In times of global crises and socio-political tensions, it is not only important to think about democracy and human rights education, but also to stand up for them. Standing up for these values can be practised in many different ways. People can stand up for the freedom and rights of individuals and groups of people and show solidarity with them or position themselves against inequalities that create and/or stabilise power and violence. In addition, democracy and human rights education offers the opportunity to renegotiate concepts such as freedom, justice and human dignity from a decolonial perspective and to emphasise the importance of solidarity in the fight against institutional and structural violence and inhumane practices and events. Both numerous historical and current events show how right-wing extremist, right-wing populist and nationalist ideologies not only characterise the present, but are also deeply rooted in patterns of thought that despise human rights and global inequalities. These ideologies call into question central elements of democratic and solidary societies and contribute to social divisions. Against this background, the series of lectures deals with the question: How can solidary and emancipatory practices and structures act as a guarantor for existing human rights and democracy and what framework conditions are necessary to safeguard them?

The series of lectures is aimed from an interdisciplinary perspective at students, teachers, those responsible for education, multipliers and all interested parties and takes place in co-operation with the Oldenburg State Theatre, the Institute for Protestant Theology and Religious Education and the Church and Society Co-operation Centre of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Oldenburg at CORE Oldenburg (Heiligengeiststraße 6-8, 26121 Oldenburg). Registration is required for participation at cmc.sekretariat@uol.de

Profile: Suspicious?

Racial profiling as institutional racism

Racial profiling is not just the misbehaviour of individual police officers, but a symptom of deep-rooted, institutional racism structures. For many racialised young people, police checks without suspicion are part of everyday life. Racial profiling contributes massively to social criminalisation: The constant public visibility of checks on certain groups reinforces racist knowledge and the image of the 'criminal other' in society. The input lecture will shed light on the mechanisms behind racial profiling and analyse how this form of institutional racism directly affects the educational sphere. It will be shown that the criminalisation of young people does not remain an external police matter, but rather challenges the self-image and mission of educational institutions at their core.

Here, the practical workshop aims to open up a space for reflection for educational staff and develop strategies that enable an active dialogue with pupils about this practice.

As is usual in the practical workshop "Pedagogical Professionalism and Diversity Awareness in the Migration Society", the topic will be approached together with people from practice and science on the basis of a concrete case and options for action will be developed together.

Dr Fatoş Atali-Timmer, research associate at the Centre for Migration, Education and Cultural Studies (CMC) at the University of Oldenburg, will provide the academic perspective in a short keynote speech.

Who is the practical workshop aimed at?

The event is aimed at educational staff, for example in schools, in social (counselling) work and in youth and family support.

Who organises the practical workshop?

The practical workshop is organised by the Office for Immigration and Integration, Integration Department, of the City of Oldenburg in co-operation with the Center for Migration, Education and Cultural Studies (CMC) of the University of Oldenburg.

Where and when does the practical workshop take place?

The event will take place on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 2-4 p.m. at the University of Oldenburg (Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118). The room will be announced in good time before the event. Registration by email to praxiswerkstatt migration@stadt-oldenburg.de

https://www.oldenburg.de/startseite/leben-umwelt/soziales/integration/integrationskonzept/handlungsfeld-bildung-und-arbeit/praxiswerkstatt-rassismuskritik.html