Cities Promoting
Equality and Solidarity

Racism and discrimination are global phenomena. No country or region can claim to be free of them. Europe is no exception: In recent years, these social ills have again increasingly shown their contemptuous and inhumane effects throughout our continent. People who are particularly vulnerable to racism and discrimination include Sinti and Roma, members of African, Jewish and Muslim communities, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and other national, ethnic or religious minorities. And in many European countries extreme right-wing and populist parties, groups and politicians propagating racist and xenophobic ideologies are gaining influence. They proclaim the inequality of human beings, portray immigrants and other minorities as a threat and thus promote the politics of fear.

In 2009, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights published a survey which reveals that racism and racially motivated violence, discrimination and harassment against ethnic minorities and immigrant groups are far more widespread in the European Union than recorded in official statistics. This survey as well as the reports of other organisations document that for millions of people across the continent, racism and discrimination are a daily experience. These are alarming developments. The struggle against racism, discrimination and exclusion has, therefore, become one of the main challenges Europe is facing today.

Yet, we have made progress in recent years. The legal basis for enforcing equal rights for all in the European Union is much better now than it was in the past. However, we still need to make sure that people are aware of their rights, and that these rights are put into practice for all. In this respect, much remains to be done. And here, the local authorities come in. Cities play a particularly important role in combating racism and discrimination effectively. Since they have become a focus of ethnic and cultural mixing, they are therefore a prime area to counteract inequalities and make fundamental rights a reality for all.

The General Conferences of the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism (ECCAR) offer an  opportunity for municipal policy-makers and employees, for experts and representatives of civil society organisations to discuss key challenges in the struggle against racism and discrimination at a local level in Europe and to work out strategies to promote equality in diversity. These conferences are intended to pool knowledge on racism and discrimination and to share experience as well as good practices, to develop a research-based approach to decision-making and practice, and to build partnerships at a local level.

The 2010 General Conference hosted by the City of Uppsala in Sweden is focussed on the question how local authorities can counteract racism and discrimination on the basis of ECCAR’s Ten-Point-Plan of Action and promote the development of an inclusive urban society based on equality and solidarity. The conference programme includes a Round Table and five working groups. The Round Table provides an opportunity to draw a picture of the current situation regarding populist racism in European cities and to discuss strategies how to counteract this troubling development. Three working groups will deal with main challenges cities are facing today, as for example the question how municipalities can co-operate with other local stakeholders in the struggle against racism and discrimination, and how to combat discrimination in health care treatment for persons without a health insurance, particularly with regard to people without a legal residence status. Two further working groups are intended to strengthen ECCAR’s co-operation with young people and nongovernmental organisations.

The organisers cordially invite European cities, civil society organisations and all interested persons to participate in and contribute to this conference in Uppsala.

Dr. Hans Hesselmann
President of ECCAR


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