18. April 2023

3. Migration policy discussion evening

Pride … nothing to hide?

When love is punished.

Individual sexual orientation and identity are not accepted everywhere in the world.

This migration policy discussion will focus on the topic of LGBTQI* as a reason for flight. It's also about how people feel when they have fled to Germany because they don't know how they should and are allowed to deal with their orientation/identity here. People who flee from countries where homosexuality is punished or where a reorientation of sexual identity leads to social exclusion must first build trust in Germany. Although they are protected by our legal system, the host society does not always make it easy to find a liberated self-image.

For most refugees for these reasons, it is less stressful that the legal system criminalizes their orientation than that their closest relatives, such as parents or siblings, do not accept them as they are.

The head always remains in the home country. You can't get rid of mentality and culture.

The discussion will be moderated by Gina Niemeier from WDR.

The aim of our series of events is to bring experts, interested citizens and those affected into a dialogue with migration society.



When: Tuesday, April 18, 2022 at 6 p.m

Where: Villa B, Höferstr. 37, 42551 Velbert

01. September 2022

2. Migration policy discussion evening

Mother, father, child... Who actually belongs to the family?

The aim of our series of events is to bring experts, interested citizens and those affected into a dialogue with migration society.

Our panel guests examined the image of the family in Germany and interculturally from the various perspectives of politics, science, administration and the church and questioned it in the context of migration law. The topic also touched on the problem of bringing in Afghan local workers after a year of Taliban rule. After the technical contributions, the guests were warmly invited to make their own contributions or ask questions to the panel, which were also gladly accepted.

The following panelists were invited:

Unfortunately, a representative from the Ministry of Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Flight and Integration was unable to come.

Hermann Weische (specialist lawyer for migration law1) couldn't come, so Ass. Jur. Dörte Frisch represented himAndré Schuster (GGUA Münster)

Prof. Dr. Dirk van den Boom (political scientist)

Reinhard Leistner (theologian)

The discussion was moderated by Gina Niemeier from WDR.

July 4, 2022

1. Migration policy discussion evening

Are Ukrainians first class refugees?

Just injustice? ...or... How racist is the German legal system?

Of course, all eyes are currently on Ukraine because of Russia's brutal war of aggression. There are already around four million Ukrainians on the run within Europe. On the other hand, the number of refugees worldwide has reached a new peak. According to UNHCR, the number of refugees worldwide has exceeded 100 million. Many of these 100 million are also on the run because of armed conflicts.

The Ukrainian refugees enjoy a special right in Germany that other refugees do not have. You can take up employment immediately, move into your own apartment immediately, receive paid German courses immediately and receive social benefits immediately. Refugees from other countries must first submit an asylum application, which usually takes more than 18 months to process. During this time they have to stay in mass accommodation and are systematically cut off from integration, language learning and work.

We ask ourselves why the quick, unbureaucratic admission process does not apply to all refugees, because no one leaves their country, leaves everything behind and gives up their usual life and social structures without a reason.

We comply with the demands of the North Rhine-Westphalia Refugee Council: "We welcome the fact that all people fleeing Ukraine are now allowed to enter Germany without a visa and are generously welcomed here. With the "temporary protection" according to Section 24 of the Residence Act, they can easily receive one Residence permit, can freely choose their place of residence and are not subject to a work ban. This would not have been possible under the conditions of the asylum system, which is based on control and deterrence. There is currently a political will to enable refugees from Ukraine to be admitted as unbureaucratically as possible. This should now apply to all those seeking protection: "The discriminatory Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, the assignment to certain municipalities and long-term accommodation in camps cannot be expected of anyone. Such harassment must finally be abolished for all refugees!" explains Mara Hasenjürgen from the Brandenburg Refugee Council. Accommodation in mass accommodation must only be temporary. States and districts must now make greater efforts to provide decentralized accommodation in order to ensure social participation for all refugees from the start make possible."

The following panelists were invited:

Prof. Dr. Arian Schiffer-Nasserie (Ev. Hochschule Bochum, migration researcher)

Dominik Hüging (GGUA), Ali Ismailovski (Refugee Council NRW) Tatjana Kuschtevskaja (Ukrainian author)

The discussion was moderated by Gina Niemeier from WDR.

When: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 6 p.m

Where: Hixholzer Weg 22, 42551 Velbert

on the premises of BBZ Altenkirchen GmbH & Co. KG