The following questions highlight LISI indicators which the partner agencies feel are the most problematic.  They are the areas in which we would most like feedback from others in order to make the indicators in the LISI report as clear as possible, and accurately reflect positive social inclusion.  We hope by your responses to generate discussion on social inclusion among stakeholders. Your comments will help shape the final determination of the legal indicators and are an essential component of the project.

For the following questions please respond either yes or no, and add additional comments as you feel are necessary.  If you wish to forward us your answers and /or comments, please send us an e-mail at one of the addresses listed under contacts. Thank you.

 

1. Does your organisation or department deal specifically with the social inclusion and integration of third country nationals (TCNs)? 
   Yes [  ] No [  ]
   
   Comments:
   
   
   
2. Some organisations view gender issues as distinct from the general issues of social inclusion facing TCNs.  Women face extra discrimination both within their own ethnic communities and from the general population of the country to which they have migrated. To address this 'double discrimination' many organisations have treated gender as a separate issue from their work on the social inclusion of migrants. Others believe that viewing gender as a separate category only exacerbates the divide between women and men in the TCN population.
   
   Are gender issues treated separately by your organisation or department?
   Yes [  ] No [  ]
   
   Comments:
   
   
   
3. There is disagreement over changes in the legal system would best address the social inclusion of migrants. However it has been widely agreed that a clear and transparent legal system would facilitate the integration of TCNs.  Many have advocated that the main step in improving integration is providing the public and TCNs especially, with greater information about how to access the legal system.  By working with NGOs to spread information in migrant communities about how the law works, TCNS will better be able to obtain the legal help they need.
   
   Do you feel that having programs in place in migrant communities to spread information about the legal system is the most effective way of increasing TCN access to the legal framework surrounding social inclusion?
   Yes [  ] No [  ]
   
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4. There has been some diversity of opinion over the cultural traditions which have the potential to create divisions between TCNs and others in the host country, such as wearing a headscarf in schools.  Some feel that these visible differences do not work against social inclusion, and in fact help the TCNs to feel more comfortable in the country in which they have now settled.  On the other hand it has been argued visible differences should be eliminated as the best way to further social integration and that integration into the general population is the best way to overcome discrimination and promote social inclusion.
   
   Do you feel that there should be legal provisions which allow for cultural diversity in your country?
   Yes [  ] No [  ]
   
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5. The current target groups in the LISI report are migrant workers, ethnic migrants, asylum-seekers, refugees and seasonal workers.
   
   Have all of the relevant target groups been included in the indicators?
   Yes [  ] No [  ]
   
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6. Access to social benefit programs such as public housing, health care and social security has been seen as a matter of paramount importance to the TCN community.  Having access to such benefits can dramatically improve the quality of their life within the country of residency.  Based on the importance of these benefits, many see looking at the access of the migrant community to these programs as the best way tangible way of measuring the social inclusion of TCNs.  However it has also been suggested that examining access to benefits is not the best way to measure social inclusion because many TCNs do not take advantage of such programs.
   
   Do you believe that measuring access to social benefit programs such as public housing, health care, and social security is the most effective way of measuring social inclusion of TCNs?
   Yes [  ] No [  ]
   
   Comments:
   
   
   
7. There is debate about whether the availability of second language/mother tongue classes in schools aids the social integration of TCNs, or whether it might lead to greater separation between TCNs and the rest of the population. On the one hand, separate classes help migrant students learn the language of their relatives, developing their identity and eventually their capacity to integrate in the host community. On the other hand, providing TCNs with classes away from the rest of the school population makes integration more difficult as it marks a clear divide between children. It also does not encourage them to adopt the language of the host country as quickly as they might otherwise have done, which might then make it harder for them to adjust in the long term.
   
   Do you believe the availability of second language/mother tongue classes in schools is a positive indicator of social inclusion?
   Yes [  ] No [  ]
   
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8. Some groups have advocated for more positive coverage of TCNs in the media, believing this will lead to greater social acceptance.  It is felt that the media have a great ability to influence the current public attitudes, and that with a better portrayal of TCNs, the general public will become less hostile towards the idea of social inclusion.
   
   Do you believe that the media coverage in your country gives a positive perception of TCNs?
   Yes [  ] No [  ]
   
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9. Voting rights for TCNs have been described by some as extremely important for creating feelings of social inclusion because this assures them an active voice in the running of the country in which they live.  Participating in the political process of the host country is said to lead to greater feelings of social inclusion and greater ties with the country to which they have migrated.  However other groups working with TCNs feel voting rights are less important than gaining equal opportunities and social benefits and prefer to concentrate their attention to these matters.
   
   Do you feel that voting rights for TCNs is important for encouraging social inclusion?
   Yes [  ] No [  ]
   
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10. While there is general anti-racial discrimination legislation in place in some countries in Europe, there have been many suggestions made that this is not enough to insure social inclusion and integration and that a complaints body or ombudsman is required to ensure compliance.  Others have said that by publicising the laws a better integrated society will be come about by creating equal opportunities for TCNs and a complaints body is not needed, only greater information being made available to the public.
    
    Do you believe that it is necessary to have a complaints body or ombudsman to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination laws?
    Yes [  ] No [  ]
    
    Comments:
    
    
    
11. There is some diversity of opinion on whether permitting dual citizenship is a positive move towards social inclusion.  Permitting dual citizenship has the benefit of not forcing TCNs to choose between their country of origin and their host country.  On the other hand it may be the case that permitting dual citizenship acts against social integration because TCNs do not fully integrate into the society in which they now reside by keeping strong ties with their country of origin and may reflect a wish on policy makers that they eventually return to their country of origin.
    
    Do you believe that allowing TCNs to keep dual citizenship is a positive indicator of social inclusion?
    Yes [  ] No [  ]
    
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12. In some countries there exists the common perception that the loss of residency for committing a civil offence is justifiable.  There is the belief that the need to maintain law and order in a democratic society outweighs the rights of migrants to maintain their residency.  This perception has been stretched to include loss of residency for administrative offences such as bankruptcy. However, others argue that residency bestows rights which cannot be taken away by the committing of a civil offence.
    
    Do you believe that loss of residency for committing a civil offence is justifiable?
    Yes [  ] No [  ]
    
    Comments:
    
    
    
13. There is a debate about the merits of immediate family reunification of TCNs upon arrival into the host country.  Some believe this encourages greater social integration of the entire family, and that having the TCN cut off from the rest of the family leads to greater disaffection with the entire society.  On the other hand it has been said that it is better to wait until the residence and livelihood of the TCN who has first migrated to the receiving country is established as this would lead to greater stability for the arriving family.
    
    Do you believe that immediate family reunification upon the arrival of the TCN into the host country result in greater social integration of the TCN and their family?
    Yes [  ] No [  ]
    
    Comments:
    
    
    
14. Many groups working with TCNs advocate the mixing of populations from different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds as a way of promoting social inclusion.  They fear that developing minority enclaves in areas such as public housing will lead to minority ghettos.  Others believe that mixing of populations will only lead to strife among groups, especially on contexts such as public housing.
    
    Do you feel that mixing of populations from different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds is a positive indicator of social inclusion?
    Yes [  ] No [  ]
    
    Comments:
    
    
    
15. There is much debate about what would be the most effective way of implementing legislation that promotes the social inclusion of TCNs.  Having a monitoring system that ensures the implementation of legislation that promotes social inclusion would be one way of addressing this problem.
    
    Is the existence of a monitoring system the most effective way to promote social inclusion of TCNs?
    Yes [  ] No [  ]
    
    Comments:

If you wish to forward us your answers and /or comments, please send us an e-mail at one of the addresses listed under contacts. Thank you.

The LISI Project has received funding from the European Commission.