| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| Round Table - International Coalition of Cities against Racism |
|
| |
|
 |
|
World Forum on Human Rights - 2nd Edition |
Events 62 of 110
The International Coalition of Cities against Racism is an initiative launched by UNESCO in March 2004 to establish a network of cities interested in sharing experiences in order to improve their policies to fight racism, discrimination and xenophobia. The international conventions, recommendations or declarations elaborated at an upstream level need to be ratified and implemented by the States. At the same time, it is extremely important to involve actors on the ground including the victims of discrimination, to make sure that those instruments are applied to respond to concrete problems. UNESCO chose cities as the privileged space to link upstream and downstream actions. As policy-makers at a local level, city authorities have a key role in creating dynamic synergies. The ultimate objective is to involve the interested cities in a common struggle against racism through an international coalition. In order to take into account the specificities and priorities of each region in the world, regional coalitions have been set up with a specific programme of actions for each.
The European Coalition of Cities against Racism is the first step towards the International Coalition and has finalised a ten-point Plan of Action. In July 2004, in very close cooperation with the city of Nuremberg (Germany) as the “lead city” in Europe, UNESCO organised a meeting with experts. Sent by such cities as Barcelona, Krakow, Paris, Saint Denis, Stockholm and Nuremberg, these NGO representatives or researchers discussed the potential points to take into account in the Plan of Action. This one is composed of ten commitments covering the various areas of competence of city authorities, such as education, housing, employment and cultural/sports activities. It suggests in particular some examples of practical policies that city authorities may complete or develop. The signatory cities will then undertake to integrate this Plan of Action in their municipal strategies and policies and will involve the various civil society actors in its implementation. At the moment, similar initiatives are being set up in other parts of the world, with coalitions in Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to be created in 2006 and in the Middle-East in 2007.
To face the increasing presence of racist and discriminatory feelings all over the world, it has become urgent to analyze and provide collective and pedagogical information on how the “leader cities” in each region try to tackle the problem and which initiatives and actions they have developed.
This round table discussion will feature mayors and representatives of the “leader cities” for each regional coalition against racism and discrimination. They will present their experience and discuss openly and comparatively the various strategies and initiatives in their respective regions.
Speakers:
Moderator:
• Mr. Marcello Scarone, Programme Specialist, Struggle against Discrimination and Racism Section Division of Human Rights, Human Security and Philosophy Social and Human Sciences Sector UNESCO
Other Speakers:
• Mrs Delphine Bouffenie, representative of the mayor of Nantes, in charge of integration
• Ms. Maria Sara Ribero, director of social development programs, Montevideo, Uruguay
• Mr Obed Mlaba, Mayor of eThekwini – Durban, South Africa
• Ms. Maria Grjasnow, delegate of the Cultural Bureau (Kulturbüro) in Dresden, Germany
• Ms. Angeles Carnaceo, Observatory against racism of the city of Madrid, representing Mr. Alberto Ruiz Gallardon, mayor of Madrid.
• Ms. Shirlay Franklin, mayor of Atlanta, USA (subject to confirmation)
• Mrs Sabiha Ahmine, representing Mr Gerard Collomb, Senator and Mayor of Lyon, Deputy mayor, in charge of citizens’ rights and their integration
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Start Date |
13-07-2006 |
| Start Time |
3:00 pm |
| End Date |
13-07-2006 |
| End Time |
6:00 pm |
| Event Type |
Round Table |
| Event Location |
Room 450 - International Convention Center of Nantes, Nantes, France |
| Website (URL) |
http://www.forum-droitsdelhomme.org |
| Organizer |
Marcello Scarone |
|
|
| Email |
m.scarone@unesco.org |
|
|
|
|
|
 Email this page  Printable version
|
|
|
|
