The E.MAlumni and EIUC are happy to announce the following events:

-        The launch of the new website on 5 May 2010 at: www.emalumniassociation.org. Primarily designed to serve as a networking tool for the Alumni of the E.MA Programme, the website also offers services of general interest such as statistics on graduates and an open forum on human rights and democratisation issues.

-        The organisation of the Inaugural Meeting of the E.MAlumni Association on Friday, 21 May 2010, hosted by the European Commission in Brussels (Centre Albert Borschette  - Rue Froissart, 36 – Room  AB0A). The meeting will start with welcome speeches by Prof. Horst Fischer (EIUC President); Mr. Rolf Timans (European Commission – DG RELEX B – Head of Unit “Human Rights”) and Ms. Sari Suomalainen (European Commission – DG AIDCO F2 - Head of Unit “Central Management of Thematic Budget Lines PA RELEX”). The morning session will be devoted to a Seminar on Human Rights Defenders. Keynote speeches will focus on “The EU Support to Human Rights Defenders” by Mr. Alessio Cappellani – (European Commission – DG RELEX – DDG1 Human Rights) and on “An NGO perspective on the Human Rights Defenders” by Mr. Vincent Forest – (Front Line - Head of European Union Office). Five experienced E.MA graduates will on their own experiences in the field of Human Rights Defenders in the concluding round table. Afterwards Mr. Sanel Huskić (President of ACIPS - The Association Alumni of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies - Sarajevo) will introduce ACIPS as an example of a successful Alumni Association. The E.MAlumni Association General Assembly will take place in the afternoon. (Download the draft programme of the day here).