PROGRAMME

 Regional Seminar
of the Vienna NGO Committee on the Family
in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry
for Social Security and Generations

 Strengthening the Role of 
Family-Oriented Non-Governmental
 Organizations in the Baltic States

Sigulda ,  Latvia
Hotel Vejupe, Televizijas iela 19

19. - 23. October  2001

Friday 19th October 2001

13:00-15:30	Registration
	and preparation for display of NGO materials

Chair:  Peter Crowley, Rosa Anna Weiss

16:00	Opening of the Seminar 
Welcoming  addresses  by
Leonids Mucenieks, Coordinator,Union of Latvian Large
Family Association
   	Peter Crowley, Chairperson, Vienna NGO
	Committee on the Family
Ziedonis Maulins, Parliamentary Secretary of the Minister of Welfare 
of the Republic of Latvia   
Rosa Anna Weiss, Head of Division, Federal Ministry for Social 
Security and Generations, Austria

16:15	Introduction: Objectives and methods of the seminar
	Agota Benkö, Vienna NGO/CEEC Working Group

16:30	Plenary:
	Family Policy in the Baltic Countries in the context 
of  their national integration processes and in their role as                            
candidates in the European Union Consultation Process
Panel: Ziedonis Maulins,  Ministry of Welfare, Latvia 
Helle Gerth, First Councillor, Delegation of the European  Commission, Latvia
M.Ainsaar, Office Minister of Population Estonia, 
P.Leiskalns, Association of Big Families of Jurmala, Latvia, N.Arbaciauskiene, Elderly Woman´s Associations, Lithuania 
L. Kalibataite, International Kolping Society, Lithuania
.

17:30	Discussion

18:30	End of 1st Day

19:30	Social Evening at Sigulda Manor-House

Saturday  20th October 2001

 	Chair: Angele Kostogriziene, Peter Crowley

9:00	Plenary:
Work of the 39th Session of the UN Commission for 
Social Development and Introduction to the 10th
Anniversary of the International Year of the Family  2004                                           
	Rosa Anna Weiss, Federal Ministry for Social Security 
	and Generations, Austria 

Discussion

9:45	Work and cooperation of family-oriented NGOs on
 	local, national and international level                                                            
Presentation of "Best Practices", local and national level– 
Estonia: H. Kalmer, Union Large Families Estonia,
I. Jacobson, Tallinn Triplets Family Club
Latvia: B.Dreize, Large Family Association” Dekla”, 
I. Karsa, Valmeira District Woman´s Union (ACWW),
L. Mucenieks, Union Latvian Large Family Association 
	Lithuania: D.Jakuboniene, Vilnius Society of Large Families,
R. Navikaite, Lithunanian Children´s Fund
				
Contributions from the floor

11:15			Coffee break    
   
11:45	Presentation of "Best Practices", international level:
EU/NGO Project: Agatha Sering, World Family Organisation, WFO
NGO Project from Hungary, Agota Benkö, National Association 
of Large Families, NOE
                                      
12:15	Discussion

13:00		Lunch

16:00	Workshops:
	Strategies for effective NGO contributions to the civil 
dialogue and for participation in sectorial networks   
Moderators: Agathe Sering, WFO Europe
Agota Benkö, NOE, Hungary  

18:00	Group reports

18:00	End of 2nd Day  

Sunday   21st October 2001  (All sessions at Latvia TV Station, Riga)

Chair: Leonids Mucenieks, Peter Crowley

8:30	Bus leaves for Riga

10:00	Plenary:
The role of media and international communication
systems in family policy decisions and in support
of family-oriented NGOs    
Panel:  Helle Niit, Ministry of Social Affairs, Estonia
Arvids Babris, Program Director, Latvian TV
Inga Paparde, ”Neatkariga Rita Avize”
Ieva Dimitricenko, Lattelekomportal Apollo
                                          
Discussion

12:00	Lunch

13:30	Workshops:
Skills for using media and international 
communication systems
Trainers: A.Babris, I. Paparde, I. Dimitricenko	

16:00	Group reports and information exchange

16:30	Visit to Old Riga   

Monday   22nd October 2001  

Chair: Hytt Kalmer, Peter Crowley 

 10:00	Plenary:
International funds as support for 
projects in international cooperation
Panel:  Gunita Kakteniece, BDA Baltica LTD (PHARE) 
Rosa Anna Weiss, Federal Ministry for Social
Security and Generations, Austria (DAPHNE)
Inguna Dobraja, World Bank Latvia Country Office
Daiga Holma, UNDP Latvia                                                    

Discussion

12:00	Lunch

13:00	Visit to Turaida Castle

16:00	Workshops:
Development of joint projects.
	Natalija Baskirova and Sandra Priede, BDA Baltica LTD  

 19:00	Supper

19:45	Groupwork: Development of joint Projects Proposals

21:00	End of 4th Day

Tuesday  23rd October 2001

Chair: R.A Weiss, Peter Crowley

09:00	Presentation and Analysis of Project Proposals
Natalija Baskirova and Sandra Priede, BDA Baltica LTD  

11:00	Coffee Break

11:15	Plenary:
Proposals for future cooperation
Reports from the NGO groups from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania                                            

12:00	Summary and closing of seminar

12:30	Press Conference for Latvian media 

			Lunch / Departure