LEARN FOR yourself what it is like to be blind as part of a senses test, participate in simulation workshops, become a refugee fleeing her home as part of an online game or perhaps become an actor and change the outcome of a story, all as part of Celebrating Diversity Festival at the University of Nicosia this Saturday.
Participants have a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Mini or a Star 2 by participating in as many activities as they want with each activity counting as a single participation in a lucky draw.
“You are forced to experience racism through these games. It’s hard to put into words, you’ll understand when you play,” Cyprus Youth Council’s Maria Kaltsaki said.
In the European Union, one in three Europeans has witnessed discrimination and one in six has been an actual victim of discrimination in the duration of a year, according to a 2008 report.
About three in five Europeans feel that racism is widespread, the same report says.
“It’s easy to show violence such as what we saw at [Vergina] High School in Larnaca. However, it’s very hard to capture peace and co-operation and to write and explain what it means to have a high quality of life through diversity,” George Eliopoulos, press officer for the European Commission Representation in Cyprus said. He was referring to interracial violence when Greek Cypriot and Arabic-speaking students clashed in Vergina High School in Larnaca on February 16. The episodes resulted in minor injuries and police charges for five Greek Cypriots and one Palestinian student.
“Our contact with Difference is more intimate than ever,” said Kallia Kampanella from the Ombudsman’s office who added that in times of crisis, such as what we are experiencing now, discrimination is disanalogous against “those who are considered different.”
Discrimination is prohibited under EU regulation. Direct discrimination takes place when a person is treated unequally because of their race, ethnicity, religion or beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation. Indirect discrimination is more subtle since it involves cases that seem neutral but actually unfairly disadvantage people, e.g. by asking them to take a language test as part of an interview process when that skill is not necessary for the job position advertised.
Those dealing with discrimination who are looking for advice or help, should address complaints to the Ombudsman’s Office.
Celebrating Diversity festival will be ongoing from 11am to 10pm on Saturday. In addition to the scheduled games and activities, Cine Studio will be screening a documentary and films related to discrimination. There will also be photography and poster exhibitions as well as an outdoors graffiti mural.
For more information, visit University of Nicosia’s website at www.unic.ac.cy and click on their upcoming events link. To learn more about EU law against discrimination visit www.stop-discrimination.info.
