifero, the Italian network of family foundations will take part. Jo Andrews, Ariadne Director will moderate. To register, please email lori.stanciu@ariadne-network.eu.  

REGISTER NOW: RESPONDING TO CONFLICT & SECURITISATION: ROLES FOR INDEPENDENT FUNDERS: Ariadne, in collaboration with the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Peace and Security Funders Group (PSFG), are organising a lunchtime briefing for funders on Thursday, May 19, from 12:00 – 14:00 BST at the LankellyChase Foundation, London, UK. This meeting will reflect on the many worrying trends we see in relation to human rights, migration and civil society space that have their roots in violent conflict, and in the predominant governmental and international responses to these crises. During the meeting we will consider how, as independent funders, we can best support efforts to reverse these trends. We will draw on new research by the US Peace and Security Funders Group, we will hear about the work of foundations who are actively addressing these issues, analyse the gaps and challenges, and consider possible responses. To register please RSVP to Lori Stanciu (lori.stanciu@ariadne-network.eu).

REGISTER NOW: ARIADNE PORTAL TUITION: One-hour tuition session to increase your skill in using the Ariadne Portal will be held on two upcoming dates, one on Thursday, 7th April 2016, at 15:00 BST and one on Wednesday, 18th May 15:00 BST. These are online webinars you can participate in from your desk. To join, you will need a computer or tablet (iPad/Android tablet) to watch the online demonstration. There will also be two in person portal tuition sessions, one on Wednesday, 13th April, at 11:00 BST at Ariadne offices and one at the Ariadne Policy Briefing in Tallinn on Wednesday, 20th April, at 10:30am EEST. To register for any of the four, please RSVP to Kenneth Hill – kenneth.hill@ariadne-network.eu.

SAVE THE DATE: 2016 FUNDERS’ LEARNING VISIT ON FORCED MIGRATION – TURKEY: Ariadne, in collaboration with the International Human Rights Funders Group are organising a 3-day learning visit to Turkey between 18-20th October 2016. The 2016 Learning Visit will look at strategies to address the current global refugee crisis and will focus on issues in the Middle East and North Africa region that are having an impact globally. Participants will engage with activists, advocates, experts, and funders working in all global regions. More details will follow soon.

 

 

The next Thread will go out on Thursday, April 14th. We would love to hear from you! Please contact Lori Stanciu by April 11th if you would like to share announcements, events, or resources for the next issue. 

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New Research, Articles and Judgements

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Children shoes captured during the refugee crisis in Budapest, Hungary

Unpacking a rapidly changing scenario: migration flows, routes and trajectories across the Mediterranean: In 2015 over one million people crossed the Mediterranean to Europe in search of safety and a better life. This MEDMIG project seeks to understand these unprecedented movements in the region by providing the first large-scale, systematic and comparative study of the backgrounds, experiences, routes and aspirations of refugees and migrants in four European countries, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Malta. Over 500 refugees and migrants travelling via the Central and Eastern Mediterranean routes took part in the interview process.

Building Community around Women’s Rights: Feminist Philanthropy in Serbia: In this article, Zoe Gudovic, an activist for women’s rights and the Public Relations Manager for the Reconstruction Women’s Fund in Serbia, argues that becoming agents of change for women’s rights in Serbian society requires creativity in building connections and solidarity.

How life stories research helps to strengthen donors programmes: In January, the Freedom Fund’s NGO partners in northern India completed an exercise of listening to and analysing 353 life stories, mostly of individuals in slavery or affected by trafficking. In this article, Ginny Baumann, Senior Programmes Officer at the Freedom Fund uses a research method which is informing the evaluation of the Northern India hotspot method.

Report and Factsheet on Managing Assemblies: Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Christof Heyns, and Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Maina Kiai, have issued a factsheet on managing assemblies based on Maina’s 2015 report. The report summarises applicable international legal standards, and offers practical recommendations to States on how these principles might be implemented.

Refugees and Migration: Philanthropy Responds: Alliance Magazine’s March edition asks how philanthropy should respond to the issues posed by refugees and migration. The feature looks at where funders are now, philanthropy’s varied responses to the issues, and whether, and under what circumstances, migration can be a force for good. See also The Syrian crisis: a challenge for philanthropy.

Trafficking discourses and sex workers’ mobilisation in eastern Europe and central Asia: This is an article from Netochka Nezvanova, (pseudonym), a sex worker from a central/eastern European and central Asian countries (CEECA) looking at some of the challenges the Eastern European migrant sex workers are confronted with today. Apart from the restrictions faced by most migrants from the former ‘eastern bloc’ in western countries, Eastern European migrant sex workers encounter even tougher barriers when attempting to access legal forms of work in the sex industries of western countries.

Hate Speech and Democratic Citizenship: This volume by Eric Heinze, Professor of Law and Humanities at Queen Mary University of London, asserts that democracies have better ways of combatting violence and discrimination against vulnerable groups without having to censor speakers. After analysing the existing free speech theories, Heinze critiques the rationale for and against bans on hate speech, explaining that democratic public discourse must be safeguarded not just as an individual right, but as an essential attribute of democratic citizenship.

Hope not Hate report finds that England is a tolerant and confident multicultural society: A new report  supported by Barrow Cadbury Trust ‘Fear and Hope 2016’ from Hope not Hate looks at how England has changed over the last five years, exploring the cultural divides in today’s society. Over 4,000 people aged 18 and over were surveyed online taking into account people’s age, gender, social grade and ethnicity.

The use of children in the Islamic State – ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers: Quilliam Foundation, a Counter-extremism think tank based in London, have just produced a report that sheds the light on the use of children in the Islamic State. This report highlights the many global challenges with respect to the use of children by armed groups and provides a critical perspective on the situation of these children. Essential reflections for policy makers, child protection agencies, governments, multi-lateral organisations, and those concerned with ending conflict in Iraq and Syria.

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Blogs and Other Sites of Interest

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Illustration by Esther Sarto

WATCH: Supporting Undocumented Children: There are an estimated 120,000 undocumented children living in the UK. This film from the Children’s Society aims to raise awareness of the challenges they face as a result of their irregular immigration status and uncertain future. The film also encourages professionals working with children to recognise when a child is undocumented and support them in resolving their immigration status as early as possible.

Life on Lesvos: Christen Dobson, Programme Director of Policy and Research at the International Human Rights Funders Group, has recently spent some weeks volunteering on the Greek island of Lesvos, which remains the major transit point for thousands of migrants and refugees trying to cross into Europe. Read her account on life on Lesvos.

WATCH: Women, Peace, and Security: On March 14, 2016, the German Marshall Fund in collaboration with the Swedish Representation to the European Union co-hosted a public conversation with Margot Wallström, the Swedish minister for foreign affairs. The conversation focused on the Swedish government’s commitment to pursue a “feminist foreign policy” that puts gender equality and human rights at the centre of Sweden’s international objectives. See also The futures past of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Conservatism and human rights – building a positive case: Bright Blue, with the support of the Thomas Paine Initiative and Open Society Foundations has launched the ‘Conservatism and Human Rights‘ project, which aims to build a positive Conservative case for human rights domestically and internationally. Bright Blue also launched an essay series on Conservatism and human rights. The project includes a commission formed by Rt Hon Maria Miller MP, Dominic Grieve QC and Matthew D’Ancona.

WATCH: A Net of Rights? New film links Human Rights and Internet Protocols: ARTICLE 19 and Coding Rights have launched Net of Rights, a short film which explores the link between internet protocols (the standards which underpin the way the internet functions) and human rights online. The film argues that to protect human rights online, it will be necessary to explore and map the link between rights and protocol, ensuring the survival of a decentralised and collaborative internet, in which freedom of expression through unimpeded connectivity remains a central principle, and a guiding force.

‘Abused No More’ website: The Erasmus+ funded Abused No More: Safeguarding Youth and Empowering Professionals programme launched its new website in 2016. The web-platform will deliver the aims of the 3 year pan-European youth-led initiative that envisages addressing existing gaps in the provision of legal education for young minority ethnic women affected by gender-based violence (GBV) including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), rape and forced marriage. The new interactive web-platform will feature news, blogs, project’s findings and updates, such as reports, policy briefs as well as opportunities for collaboration, e.g. events announcements, workshops and face to face training sessions.

Call for Submissions / General Comment on children in street situations – The Committee on the Rights of the Child: The Committee on the Rights of the Child has launched a call for submissions on a General Comment on children in street situations. The experiences, opportunities and challenges facing children in street situations vary widely across different regions and between different groups of children. The Committee is therefore seeking submissions from States parties, civil society and other interested bodies (including UN entities), in all regions and from a wide range of perspectives, to inform the drafting process. The deadline for submissions is 12 April 2016.

Campaign to challenge the recent negative portrayal of charities in the UK: Charity Bank has created the hashtag #CharityIs in response to negative portrayals of charities in the UK media. The new Twitter campaign has so far over 11 thousand followers and aims to raise the profile of the contribution charities make to British society. Charities are asked to share positive images, pictures, videos and stories using the hashtag – there are some great portrayals already up.

WATCH: Virunga – a new Threat: Global Witness launched a new 60 second animation which highlights the threat posed by oil activities in Lake Edward, Uganda. Drilling there would pose a great danger for the Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the people and animals that depend on it.

Berta Caceres: The murder of Berta Caceres on March 3rd, 2016 has led to widespread calls for a proper investigation into her death. Berta was an inspirational leader and activist in the field of environmental and indigenous rights and a winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize. Here is a look back at here life put together by the Ford Foundation and a press release from Global Witness.

Grant-Making

2016ReportTwitterHeader (1)2016 Ariadne Forecast: The 2016 Ariadne Forecast is here! Social change and human rights funders say Migration and Closing Space for Civil Society will be the defining issues for the year ahead. The Forecast aims to help grant-makers and civil society see the big picture, discover important trends and plan ahead. It was put together with the input of over 140 grant-makers and philanthropy specialists as a community-created resource.

Closing space for philanthropy? Restrictions on grant making and other philanthropic activities: Alliance Magazine and the European Foundation Centre have created a survey to investigate the extent of the closing space for philanthropy. The purpose is to gain a better understanding of how philanthropic actors in different countries are affected by restrictions, how they are responding; and what they perceive as key drivers of restrictions. The deadline for responses is April 10th.

Women’s Global Disability Rights Advocacy Report: This report and interactive map from the Women Enabled International captures challenges and needs, ranging from gender-based violence to education rights, as identified by women with disabilities in their countries. It includes data, analysis and infographics of the leaders, venues, and locations where women’s disability rights advocates and organisations are especially active, where the gaps are, and where there are opportunities for collaboration.

Safer labour migration and community-based prevention of exploitation: This report by the Freedom Fund provides a state of evidence analysis on ‘safer migration’ programming and considers evidence priorities for future interventions. The report’s findings are intended to offer one of the most robust reviews to date for donors and practitioners to work towards the design of a future research agenda and prevention programming to address the complex problem of migrant labour exploitation.

Perspectives on the Shrinking Space for Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders: This report from Kios, a Finnish grant maker, aims to describe the speeches, discussions and the outcome of the Kios Autumn Seminar, titled “Strengthening the Cooperation and Security of Human Rights Defenders” organised in Helsinki on September 29th, 2015. It introduces the work of a few Kios’ partners from East Africa and South Asia, and offers insight on the recent developments affecting those who stand up to defend human rights. The report also gives background information for the analysis of processes related to the shrinking space for civil society in numerous countries.

Using research evidence – a practice guide: The Alliance for Useful Evidence and Nesta have published a new guide to using research evidence. The guide helps those working in government, charities, voluntary organisations, professional membership bodies and local authorities to learn about evidence-informed decision-making, and why research is an essential element of it, understand the different scenarios in which using evidence can help them, as well as the types of evidence they might need at different stages of development. Also by Nesta see New social contracts: how innovation in welfare will address changing needs and make use of new tools.

Charity Commission: New guidance on grants to non-charities: The UK Charity Commission has published draft guidance on “Grant funding an organisation that isn’t a charity”. This follows in the wake of the Cage judicial review of the Charity Commission. Although the guidance will not be subject to a formal consultation, the guidance has been published in draft so that comments can be made by charities and their advisers to inform the final version. The deadline for doing so is 8 April 2016. The Commission says that this guidance is taken from other existing guidance rather than representing any new regulatory requirement.

New Beginnings Fund – UK based pooled fund: In response to the ongoing refugee crisis a new £525,000 fund has been launched to support community groups in the UK welcoming and integrating refugees and asylum seekers into local communities. One of the aims of this fund is to help groups build their capacity to process these offers of assistance. The New Beginnings Fund has been contributed to by a number of leading charities including Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Pears Foundation, The Rayne Foundation, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales and Comic Relief. Deadline for applications is 29 March 2016.

Community Land Protection Facilitators Guide: The Namati Network has published a step-by-step, practical “how to” manual for grassroots advocates working to help communities to map their boundaries, adopt equitable rules for land governance, and secure legal tenure called the Community Land Protection Facilitators Guide. Each chapter includes exercises, sample forms, and tips from veteran land protection advocates. All activities are easily adaptable to a range of cultures, contexts, and community goals.

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Jobs and Tenders

Comic_Relief.svgFive Grants Managers – Comic Relief: Comic Relief is looking for five grants managers, one for each of the following strategies: Women and Girls, Women and Girls and Stronger Communities, Health and Wellbeing, Children and Young People, and Sport for Change. The post holders will lead, manage and review portfolios of grants across UK and internationally. Location: London. Deadline for applications is 4th April 2016.

Grants Manager – Trust for London: Trust for London is looking for a Grants Manager. The focus of the post will be on developing the Trust’s policy response to a range of issues, including housing, as well as managing a portfolio of grants. Location: London. Deadline for applications is 6th April 2016.

Senior Research and Evaluation Officer – The Freedom Fund: The Freedom Fund is looking for a Senior Research and Evaluation Officer. The successful candidate will lead the Freedom Fund’s work to measure the impact of its investments in countries with the highest incidence of slavery, and will drive the Fund’s support for research, evaluation, and knowledge-sharing across the broader anti-slavery community. Location: London. Deadline for applications is 30th March 2016.

Project Director – Climate Justice – Resilient Communities – Oak Foundation: The Oak Foundation is looking for a Project Director for Climate Justice – Resilient Communities. The successful candidate will have experience in social justice, human rights and/or climate change, as well as the ability to serve as a strategic grant maker. The post holder will be expected to further develop and implement the climate resilience strategic framework and to network with a broad network of donors in field building and collaborative grant-making. Location: Open. Deadline for applications is 18th April 2016.

Aryeh Neier Justice Initiative Fellow: The Open Society Justice Initiative invites applications for its 2017-2018 Aryeh Neier Fellowship Programme. The Aryeh Neier Fellowship Programme is a two-year programme of practical work experience designed to expand the capacity of lawyers and advocates working internationally on human rights issues by embedding them as an integral part of the Justice Initiative. Location: Budapest, London, or New York. Deadline for applications is 24th April, 2016.

Programme Officer, Sexual Health and Rights (Latin America and the Caribbean) – American Jewish World Service: American Jewish World Service is looking for a Programme Officer, Sexual Health and Rights (Latin America and Caribbean). The successful candidate will manage AJWS’s dynamic sexual health and rights grant making in Latin America and Caribbean, coordinate capacity-building and programmatic opportunities for grantees, and engage in strategic learning and evaluation in order to assess AJWS’s impact and improve its grant making strategies, with a specific focus on Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Location: New York. Deadline for applications is ongoing.

Programme Officer Money – Environmental Justice – Mama Cash: Mama Cash is looking for a Programme Officer Money – Environmental Justice. The successful candidate will be an experienced feminist project manager who will manage a grant making portfolio titled Money – Environmental Justice. The portfolio supports women’s, girls’ and trans people’s rights organisations and initiatives as well as Women’s Funds focused on social change in areas such as land and natural resource rights, water management and food security, and climate change. Location: Amsterdam. Deadline for applications is ongoing.

*For more jobs, see the ‘Career Opportunities’ section on the landing page of the Ariadne portal.

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Public Meetings

BRUSSELS

March 28th -April 3rd
The dangerous rise of populism in the US and the EU…and what we can do about it: A discussion on populism with the American author and philosopher Tom Palmer. Donald Trump is likely to win the Republican presidential nomination, Bernie Sanders promises free healthcare and college education for all to snag the nomination from presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. In Europe, the populist Fidesz party has been hard at work to dismantle Hungary’s system of checks and balances, while fellow populists in Poland, France, Germany and the Netherlands are riding popular disappointment with the way Europe has failed to handle the refugee crisis. What does this development mean for the transatlantic relationship? What about Europe’s and America’s position in the world? What can be done to stop the trend? The event will take place on March 31st, 2016 in Brussels, Belgium.

GENEVA

May 16th – May 22nd
OHCHR Expert Workshop on the Right to Participate in Public Affairs: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is organising an expert workshop on the right to participate in public affairs. The workshop will have three sessions. After experts for each session have presented, there will be contributions from States, civil society representatives and other stakeholders participating in the meeting. Session One will focus on the right to participate in public affairs and existing guidance. Session Two will look at current challenges to the implementation of the right to participate in public affairs. Session Three will present innovations and trends on the right to participate in public affairs. The event will take place on May 18th, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland.

LONDON

April 11th 17th
What Works: Gender Equality by Design: Gender equality is a moral and a business imperative. But unconscious bias holds people back, and de-biasing people’s minds has proven to be difficult and expensive. Diversity training programs have had limited success, and individual effort alone often invites backlash. Behavioural design offers a new solution. By de-biasing organisations instead of individuals, individuals can make smart changes that have big impacts. Presenting research-based solutions, Iris Bohnet hands participants the tools they need to move the needle in classrooms and boardrooms, in hiring and promotion, benefiting businesses, governments, and the lives of millions. The event will take place on April 14th, 2016 in London, United Kingdom.

March 28th – April 3rd
Funding people-powered change: Whether overthrowing dictators in Tunisia or gaining marriage equality in Ireland, citizen activism creates change across the globe. How can we support people-powered movements? At this one-off breakfast roundtable US academic and author of How Organisations Develop Activists Hahrie Han will share her cutting edge research, demonstrating how organisations can best engage supporters to create change, grow, and sustain their effectiveness. Arranged by some of the UK’s leading campaigning organisations, and hosted by Barrow Cadbury, the event will be chaired by Rose Longhurst, from the Edge Fund. The event will take place on April 1st, 2016 in London, United Kingdom.

April 4th – 10th
Social Developments and young people: a UK-EU comparison: This Policy Network – Bertelsmann Stiftung seminar will be structured around the presentation of a new policy brief by Daniel Sage, lecturer at the University of West Scotland and research associate at Policy Network, which will compile the most relevant UK findings from the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Social Inclusion Monitor. The policy brief will focus specifically on the challenges faced by young people in the UK and on the policy options available at UK and EU levels to address them. As part of the ‘European Semester’ – the EU’s socio-economic governance framework – the UK government has, in the past few years, received specific recommendations touching upon issues such as the provision of childcare, vocational training and the NEETs phenomenon. The event will take place on April 7th, 2016 in London, United Kingdom.

April 11th – 17th
EAFA Spring Lunch: Early Action Task Force Update: This meeting of the Early Action Funders Alliance will hear from David Robinson, founder of the Early Action Task Force, and the driving force behind much of the most exciting current thinking and practice in the field of early action in the UK. The Task Force brings together senior leaders from across multiple sectors to make the case for a society that prevents problems from occurring, rather than one that waits to deal with the consequences. In this meeting David will reflect on what the Task Force has learned since its establishment in 2011 and share insights about priorities and opportunities in the next period as the urgency of finding workable policy and funding practices to promote early action becomes ever more apparent. The event will take place on April 12th, 2016 in London, United Kingdom.

April 4th – 10th
Alliance Breakfast Club on Philanthropy and Migration: The number of people forced to leave their homes has reached 60 million – a record high – with over 1.5 million crossing into Europe in 2015. This has created multiple and complex challenges for both people on the move and destination countries. Join Alliance magazine and the Barrow Cadbury Trust to discuss what philanthropy and foundations can and should be doing, drawing on over 30 pages of original writing from the March 2016 Alliance special feature. Those who wish to attend should email Sam Desborough sam@alliancemagazine.org. The event will take place on April 5th, 2016 in London, United Kingdom.

PORTLAND, US

April 25th – May 1st
Peace and Security Funders Group 2016 Annual Meeting: This year’s meeting, ‘Peace and Security in the Current Global Context,’ includes a dinner discussion with Erica Chenoweth; data from the group’s newly released mapping of peace and security funding; workshops on advocacy, rapid response mechanisms, and violent extremism; a hack-a-thon; working group meetings (Nuclear; Women, Peace and Security; and Locally-led Peacebuilding); and a debate on the use of military force to prevent or respond to conflict and atrocities and ensure peace and stability. The event will take place between April 26th-28th, 2016 in Portland, United States of America.

STOCKHOLM

May 23rd-29th
Good Pitch Europe: Good Pitch Europe returns to the Nordic countries, this time to the Swedish capital, Stockholm. The event connects social justice films with new allies and partners. The seven selected film projects examine the powerful forces pulling migrants towards Europe, take a closer look at rising ultra-nationalism across the continent, consider the trap faced by a repentant former jihadi wanting to return home, explore the social and legal challenges of transition from dictatorship to democracy, investigate the power and collusion of secret services, offer an unflinching look at the effects of domestic violence and provide a riotous challenge to assumptions around disabilities. The event will take place on May 24th, 2016, in Stockholm, Sweden.

THE HAGUE

October 2015 – December 2016
Collateral; the human cost of explosive violence in Ukraine: Every day, in armed conflicts around the world, the use of explosive weapons causes incredible harm to civilians. All too easily victims and the damage to their communities are pictured as collateral damage; a pitiful but inevitable side effect of war. Through the lens of photographer Dirk-Jan Visser, Collateral tells individual stories of Ukrainians who have become collateral damage through explosive weapons. The exhibition is a result of the cooperation between NGO peace organisation Pax and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). The exhibition is ongoing until December 31st, 2016, in The Hague, the Netherlands.

March 28th – April 3rd
HagueTalks: Reporting Peace Instead of War? With 15 journalists from all over the world, this event will focus on the important role of media in peace processes. What role do you have as a journalist? Can you report in service of peace, or does this affect your objectivity? And do you have influence at all, or does the media play a marginal role during peace processes? Writer and anthropologist Kara Blackmore and journalist Jan Roelfs will kick off the discussion with two talks. Then the floor is open for the 15 journalists and the rest of the audience to react and join this important dialogue on the role of media. The event will take place on March 30th, 2016 in The Hague, The Netherlands.

THESSALONIKI

June 20th-26th
Stavros Niarchos Foundation International Conference on Philanthropy: The aim of the conference is to bring together experts from the fields of academia and science, as well as foundations and institutions to present best practices on the developments within the wider field of philanthropy. The conference is addressed to representatives of foundations, non-profit organisations and institutions, as well as to all those who are interested in the role of philanthropy and social giving. This year’s theme will be developed around the areas of the Mediterranean and the Balkans, as a wide geographic region which is currently facing enduring and diverse geopolitical challenges. Distinct themes will be examined based on the Foundation’s four programme areas: Arts and Culture, Education, Health and Sports, and Social Welfare. Attendance in the conference is free, while pre-registration is required. The event will take place on June 21st and 22nd, 2016 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

VIENNA

April 25th – May 1st
Sustainable Development in Europe – Mercator European Dialogue: Mercator’s European Dialogue on Sustainable Development offers an opportunity for national parliamentarians to discuss together the best ways to make renewed progress on this vital issue. Participants will hear from experts about the very latest developments and the implications for policy makers. It will share information on strategies and approaches being adopted at a national level and will consider plans to place these within a positive European framework. The event will also look at how to strengthen political drive on this issue. The event will take place on May 1st, 2016 in Vienna, Austria.

ZAGREB

May 16th – May 22nd
Children of Prisoners Europe Annual Conference and Network Meeting 2016: The title of this year’s conference is: “Children with a parent in conflict with the law: What are their best interests? How can they be met?” Determining the best interests of children with imprisoned parents is not always straight-forward and further progress is needed in defining best interest standards. The conference will focus on defining children’s best interests when a parent is in conflict with the law, whether imprisoned, arrested or on trial, and ensuring that these interests are met through good practice and the development of child-focused prison schemes. This conference aims to shed light on this theme, helping to clarify what constitutes best practice and how this best practice can be promoted and implemented more widely. Speakers will include Judge Renate Winter, vice chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Margaret Tuite, Child Rights Coordinator at the European Commission, and Valentina Otmačić, President of UNICEF Croatia. The event will take place on May 20th, 2016 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Ariadne is supported by Adessium Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Ford Foundation, Oak Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Sigrid Rausing Trust and Zennstrom Philanthropies.

Ariadne is also supported by voluntary contributions from its participants

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