Second HROMADA conference
Strengthening Ukraine: Sharing knowledge for a sustainable future
Riga, 24 October 2024
Registration (Will open SOON)
Programme
09:30-10:00 Registration
10:00-10:30 Welcome and introductory speeches
Gundars Bērziņs, Rector, University of Latvia
Unni Kløvstad, Nordic Council of Ministers
Anne Pintsch, University of Agder
10:30-11:00 Keynote speech
11:00-12:00 Panel I: Ukraine’s European integration: main challenges and mutual learning
Ukraine’s European integration takes place in a turbulent context. This panel aims to address main challenges it faces in this process. The European Union has tightly linked Ukraine’s rebuilding and accession, among others through the adoption of the Ukraine Facility. The ongoing war, however, makes the prospects of accession uncertain, with unclear consequences for the country’s recovery. Even in the case of a rapid opening of accession negotiations, state capacity to absorb rebuilding and reform funding and to govern the corresponding processes may remain major obstacles on Ukraine’s path to the EU. Another urgent question is how to combine Ukrainian ownership of the rebuilding process with the top-down nature of EU conditionality. Finally, the 27 EU member states need to unanimously agree on further enlargement and take the necessary preparatory measures. The panel will discuss the state of Ukraine’s EU accession and the related challenges from various perspectives. In doing so, it will explore which experiences of the Nordic and Baltic EU member states can be utilized for Ukraine, but also shed light on what Nordic and Baltic EU member states can learn from Ukraine in terms of deepening European integration.
More information will follow soon.
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:00-14:00 Panel II: Ukrainian refugees in the Nordic and Baltic countries: strengthening Ukraine, changing our societies
While much attention has been focused on the help Ukraine and Ukrainians need, what is often overlooked is how Ukrainian refugees themselves take an active role in supporting Ukraine and each other. Moreover, receiving Ukrainian refugees has left an important mark on the societies in the Nordic-Baltic region: it has awakened solidarity and civic activism to a nearly unprecedented level, and contributed to important changes at the political and societal level. In this panel we would like to focus on the countless inspiring examples that show how Ukrainians not only receive, but also actively contribute to our collective future and give back to their host societies. We will also discuss how the integration of Ukrainian refugee scholars into Nordic-Baltic research communities strengthens our countries’ Ukraine scholarship and the knowledge about Ukraine in our societies.
Confirmed speakers
More information will follow soon.
Karolis Zibas, Integration Officer, UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic countries
Rūta Dimanta, Chair of the Board of Ziedot.lv
14:00-15:00 Panel III: Mental health: how Nordic and Baltic countries can support Ukraine’s people
In the midst of war actions and turmoil, the mental well-being of individuals is often overlooked but crucially important. This panel is dedicated to shedding light on the often-unseen aspect of warfare—the impact it has on the mental health of individuals, families, and communities in Ukraine as well as to how the Nordic-Baltic countries can contribute to the mental health building in Ukraine. The panel aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of mental health during the war in Ukraine and postwar time. It will delve into the psychological toll of living in a conflict zone, the trauma experienced by civilians, the challenges faced by mental health professionals, and the resilience and coping mechanisms that emerge amidst adversity. Drawing from the experiences of survivors, mental health experts, and humanitarian workers on the ground, the panel seeks to raise awareness, foster understanding, and encourage support for those affected by the war. By amplifying voices, sharing stories, and advocating for mental health resources and support systems, “Resilience Amidst Adversity” strives to contribute to a greater understanding of the importance of mental health care in times of crisis.
More information will follow soon.
15:00-15:30 Coffee Break
15:30-16:30 Panel IV: Wartime education for Ukrainian children: challenges and best practices at home and abroad
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has resulted in various disruptions in education for Ukrainian schoolchildren. They range from physical destruction of infrastructure in case of children based in Ukraine to the challenge of integrating into school systems of host countries. Government and non-government stakeholders in Ukraine and EU countries have applied multifaceted efforts to address these issues, by financing the rebuilding of damaged facilities and building underground schools in Ukraine and offering language courses and assistance for displaced children abroad. Which of these practices have worked out, and which not? How can the needs of Ukrainian schoolchildren in Ukraine and abroad be addressed in a more coherent and comprehensive way? How can the Ministry of Education of Ukraine and foreign partners ensure that displaced children preserve their language skills and connection to Ukraine? What are the best ways to address war trauma in schools? And finally: how can the Nordic and Baltic states contribute to better access to education and mental health for Ukrainian children?
Confirmed speakers
Anna Novosad, Co-founder of SavED Ukraine, former Minister of Education of Ukraine
Nataliya Yeremeyeva, Senior Adviser, European Wergeland Centre
Søren Sindberg Jensen, Associate Professor, University of Southern Denmark
16:30-16:45 Break
16:45-18:00 Film “Where is your home, Winston?”
Introduction by Olga Filippova, University of Eastern Finland and HROMADA working group leader
18:00 End of the conference
19:00 Conference Dinner
Where?
University of Latvia, Riga
Lauvas iela 4