Advocacy campaign "Cities for Migration"

Through the organization of debates between local governments and civil society, our Committee defends a renewed approach to the governance of migration that is based on combating discrimination, fostering social cohesion and upholding human rights universality. In the last years, the Committee has taken part in UCLG's advocacy strategy in the Global Compact on Migration (Wave of Action #Cities4Migration) to defend the human rights-based approach and the role of local governments as social cohesion builders.

In addressing migration governance, UCLG has aimed at deepening its policy agenda on the right to the city and human rights, by focusing on concrete thematic areas such as migrants' access to basic services or to participatory democracy. Local governments in this framework have recalled the importance of shifting mainstream narratives, highlighting the inherent opportunities and benefits of migration while fighting racism. Furthermore, local governments have demanded enhanced multi-level coordination and strengthened capacities and resources.

Our Committee contributes to UCLG’s policy agenda on migration by bringing together local authorities that are committed to the concept of “inclusive cities”, to uphold the principles of equality and non-discrimination in local policy-making, and to defend the human rights-based approach. Interested local governments will find a space to promote key messages alongside other cities and territories.

In recent years, the Committee and its member local governments have organized a wide variety of meetings and events on this topic:

• Biennial Cities in Transition: Grenoble reaffirms its commitment as a welcoming and solidary territory towards migration (March, 2019) 
• Human rights cities and territories in Europe: What realities and what perspectives? (December, 2018)
• Local and regional governments call to recognize their key role in migration governance (December, 2018)
• African perspectives and realities on the Right to the City: Meeting of local governments and civil society during Africities (November, 2018)
• New alliances aimed at putting human rights at the heart of 2030 agendas: World Human Rights Cities Forum (September, 2018)
• Local governments from FAMSI commit to implement policies on migration that respect human rights (May, 2018)
• Cities are rallying to make their voice and human rights heard in the global governance of migrations
• Local governments advocate for a governance of migrations based on Human Rights - Cities and Migration (November, 2017)

In order to take part in the Committee's strategy on the topic of migrations, we invite you to contact our Secretariat