ENAR is the only pan-European anti-racism network that combines advocacy for racial equality and facilitating cooperation among civil society anti-racism actors in Europe. The organisation was set up in 1998 by grassroots activists on a mission to achieve legal changes at European level and make decisive progress towards racial equality in all EU Member States. Since then, ENAR has grown and achieved a great deal.
ENAR s responsible for leading the advocacy work central to REIs. Within the scope of the project, ENAR (i) advocates for refugee access to higher education in partner countries (Hungary, Austria and the UK) as well as Europe generally; (ii) advocates at national and EU level on the question of the recognition of refugee qualifications; (iii) produces policy papers in consultation with the partners on refugee education issues; (iv) works with RAI and OLIve students (through internships at ENAR and/or training sessions at partner universities) to transfer tools and skills for advocacy on behalf of refugee populations (v) leads fundraising efforts for the project so that it may continue beyond 2 years; (vi) promotes REIs’ best practices at EU and national level or through the media through articles/position papers/working papers/etc; (vii) be the first point of reference at REIs for the media, particularly as a way of addressing/ changing dominant narratives on refugees and migrants.
ENAR’s advocacy work aims for the following results:
- Further and renewed emphasis by EU on the Lisbon Recognition Convention (regarding recognition of refugee and migrant education qualifications)
- Earmarked scholarships for refugees either at university, national or EU level
- National funds in Hungary, Austria and UK placed towards integration of refugees including through higher education
- Significant changes in the national and european media and policy narrative on refugees and migrants
- Significant growth in the capacity of our students to advocate on their own behalf for policy change.