Municipalities

In times of growing globalisation and urbanisation, municipalities play a key role in ensuring that all their citizens, regardless of their nationality, ethnic, cultural, religious or social origin can lead a life in dignity, security and justice.

Today half of world’s population lives in urban settlements and in 25 years time this figure will have risen to two thirds, in Europe to 80 per cent. In other words: The future of societies takes place in cities.

For it is in the cities that people of different national or ethnic origin, cultural and religious affiliation live together in close proximity, and it is mainly the cities which are confronted with deep economic and social changes in a more and more complex world, leading to multiple forms of xenophobia, racism and discrimination. Global phenomena often have their roots and their impact in people’s immediate surroundings, in the microcosm of their neighbourhood.

In recent years, a significant increase in anti-democratic and racist attitudes can be observed. In particular, racial and xenophobic attitudes take dramatic and crisis-driven mechanisms against "foreigners". In Germany for example, more than 30 % of the population agrees to following statements: "Foreigners come to take advantage of the welfare state", with scarce jobs "should send foreigners back to their homes." Reports from other European countries confirm this terrifying development.

With this knowledge in mind, UNESCO in 2004 launched a municipal initiative with the aim of creating a worldwide network of cities against racism – the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR). Meanwhile, 104 municipalities from 22 European countries have joined this network .

The City of Nuremberg implements the idea of human rights as one of its corporate visions of local policies.

Human rights are a public matter – and the public can be an effective champion of human rights; this is true, both internationally and on the local level. Here too the media can and should make a considerable contribution to the protection of human rights. The urbanization however means for the media, that local reporting may also increase in importance. Reports about seemingly “minor” conflicts in the social environment can have a direct influence on the dynamic of living together. Therefore the media play a special role in combating racism and discrimination.

Panelists:
Joachim Hauck
Editorial Director of "Nürnberger Nachrichten", Germany

Hans Hesselmann
President of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR), Germany

Martina Mittenhuber
Head of the Human Rights Office of the City of Nuremberg, Germany

Susanne Stemmler
Editorial Staff Member of "Nürnberger Zeitung", Germany