UN agency launches international coalition of cities against racism

An international coalition of cities against racism and discrimination is being launched today by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the World Forum on Human Rights in Nantes, France.

The new coalition brings together the world’s regional coalitions against racism under an initiative launched by UNESCO in 2004. The UN agency is calling on municipalities in each region to create networks of cities to improve their policies to fight discrimination and promote diversity, mutual respect and dialogue.

The goal is for each regional coalition to implement its own 10-point action plan to tackle discrimination specific to its region, covering areas such as education, housing, employment and cultural activities. In addition, the international coalition will invite municipalities outside the coalition to benefit from its platform.

A round table is being organized today in Nantes with representatives from the regional coalitions in Africa (Durban, South Africa), the Arab region (Casablanca, Morocco), Asia and the Pacific (Suva, Fiji), North America (Toronto, Canada) Europe (Nuremberg, Germany) and Latin America and the Caribbean (Montevideo, Uruguay).

They will discuss regional challenges cities have to address when they deal with racism and discrimination, concrete municipal action to implement the regional action plans, and obstacles they face during the process.

This year’s World Forum is dedicated to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Some 3,300 participants from 80 countries are expected.