1st Quarterly, 2007 No.143
UNESCO's Coalition of Cities against Discrimination in Asia and the Pacific
Fujimoto Nobuki
HURIGHTS OSAKA
Toward an Inclusive Society
On 5-6 June 2007 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Municipality of Phnom Penh City and UNESCO held the first meeting of the interim Steering Committee of the Coalition of Cities against Racism and Discrimination in
Asia and the Pacific. The aim of the meeting was to further the implementation of initiatives.
The meeting was attended by representatives from cities that are signatories to the Statement of Intent for membership in the Coalition, in addition to experts and representatives from other concerned local governments and NGOs.
In the ten months since the creation of the Coalition, Statements of Intent have been signed by Bangkok (Thailand), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Suva (Fiji), Makati (Philippines), Matale and Kurunegala (Sri Lanka), United Cities and Local Governments - Asia Pacific Regional Section (UCLG-ASPAC), the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, the All India Institute of Local Self Government, and Incheon (Republic of Korea).
The meeting was opened by H.E. Kep Chuk Tema, Governor of the Municipality of Phnom Penh. The participants discussed several possible areas of thematic work that can be jointly carried out within the framework of the Coalition by sharing experiences and ideas for creating an inclusive urban society.
Understanding Racism in Asia and the Pacific
At the start of the meeting, a number of participants discussed changing the name of the Coalition. They stated that the term 'racism' is not well understood and that even the existence of racism is sometimes denied by many local and national government officials in some parts of Asia and the Pacific. They attribute the fact that many cities have not yet joined the Coalition to the negative image of the word 'racism' in its name.
A more positive name was proposed in line with this theory and, after an exchange of opinions amongst participants, the original name was changed by consensus from the 'Coalition of Cities against Racism and Discrimination in Asia and the Pacific' to 'Towards an Inclusive Society: Coalition of Cities against Discrimination in Asia and the Pacific'. However, the Coalition will retain its original Ten-Point Commitment for Asia and the Pacific.
As a part of a discussion on sharing experiences for creating an inclusive urban society, Mr. Josefa Gavidi, Deputy Mayor of Suva, Mr. Takashi Hashimoto from Sakai City (Japan), and Mr. Trac Thai Sieng, Vice Governor of Phnom Penh, gave presentations on their respective experiences and programs.
Commitment of the Cities
UNESCO launched the International Coalition of Cities initiative in March 2004 to establish a network of cities interested in sharing experiences in order to improve their policies to fight racism, as a follow-up to the United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (Durban, South Africa, 2001).
The initiative aims to bring cities around the world together through the Ten-Point Commitment to combat racism, discrimination and exclusion at the local level. The project calls for the establishment of regional coalitions in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Arab region. Each regional coalition is to be coordinated by a 'Lead City', and will be guided by its own regional Ten-Point Commitment. Member-cities are in turn expected to integrate the Commitment into their municipal policies as much as possible.
UNESCO believes cities are the places where the everyday meeting of differences sparks competition, clashing of interests and fears that feed the development of the ideologies and practices of discrimination. At the same time, cities are laboratories for coexistence and places for the exchange of beliefs, attitudes and lifestyles, which can contribute to new forms of democratic citizenship. UNESCO also addresses the fact that cities are ideal spaces within which to conduct struggles against racism and discrimination that facilitate effective implementation of the various instruments enacted by states.
The European Coalition of Cities against Racism was launched on 10 December 2004, with Nuremberg (Germany) as Lead City. The European Coalition already has about 70 member-cities. UNESCO established the Asia and the Pacific Coalition in August 2006, with Bangkok as Lead City.
Participants at the Phnom Penh meeting unanimously agreed that the Coalition would try to expand its membership at various opportunities, especially in October this year during the 2nd UCLG World Congress, Jeju 2007 in South Korea. More than 2,000 local leaders from 150 countries will attend the Congress to debate many issues related to local government. The Coalition of Cities against Discrimination in Asia and the Pacific will be officially launched on this occasion in close cooperation with UCLG-ASPAC.
Towards the Creation of an International Coalition of Cities against Racism
Aside from the Europe and Asia and the Pacific coalitions, the Coalition of African Cities, the Coalition of Latin American and Caribbean Cities, and the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities have also been established over the past two years. Preparatory work is also underway in the Arab Region.
UNESCO is planning to launch the International Coalition of Cities against Racism during the 3rd World Forum on Human Rights to be held in France, in July 2008.
Commitment
no. 1: Assessing Racism and Discrimination and Monitoring Municipal Policies
no. 2: Providing Political Leadership at the City and Community Levels to Address Issues of Discrimination and Exclusion
no. 3: Promoting an Inclusive Society
no. 4: Strengthening Support for the Victims of Racism and Discrimination
no. 5: Facilitating Greater Participation and the Empowerment of City Dwellers through Access to Information
no. 6: Promoting the City as an Equal Opportunities Employer and Service Provider
no. 7: Promoting the City as an Active Supporter of Equal Opportunity Practices
no. 8: Challenging Racism and Discrimination through Education
no. 9: Promoting Cultural Diversity
no. 10: Preventing and Overcoming Racist Incitement and Related Violence
(For more information visit www.unesco.org/shs/citiesagainstracism)
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