Third Intercultural Forum: Immigration and the World Financial Crisis, New Scenarios and New Strategies

Third Intercultural Forum: Immigration and the World Financial Crisis, New Scenarios and New Strategies
Santo Domingo, 12/22/2010

With the goal of promoting intercultural dialogue and focusing on development that will benefit transnational families, You, Women’s Association  (Tú, Mujer) organized the International Day of the Immigrant as part of the Third Intercultural Forum: Immigration and the World Financial Crisis, New Scenarios and New Strategies.

Ms. Sánchez also read the Third Intercultural Forum’s declaration pertaining to the global financial crisis and the experiences and strategies being felt and undergone by immigrants living abroad.

This activity was part of the Gender Emigration and Co-Development program undertaken by Tú, Mujer, which promotes social intervention and political advocacy to provide quality information to those who are vulnerable in the face of illegal trafficking of immigrants.

In her keynote speech, the Association’s Director Cristina Sánchez said the program exists because the Dominican Republic is advancing in the development and implementation of modern immigration laws that take into account the needs, interests and contributions that come from the Diaspora as well as families living in the DR. It also seeks to promote joint development projects with countries where Dominicans are living abroad. 

Ms. Sánchez also read the Third Intercultural Forum’s declaration pertaining to the global financial crisis and the experiences and strategies being felt and undergone by immigrants living abroad.

The document expresses the need for simple, fair and humane solutions for national and foreign immigrants as well as solutions to problems that affect the poorest families not just in the area of material needs but also in the area of human rights.  

Complaints from immigrants include being made fun of or satirized which can put them at risk in the countries where they reside and where immigration may not be regarded as a complex social and global fact and part of the current structure of the world.  Jokes about immigrants express xenophobia and racism and are even used as political fodder churned out by politicians seeking public office.

A cooperation agreement was signed at the forum between the Mothers Volunteer Corps of Spain and the You Women’s Association.

The Forum, which initially began in 2008 as a pilot program in the Guerra and Bayaguana communities, does a variety of community outreach projects including: analysis and distribution of information, photographic exhibitions of migrants and transnational families, introduction of small business products, local food tasting events, documentary and other film showings, providing information and offering orientation sessions for safe migratory experiences. 
In addition, it arranges living and experience exchange programs, reflections, folk music and other traditional cultural expression.

Hundreds of migrant families and visitors in the DR attended the event as well as people who had returned from living abroad. The event was held in the Juan Pablo II Park on Venezuela Avenue in Santo Domingo East.