During 7 years the "Forum ..." implemented a number of important activities and projects, promoting the creation of organized migration movement in the Russian Federation.
From 1996 to 2001 the UNHCR and IOM were the "Forum"’s constant partners. Thanks to their financial support the following activities were implemented:
Four all-Russian Migrants’ Conferences in Moscow (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001);
Network of uniting conferences of migrants in the following Russian regions: Tver, Vladimir, Ekaterinburg, Lipetsk, Oryol, Stavropol, Belgorod
"Migrants- are not a burden but a blessing for an accepting region" (Smolensk)
"Regulation of migration processes in border regions" (Orenburg)
Round Tables:
"How can migrants renovate free military stations/towns?" - Kaliningrad
"How to effectively assist forced migrants from Chechnya" - Krasnodar
Seminars:
Strategic Planning
Fundraising
Creation of coalitions in defense of mutual interests (with the help of the National Democratic Institute, USA)
Dissemination of information among migrants’ NGOs
Production/business activities of public organizations
Seminar series on business activities and creation of business-incubators together with the Ministry of Anti-Monopoly Policy
Projects promoting self-help activities among migrants, sponsored by other foundations
"Model of Creation of Public Migrant’s Organization" (1997, Eurasia Foundation);
"Strengthening and Developing the Network of Migrants’ Organizations" (1998-2000, TASIS);
"Founding Public Assistance Centers in 4 Oblasts of the Russian Federation: Belgorod, Astrahan, Samara oblasts, Krasnodar region" (1999-2000, National Endowment for Democracy);
Training of the Team of Conflict Managers (1999-2000, Liberty Road program of the Swiss Embassy)
Projects aimed at development of the information network
Creation of the Information Network of the "Forum" (1997-1998, Soros Foundation);
Internet Project (1999, Eurasia Foundation);
Attracting Attention of the Regional Mass Media Outlets to Migration Problem (1999, joint funding of the UNHCR and Soros Foundation);
Information Agency "Migration" (IAM) (2001, joint funding of Soros and Canadian Embassy).
Major Events
I. Forum-1996, Parliamentarian Center - 78 representatives;
II. Forum-1998, Conference Hall of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation - 150 representatives (financial support of the UNHCR and Know How Foundation, UK);
III. Forum–2000, Conference Hall of the Federation Union of the Russian Federation- 250 representatives (financial support by the UNHCR and European Commission, TASIS Program)
IV. Forum-2001, dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the "Forum of Migrants’ Organizations", took place at the Ministry of Federation. President of the RF Vladimir Putin and the Chief of State Duma Mr.Seleznyov sent their congratulations to the "Forum".
V. All-Russian Urgent Congress in Support of Migrants (2002) was initiated by the "Forum of Migrants’ Organizations", but became an example of collective action. Parliamentarians, famous scholars, representatives of such well-known organizations as Memorial, Moscow Helsinki Group, Peacekeeping Center and others worked in the initiative group- Organizing Committee.
Among the sponsors of the Congress were: the Swiss Embassy and Embassy of the Netherlands (MATRA Program), IOM and (for the first time!) political parties "Yabloko" and "Soyuz Pravykh Sil" (SPS).
500 delegates took part in the Congress. Among them: ministers, parliamentarians, representatives of the President’s Administration and Government of the Russian Federation (State Department). The main result of the Congress was a creation of the State Commission on Migration Policy. The leader of the "Forum of Migrants’ Organizations" Lidia Grafova is a member of the Commission.
