2025 May 22-23

iN'25: Integration & Inclusion Forum

Novotel Hotel, Gedimino Ave. 16, Vilnius

The Department of National Minorities under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, in cooperation with the British Council in Lithuania, organised the international conference “iN'25: Integration and Inclusion Forum” in Vilnius on May 22–23. The event brought together over 30 speakers and 200 participants from Lithuania and abroad, covering 12 relevant topics related to national minorities and integration.

The two-day iN'25 Forum attracted more than 200 participants

“For the past few years, we have been living in a new reality of cultural and ethnic diversity. It not only presents new challenges that we must overcome, but also creates new opportunities we can embrace. That is why UNESCO’s call on May 21 to harness diversity for progress is highly relevant — both today and for our Forum,” said Dainius Babilas, Director of the Department, in his opening remarks at the iN'25 Forum.

The thematic diversity of the iN’25 Forum covered a wide spectrum – from building an inclusive civil society to media narratives, challenges of social cohesion, policy visions, and the opportunities of artificial intelligence in the context of integration. Insights were shared by top experts in their respective fields: Dr. habil. Elżbieta Kuzborska-Pacha, Senior Adviser at the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities; international speakers Dries Depoorter and Dr. Justin Lane; academics Dr. Monika Frėjutė-Rakauskienė and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laura Kamandulytė-Merfeldienė; Simona Plienaitytė-Mikaliūnienė from the British Council in Lithuania, data strategist Vilūnė Kairienė and Jolita Gestautaitė from the Migration Department.

The iN’25 Forum discussions featured international experts Prof. Bridget Kendall and Dmitry Moskovtsev; representatives of ministries Assoc. Prof. Dr. Viktoras Deniseko and Laura Perevičiūtė; journalists Ernest Alesin and Oleg Jerofejev; academics Dr. Gintaras Šumskas, Dr. Andrius Marcinkevičius, Dr. Karina Firkavičiūtė, and Dr. Auksė Balčytienė; as well as NGO leaders Eugenija Kovaliova and Narmin Aliyeva. Political debates included participation from Edita Rudelienė, Dalia Asanavičiūtė-Gužauskienė, Laurynas Šedvydis, Dalia Girskienė, and Tomas Tomilinas. The discussions were moderated by Živilė Kropaitė-Basiulė, Karolis Vyšniauskas, Rasa Tapinienė, and Aleksandra Ketlerienė.

Interactive workshops on inclusive identity building were led by Milda Varnauskaitė and Cedric Raffier.

In his speech, the Director of the Department, Dainius Babilas, highlighted the importance of the themes discussed at the Forum – migration and integration perspectives, media narratives, political vision, social cohesion, and ethnic diversity in Lithuania – by stating: “Today, cultural diversity is an element of security and resilience, while inclusion and integration, which we are advocating for here at the Forum, are tools of our strength. Exactly six months ago, Lithuania adopted the Law on National Minorities. It opens up new opportunities to empower national minorities – not only to preserve their most valuable asset, their identity – but also to help support those who have newly arrived in Lithuania.”

Those who could not attend the iN’25 Forum in person were able to follow both days of live broadcast via the Department of National Minorities’ YouTube channel, Facebook and LinkedIn pages, as well as the official website www.inforum.lt. Participants also had the opportunity to ask questions to speakers via the SLIDO app.

Photo gallery

Video recording of the first day of the iN'25 Forum:

Video recording of the second day of the iN'25 Forum:

About iN'25: Integration & Inclusion Forum

What?

The Department of National Minorities under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the British Council for the first time organised 2-day international conference, that was titled “iN'25: Integration and Inclusion Forum,” was dedicated to addressing the rapidly evolving challenges related to national minorities, migrants, and cultural diversity.

When?

The iN'25 Forum, which took place on May 22–23, brought together experts and professionals working in the fields of national minorities, migration, and human rights, as well as international partners, representatives of Lithuania’s ethnic communities, media representatives, public administration specialists, politicians, and decision-makers in Vilnius, at the Novotel Hotel (Gedimino Ave. 16).

Why?

The Forum was dedicated to the Day of National Communities, celebrating in Lithuania on May 21, and was part of a series of events marking this occasion. The celebration began on May 21 at 3:00 PM with a ceremonial event at St. Kotrynos Church, during which individuals who had made outstanding contributions to the cultures of national minorities were honored. The list of award recipients can be found HERE. The photo gallery of the celebration - HERE.

iN'25 FORUM PROGRAM

Welcome coffee and registration

08:30 - 09:00

2025 May 22 d, Thursday

09:00 - 09:20

Forum Opening and Welcome Remarks

Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas

Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Lithuania Liz Boyles

Director of the Department of National Minorities Dainius Babilas

Director of the British Council in Lithuania Ona Marija Vyšniauskė

09:20 - 09:45

From inclusion to participation: A Pillar of Successful Minority Policy

Dr habil. Elżbieta Kuzborska-Pacha, Senior legal Advisor, OSCE HCNM

09:45 - 10:00

Social Cohesion and Cultural Diversity in Numbers

Jolita Gestautaitė, Head of the Immigration Division of the Migration Department

10:00 - 10:25

Prof. Bridget Kendall MBE Hon FBA, University of Cambridge

Peculiarities of Ethnic Composition: What the Lithuanian Population Census Data Reveals

10:25 - 11:30

Discussion: Changes Driven by Immigration and Necessary Measures

Dr. Monika Frėjutė-Rakauskienė, Head of the Department of Ethnic Studies at the Institute of Sociology, Lithuanian Social Research Centre (LSRC)

Eugenija Kovaliova, Ukreate Hub Lead, Open Lithuania Foundation International Projects manager

Narmin Aliyeva, „SPEAK Lithuania“ founder

Laura Perevičiūtė, Head of the Foreigners’ Integration Unit of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania

Discussion moderator: Karolis Vyšniauskas, NARA

11:30 - 12:00

Inclusive Education in a Multicultural Environment: Integration of Incoming Children in Lithuanian Schools

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laura Kamandulytė-Merfeldienė, Head of the Department of Lithuanian Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, Vytautas Magnus University

12:00 - 13:00

13:00 - 14:30

14:30 - 15:00

15:00 - 15:30

Lunch

Political Debate: Ethnic Diversity in Lithuania – A Political Vision for Immigration and a Multicultural Society

Edita Rudelienė, Liberals Movement

The debate will be moderated by Rasa Tapinienė, journalist and TV presenter.

Coffee Break

15:30 - 17:00

Successful Communication – What Measures Enhance Inclution and Integration?

Simona Plienaitytė - Mikaliūnienė, British Council Lithuania, Project Manager

18:30 - 19:30

17:00 - 17:10

Discussion: Between integration and Assimilation – Experiences, Expectations and Fears of National Minorities

Dmitrij Moskovtsev, Director of Integration Foundation Estonia

Dr. Karina Firkavičiūtė, Head of the Lithuanian Karaim Cultural Community

Oleg Jerofejev, Delfi.RU Editor

Dr. Andrius Marcinkevičius, Head of the Institute of Sociology at the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, and Chief Researcher at the Department of Ethnic Studies

The discussion will be moderated by Živilė Kropaitė

Closing remarks of the First Day of the Forum

19:30 - 21:00

Informal networking, refreshments

Cafe La Boheme, Šv. Ignoto str. 4, Vilnius

Cinema Theater „Pasaka“, Šv. Ignoto str. 4/3, Vilnius

Inconvenient Films: Screening of “Letters from Wolf Street”

Evening Program

2025 May 23, Friday

09:00 - 09:30

09:30 - 10:30

10:30 - 11:00

14:00 - 14:30

14:30 - 15:30

15:30 - 16:00

Welcome coffee and registration

Surveillance Art, Dying Phones and Fake Likes

Dries Depoorter, Speaker and creative technologist

From Heroes to Threats: What Do Narratives About National Minorities Reveal?

Vilūnė Kairienė, Mediaskopas, Data Strategist

Discussion: Propoganda Wars for the Minds and Hearts of Lithuania’s National Minorities

Dr. Auksė Balčytienė, Professor at the Department of Public Communication, Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy, Vytautas Magnus University

Ernest Alesin, Head of the Association of Ethnic Community Language Media in Lithuania

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Viktor Denisenko, Vice Minister of Culture

The discussion will be moderated by Aleksandra Ketlerienė, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of LRT.lt

Lunch

Inclusive Identity Formation Workshop

Storytelling Workshop by Milda Varnauskaitė: "How Sharing Our Stories Builds Inclusion" (in English, without translation)

Presentation by Cédric Raffier: “Intercultural Inclusion Through Sport: The Methodological Approach of Vilnius Social Club” (in Lithuanian, without translation)

Coffee Break

Global Media Monitoring and AI for Forecasting Societal Cohesion

Dr. Justin E. Lane, CulturePulse AI, CEO, Co-Founder

Closing Remarks and Forum Conclusion

Presentation of the Exhibition “AMARÈ DŽIIPENÀ. The Stories of Vilnius Roma”

16:30 - 17:30

Vilnius museum, Vokiečių str. 6, Vilnius

The tour will be led by Agnieška Avin, project coordinator and educator at the organization “Padėk pritapti” (Help to Belong).

EVENTS DEDICATED TO THE DAY OF NATIONAL COMMUNITIES