The Migrant Advisory Council
What is the Migrant Advisory Council?
The Migrant Advisory Council is an advisory committee of the Leipzig City Council (Stadtrat). It brings specific views and suggestions of migrants into local political discussions and has an influence on the decisions of the city council that affect the interests of migrants. There are nine regular meetings a year (Thursdays, 4-7 p.m.) and extra meetings as needed. The dates are available in the Council Information System (Ratsinformationssystem).
Formation and development of the Migrants Advisory Council of the City of Leipzig
The Migrants Advisory Council of the City of Leipzig was founded on 06.02.2009.
It consists of 22 members, six of whom are representatives of parliamentary groups and 16 of whom are migrants. The participants or their parents come from 15 different countries around the world. They are Spätaussiedler, nationalized, Representatives of the first and second generation of immigrants, foreigners with different status.
The office of the Advisory Council is the responsibility of the Department for Migration and Integration.
Contact: Andrea Pagani Ábalos
E-Mail: migrantenbeirat@leipzig.de
Milestones of the Migrants Advisory Council
September 2008
February 2009
March 2009
2010
March 2010
2011
September 2012
2013
2014
2015
April 2015
October 2015
December 2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
February 2019
September 2019
2019/2020
October 2020
March 2021
May 2021
June 2021
July 2021
Resolution 49th Council Meeting Nr. RB IV-1322/08 of 17.09.2008 (DS-Nr. IV/3429) on the foundation of the Migrants Advisory Council.
The Migrants Advisory Council constitutes itself on 06.02.2009 and establishes its rules of procedure.
Mr. Sergej Güttlein is elected as chairman of the Migrants Advisory Council, Mr. Chi Chinh Nguyen and Mr. Aiman Mubarak are appointed as representatives.
The Migrant Advisory Council is empowered to submit requests to the City Council (Stadtrat).
After the new election of the City Council (Stadtrat), there are also personal changes in the advisory council. On March 19, 2010, Ms. Marcela Lidia Zuniga Medina was elected as the new chairperson, and Mr. Hassan Zeinel Abidine and Mr. Chi Chinh Nguyen as their representatives.
Collaboration on the guidelines for the integration of migrants in Leipzig (Leitlinien zur Integration der Migrantinnen und Migranten).
Regular new elections of the chairman: Mr. Hassan Zeinel Abidine is elected as Chairman and Mr. Chi Chinh Nguyen as well as Ms. Yesim Sanli as his representatives.
Establishing the Advisory Council as an important part of the local political process - also through participation in other committees and working groups.
Realization of and participation in various events, for example in the context of the international weeks against racism.
The Migrant Advisory Council is actively involved in coping with the increased arrival of refugees and intensively advises the city council.
Reconstitution of the Migrant Advisory Council for the VI. Election Period on 22.04.2015. Chairwoman: Ms. Linda Ruth Coe, Representatives: Ms. Marcela Lidia Zuniga Medina and Mr. Özcan Karadeniz.
The Council meeting (Ratsversammlung) decides on 15.10.2014 at the request of the Migrants Advisory Council that a procedure for the indirect election of the Migrants Advisory Council should be developed. As a result, the working group "Election" is founded within the advisory council to support the process.
On 14.12.2015, Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Sethi is elected as the Chairman.
The Migrants Advisory Council submits numerous requests to the City Council, including the establishment of a Welcome Center for new citizens of Leipzig.
The Migrants Advisory Council initiates the series of events "Migration - Power - Society" with renowned experts.
One main aspect of its work is the integration of refugees in the labor market. For this purpose, the Advisory Council conducts intensive discussions with relevant stakeholders, such as the Job Center or the Employment Policy Department (Referat für Beschäftigungspolitik).
The Migrants Advisory Council regularly invites associations and initiatives that are part of the community of supporters in Leipzig to its public meetings. He also has regular exchange meetings with administrative departments, such as the Foreigners' Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) or the police.
10 years of the Leipzig Migrants Advisory Council.
After the new election, the Council meeting (Ratsversammlung) resolves to maintain the current composition of the Advisory Council in the VII. Electoral period. The new appointment is to take place only with the implementation of the new procedure for the establishment of the Migrants Advisory Council.
Several special meetings are held to work intensively on the procedure for the indirect election of the Migrant Advisory Council.
On 07.10.2020, the Council meeting (Ratsversammlung) adopts the negotiated procedure for the establishment of the Migrant Advisory Council in the VII. Electoral period, a combination of indirect election and appointment.
The election of the Migrant Advisory Council according to the new procedure took place on 29.03.2021 as an online election and determined 10 members.
At the Council Meeting (Ratsversammlung) of May 19, 2021, those elected in the online election were confirmed and an additional 6 members were appointed by the City Council.
The constitutive meeting of the Migrants Advisory Council took place on 17 June 2021.
On 15 July, the new chairpersons Mohamed Okasha and Francesca Russo were elected.
Members and tasks of the Migrants Advisory Council
A list of members and group representatives can be found in the city's council information system (Ratsinformationssystem). On the following page - The Members of the Migrants Advisory Council Leipzig - the members introduce themselves.
Responsibilities
The Migrant Advisory Council shall:
- To bring specific views and suggestions of migrants into local political discussions and to participate in their decisions
- Addressing the potential of migration as an enrichment for the city
- Create equal opportunities for participation in all areas of urban society
- Promote the acceptance of the majority population towards the migrants and their integration in a spirit of partnership
- Facilitate active participation in social, economic, political and cultural life
- Promote the inner bond with Leipzig and thus strengthen the democratic consistency of the municipality
- Draw up proposals and make requests
- Conduct public work
Dates, agendas and protocols of the Migrants Advisory Council
The dates, agendas and protocols for the meetings of the Migrants Advisory Council can be found on the page of the Council Information System (Ratsinformationssystem) of the City of Leipzig.