Heidelberg says No to discrimination and social exclusion
Heidelberg is now a member of the UNESCO European Coalition of Cities against Racism
Heidelberg is now more committed than ever to combating discrimination, prejudice and social exclusion, and to helping its residents live together harmoniously. In 2015, Heidelberg joined UNESCO’s European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR). By joining the Coalition, Heidelberg has committed itself to the following ten-point action plan:
The ECCAR ten-point action plan
- To be more vigilant against racism, by setting up a monitoring and solidarity network in the city
- To assess racism and discrimination locally and monitor the city’s response, by setting up a system of data collection, establishing achievable objectives and setting indicators in order to assess the impact of municipal policies
- To provide better support to the victims of racism and discrimination
- To keep city dwellers better informed about their rights and obligations, protection options, and the penalties for racist behavior
- To promote equal opportunities in the labor market
- To be an equal opportunities employer and equitable service provider
- To take active steps to combat discrimination in connection with housing rental and sales
- To develop measures to ensure equal opportunities in all forms of education; to promote tolerance and understanding of different cultures through education
- To promote cultural diversity through the cultural programs, public spaces and life of the city
- To support or establish mechanisms for dealing with hate crimes and promoting conflict management.
Background
The UNESCO European Coalition of Cities against Racism, established in 2004, was born from the insight that discrimination starts locally, so must be tackled locally. UNESCO is currently working with more than 100 city authorities in 34 different countries in six world regions to develop locally-appropriate strategies for fighting racism. 21 cities in Germany have joined the European coalition, including Berlin, Celle, Cologne, Erlangen, Halle, Hanover, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg, Potsdam, Saarbrücken, Siegen and Wolfsburg.
Further information
European Coalition of Cities against Racism
Further information about "Help with discrimination"
