INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTRE KURDISTAN

IMCK and STATT conducted a second workshop of a day on Feature writing in Erbil, on June 7, 2012, with Goran Sabah (in the picture) as one of the trainers, and Khaled Suleiman as the other  Around 12 journalists took part, to learn how to make a feature story, and at the same time be informed about the different aspects of illegal immigration. The theme of the workshop is 'leaving home', as many young Kurds decide to go to Europe to find a better life. Many now get stranded because asylum is only available for those who are in real danger. Information about the subject was provided by specialists from UNHCR and STATT.

June 6, IMCK started in cooperation with STATT two workshops on writing feature stories on illegal migration. The first workshop is held in Sulaymaniyah. Fifteen journalists attend the workshop. On June 7 the second workshop will take place in the capital of Kurdistan, Erbil. Many young people in Iraqi Kurdistan want to leave the country. But as visas are hard to come by, many use smugglers and buy passports with a visa. This illegal migration has many bad consequences. Both for the host countries and maybe even more for the illegal migrants. Besides the risk of being detained and deported, people risk to be trafficked for exploitation. Men and women can end up in illegal prostitution or laboured slavery. Therefore IMCK wants to inform Kurdish journalists about the problems. STATT is involved by providing experts on illegal migration, which provide the background information and expand the knowledge of the participants on the subject. Issues like data on illegal migration fro...