As urban society is increasingly marked by migration, local government has become more important than ever to build inclusive cities. Their role is key in guaranteeing access to basic services and offering a first-level answer to the needs of the most vulnerable, but also in building long-term cohesion. In recent years, local governments have also raised their voice to defend a renewed approach to the governance of migration, declaring themselves sanctuary and vowing to defend human rights universality.

In the framework of our Committee, local governments are able to debate and learn from policy-making experiences that render this outlook concrete. The Committee offers a meaningful space for knowledge sharing and networking inside UCLG, especially through its partnership with the MC2CM project. Furthermore, our Committee also offers a platform for local governments to organize debates and campaigns on the need to defend human rights values in the governance of migration.

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WHAT WE DO

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Organizing political meetings of local governments and supporting advocacy campaigns

Our Committee offers a space for local authorities to connect their initiatives in defending a human rights-based migration governance. This might take the form of political debates, aimed at raising awareness on concrete experiences, fostering networking and expressing solidarity, or by supporting local government participation in collective initiatives at the global level (as in the Wave of Action of UCLG “Cities for Migration” or the Policy Council on the Right to the City).

• Meetings of local governments for human rights
• Advocacy campaign "Cities for Migration"
• UCLG Policy Council on the Right to the City

Promoting city-to-city learning and knowledge sharing

Through their participation in the Committee, local governments can access a wide range of learning opportunities on migration. This comprises thematic areas such as social inclusion and access to basic services, fight against discrimination, participation or intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Our Committee also puts at the service of local authorities’ various tools and reports on city policies regarding this central topic for local social inclusion and human rights guarantee.

• Migration City-to-City in the Mediterranean (MC2CM)
• Knowledge hub on migration
• Knowledge hub on diversity and non-discrimination