Democratic cities against racism

Address by the Mayor of Matale Hilmy Mohamed at the Regional Conference of Cities for Inclusive Urban Society, Bangkok Thailand - 2-4 August, 2006.

SPEECH: The international of coalition of cities against racism is an initiative launched by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2004 to establish a network of cities interested in sharing experience in order to improve their policies and strategies to counter racism, xenophobia, discrimination and exclusion for greater urban social inclusion.

There is a need for international conventions, recommendations and declarations elaborated at the upstream level to be ratified and implemented by the States. At the same time, it is extremely important to involve these on the ground, to make sure that these international and national instruments are applied and that they respond to concrete problems.

UNESCO has chosen cities to be the privileged space linking upstream and downstream actions. The role of city authorities as policy-makers at the local level is considered key to creating dynamic synergies to address problems of racism and discrimination, and to promote human rights.

The fight against racism and discrimination has been at the heart of UNESCO's mandate since its very creation. For 60 years UNESCO has successfully mobilized academic and scientific communities to join this struggle.

By far, the most important instrument, developed through UNESCO, to address this social ill is the Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice, adopted in 1978. It is a milestone in the development of international normative instruments in this area and remains a key reference point for UNESCO in the struggle against racism.

Objective of the Coalition

This network aims at involving cities in a common struggle against racism through an international Coalition. During the first phase of this initiative, regional Coalitions are being created in Africa, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Arab States, Europe and Asia and the Pacific.

The objective is to take into account the special contexts and priorities of each region. Under the coordination of a "Lead City" each regional Coalition will have its own Plan of Action composed of ten commitments.

The cities that become signatories to the Coalitions will agree to integrate the Plan of Action into their municipal strategies and policies. An International Coalition federating the six regional coalitions will be launched in 2007.

The European Coalition of cities against Racism was established in December 2004 with the City of Nuremberg (Germany) acting as the Lead City for Europe. Some of 50 cities including Barcelona, Berlin, Grenoble, London, Madrid and Stockholm, have already joined the Coalition. As for Asia and the Pacific, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Thailand, has agreed to act as the Lead City for the region.

A Regional Expert meetings, "Commitment of Cities Against Discrimination: Defining a Ten-point Plan of Action for an Inclusive Urban Society in Asia and the Pacific," took place on 27-29 October 2005 under the auspices of the MBA and UNESCO. The Coalition for Asian and the Pacific is planned to be officially launched in 2006.

Why do we need to unite against racism and discrimination?

Regardless of its origin and form, racism raises barriers against the development of its individual or group victims, corrupts those who practice it, and divides communities and nations. It is a serious threat to peaceful coexistence and exchange between communities that share the same space, and it imperils democratic and participatory citizenship.

Racism entrenches and aggravates inequalities within societies. In vies of the deep mental roots of racial prejudice inherited from the history and the persistence of discriminatory practices, the struggle against racism and discrimination is a long-term effort. It demands regular updating of anti-discriminatory strategies and policies, along with coordination at international, national, regional and local levels.

What can be done?

The struggle against racism and discrimination must be conducted on several fronts:

* Prevention and positive action: raising awareness, and educating citizens about mutual tolerance, respect of cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, peaceful coexistence, human rights and democratic citizenship;

* Monitoring and vigilance: collecting data and developing relevant indicators in order to assess discriminatory situations and policy impact;

* Empowerment: supporting victims in their efforts in affirming, organising and defending themselves;

* Mediation: arbitration, explanation, awareness raising and reconciliation;

* Punishment: reinforcing administrative and judicial mechanism, and uncompromisingly prosecuting racist acts.

The essential role of city authorities

Undergoing rapid processes of globalisation and urbanisation, cities are playing an increasingly important role in civil society and their responsibilities towards city dwellers are intensifying. The cultural landscape is characterised by its diversity of dwellers from diverse origins. Cities today are more than ever at the heart of the reality of cultural diversity.

Cities have become the main focus of ethnic and cultural mixing and are home to an ever-greater number of foreigners, from all parts of the world, seeking freedom, work, knowledge and opportunities to exchange. Cities are the places where the everyday meeting of differences sparks competition, clashing interests and fears that feed the development of the ideologies and practices of discrimination.

At the same time, cities are laboratories for learning to live together, a place for an exchange of beliefs, attitudes and styles of life, which can contribute to new forms of democratic citizenship.

These dynamic intercultural encounters are the element that generates a positive impact on city life. They are an ideal space within which to conduct a struggle against racism that facilitates effective implementation of the various instruments enacted by States.

Many countries have adopted decentralization policies, which enable local authorities with the autonomy of decision-making, the means of intervention and the networks of support that can facilitate innovative and effective initiatives against racism in close iteration with the citizens. Local authorities thus have the capacity to launch brave and innovative initiatives that can be effective against racism on the ground.

Local authorities, especially at city levels, play a key role in mobilizing forces, even in areas that do not fall within their administrative competent for the implementation of anti-discrimination policies that can make a real different.

For these reasons, UNESCO has chosen cities as the privileged place for creating positive dynamic synergies in people's every day lives. The long term objectives of the coalition of cities against racism and discrimination in Asia and the Pacific is to provide local authorities with and Operational Programme that will allow a more efficient implementation of policies for a greater social inclusion of their city dwellers in the full respect of their human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political economic social cultural and any other field of public life.

Through a series of consultations, a ten point commitment relevant to the region is being elaborated, compost of "Ten Commitments" covering different areas of competence of local authorities such as education, culture, housing and employment. The signatories will commit themselves using their range of political power to counter at racism and discrimination though the implementation of the ten commitments.

Each signatory will be responsible for establish coordinating and or implementing the local policies against racism and discrimination. This will be based in particular, honour consultation process with those subjected to racism and discrimination as well as in close collaboration with actors of civil society. (NGOs, academics associations, etc.)

The coalition aims at providing a worldwide platform for exchange and solidarity.

A series of seminars, research and information exchanging activities have been proposed so that member municipalities can meet do discuss and exchange ideas and experiences, think and act together.