The International Coalition of Cities Against Racism is an initiative launched by UNESCO in 2004 in Nuremberg (Germany) and acts as umbrella organisation of the world’s regional Coalitions of Cities Against Racism.

Considering cities as places where people from various backgrounds come together, and local authorities as privileged actors to fight racism and discrimination, the
ICCAR called on municipalities in each region to create networks of cities interested in sharing experiences to improve their policies to fight discrimination and promote diversity, mutual respect and dialogue. Each regional coalition implements its own ten-point action plan - covering areas of competence of city authorities such as education, housing, employment and cultural activities - to tackle discrimination specific to its region.

On 30 June 2008 UNESCO organised a meeting with representatives from the regional coalitions of Africa (City of Durban, South Africa), the Arab region (City of Casablanca, Morocco), Asia and the Pacific (City of Suva, Fiji), North America (City of Toronto, Canada), Europe (City of Nuremberg, Germany) and Latin America and the Caribbean (City of Montevideo, Uruguay).  They established the „International Coalition of Cities Against Racism“ and adopted the „Nantes Declaration“.