Challenges and Advantages of Changing National Diversity – Key Themes of the International “iN’25: Integration and Inclusion Forum”
The Department of National Minorities under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, in cooperation with the British Council in Lithuania, is organizing the international event iN’25: Forum for Integration and Inclusion on 22–23 May in Vilnius.
The two-day international event will bring together a broad network of professionals
For the first time, a two-day forum dedicated to celebrating the Day of National Communities will convene policymakers, representatives of NGOs and the public sector, academics, media specialists, and experts from Lithuania and abroad to discuss the rapidly evolving challenges related to national minorities, migration, and cultural diversity.
The event will feature discussions on migration, media narratives, policy visions, and social cohesion. There will be a policy debate on ethnic diversity in Lithuania and the prospects for integration.
A wide range of topics — from inclusive civil society to media narratives and diversity & inclusion opportunities
The iN’25 Forum will feature presentations by top experts from Lithuania and abroad:
– Dr. habil. Elżbieta Kuzborska-Pacha, Senior Legal Advisor at the Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), will speak about the growing culture of an inclusive civil society in Lithuania and how it strengthens a shared civic identity and state security.
– Dries Depoorter, Belgian artist and creative technologist, author of projects exploring digital privacy and surveillance culture, will deliver a thought-provoking presentation on the challenges of the digital society: “The Art of Surveillance, Dying Phones, and Fake Likes.”
– Simona Plienaitytė-Mikaliūnienė, representative of the British Council in Lithuania, will present effective measures for increasing inclusion and integration, drawing on the British Council’s experience.
– Dr. Justin Lane, founder of CulturePulse AI, who works on AI-driven solutions for predicting social cohesion and monitoring media narratives, will speak about global media trends and the potential of AI in analyzing public discourse.
– Dr. Monika Frėjutė-Rakauskienė, head of the Ethnic Studies Division at the Institute of Sociology, Lithuanian Social Research Centre, will present the unique features of Lithuania’s ethnic composition and insights from national census data.
At the invitation of the forum organizers, Professor Bridget Kendall — Cambridge University professor, renowned British expert on diplomacy and international politics, and long-time BBC journalist who has extensively covered Russia and Eastern Europe — will also visit Lithuania. She will take part in a panel discussion on immigration-driven changes and the necessary public policy responses to manage them.
Experts from Lithuanian research institutions, NGOs, media, and public institutions will also join the iN’25 Forum discussions:
– Eugenija Kovaliova (Ukreate Hub)
– Narmin Aliyeva (SPEAK Lithuania)
– Dr. Karina Firkavičiūtė (Lithuanian Karaim Cultural Community)
– Dmitrij Moskovtsev (Integration Foundation of Estonia)
– Ernest Alesin, head of the Association of Ethnic Minority Media in Lithuania
– Assoc. Prof. Dr. Viktor Denisenko, Vice-Minister of Culture
– Oleg Jerofejev (Delfi.RU)
and others.
Cultural program highlights — Berlinale film screening and Vilnius Roma histories
In addition to presentations and discussions, participants will be invited to attend creative workshops and cultural events.
Milda Varanauskaitė will lead a storytelling workshop “How Sharing Our Stories Builds Inclusion” (in English), exploring how personal experiences can help create an inclusive society. Cédric Raffier will present the methodological approach of Vilnius Social Club on intercultural inclusion through sports (in Lithuanian).
There will also be a screening of the film “Letters from Wolf Street”, which debuted at the 2025 Berlinale Festival, at Pasaka cinema, and a guided tour of the exhibition “AMARÈ DŽIIPENÀ. The Roma Stories of Vilnius” at the Vilnius Museum, led by educator Agnieška Avin.
We invite you to take part in the iN’25: Forum for Integration and Inclusion on 22–23 May in Vilnius, at the Novotel Hotel (Gedimino Ave. 16).
Participation is free, but registration is required by 15 May: https://bit.ly/registracija_i_iN25_forum.
More information and the full program: https://inforum.lt.
Events across Lithuania marking the Day of National Communities
The iN’25: Forum for Integration and Inclusion is one of the key events commemorating the Day of National Communities in Lithuania. On the eve of the forum, 21 May, a formal celebration organized by the Department of National Minorities will be held at St. Catherine’s Church in Vilnius, where distinguished representatives of national minorities and public figures will be honored.
On 25 May, the Lithuanian Open Air Museum in Rumšiškės will host an event featuring representatives of Tatar, Jewish, Karaim, Polish, and Roma communities. The event will showcase the heritage of national communities, offer insights into the history of ethnic groups in Lithuania, and feature live music. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore highlights of the museum’s Jewish heritage in the town exhibit.
On 23–24 May, the 13th International Festival “Day of National Cultures” will take place at Theatre Square in Klaipėda. The festival will feature a cultural fair of national communities, educational pavilions, performances by various ethnic artistic groups, a festive concert dedicated to Simon Dach, and a traditional plov (pilaf) cooking competition.
21 May marks the Day of National Communities in Lithuania. The origins of this celebration date back to 2001, when UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. A year later, 21 May was proclaimed by UNESCO as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, and in 2013, the Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania declared 21 May the Day of National Communities, emphasizing the country’s commitment to preserving the distinctiveness, diversity, freedom, and cooperation of all ethnic groups living in Lithuania.