4th General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Coalition of Cities against racism, discrimination and xenophobia

The 4th General Conference of the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) Coalition of Cities against Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia is organised in the framework of UNESCO’s 70th anniversary celebrations, together with the UN International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024 and the launch of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Against this backdrop, the LAC Coalition of Cities invites its members to discuss strategies to achieve a stronger and sustainable network of local governments to develop and implement effective public policies against all kinds of discrimination. It will also be an opportunity to strengthen inter-regional cooperation between cities through platforms including the International Coalition of Cities against Racism (ICCAR). In this context, the participation of the President of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR) in the LAC Meeting will provide an important opportunity to exchange good practices to face today’s new and challenging situations.

It is expected to receive around 15 cities from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, and also welcome the representation of European cities from ECCAR.

This important event of the LAC Coalition of Cities will take place in different venues in Buenos Aires: Complejo Cultural Manzana de las Luces (Buenos Aires), Casa de la Memoria y la Vida (Mansión Seré, Municipio de Morón), Villa Ocampo (Beccar, Buenos Aires). It is sponsored by UNESCO, Montevideo Government, Municipality of Morón, Municipality of Quilmes, Centro Internacional para la Promoción de la Democracia (CIPDH), with the participation of the Human Rights Committee of Mercociudades and the European Coalition of Citis against Racism (ECCAR). The Conference will also be supported by CLACSO, RIOOD (Red Iberoamericana de Organismos y Organizaciones contra la Discriminación) and Viila Ocampo.

The Coalition of Latin-American and Caribbean Cities against Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia was launched on 25 October 2006 on the occasion of the First Ibero-American Forum of Local Governments. Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, was appointed as lead city of the Coalition.
A Ten-Point Plan of Action for the LAC Coalition of Cities was finalized in June 2006, responding to the call launched by the Montevideo Government and UNESCO. The Plan was adopted on October 2006 in Montevideo, and the signatory cities commit to integrate within their strategies and action programmes the recommendations, and to dedicate the human, financial and material resources required for its effective implementation.