A MAJOR event taking place in Stormont next Saturday will bring together politicians, political parties and people from migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds from across Northern Ireland.
NILGA has been working in partnership with the MME Thinktank and the Northern Ireland African Caribbean Leadership Consortium (NIACLC) to organise the day of discussion, data and debate.
The event will be held in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings on September 14 to coincide with the International Day of Democracy on a Sunday September 15 and just ahead of Good Relations Week 2024.
A spokesperson for the organisers said, “Further to the recent disturbances across Northern Ireland, Ireland and other parts of the UK it has become ever more apparent that visible participation and representation, are vital components in our efforts to build a united and inclusive society.”
Delegates will hear from a range of speakers in an interactive agenda designed to build understanding and confidence in the political system and key participants. There will be time and space for networking and informal discussions as well as more formal information provision and exhibitions, specifically in relation to encouraging voter registration, encouraging voting in elections, encouraging interested people to stand for election in local council, Assembly, Westminster elections, encouraging participation in political parties.
All the political parties in Northern Ireland have been contacted, with participation from elected representatives expected.
“There will be in-depth discussion with some of the current MME elected representatives, recent MME candidates and others to look at why people from MME communities should get involved in politics and to learn from experiences to date,” the organisers added.
For catering and security purposes, registration is essential: https://shorturl.at/cHgQE
We at the North West Migrants Forum are running a free bus to the event in Stormont. To book a seat, email Conor directly at c.sharkey@nwmf.org.uk
(Photo source: NI Assembly website)