Oulu wishes to join the European Coalition of Cities against Racism
The city of Oulu is preparing to possibly join the European Coalition of Cities against Racism. The city can leave an application to the Coalition (ECCAR) in April of 2025 once Oulu has finished its own action plan.
The 10 Points Action Plan of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR) was discussed in the city of Oulu’s anti-racism working group’s meeting on October 29. The Action Plan serves as framework for cities in preventing racism and promoting equal opportunities. The cities that join the Coalition must cooperate with the private sector as well and ensure that everyone can participate equally in developing municipal services. The European Union has approved the Coalition’s shared Action Plan, which can be modified for local needs. Oulu must invest in increasing the sense of security of all citizens, including immigrants and Romani people.
The city of Oulu is preparing its own 10 Point Action Plan in line with the plans of other European cities in the Coalition. The plan will promote demographic diversity as the backbone of the city’s wellbeing. This includes cultural diversity and other forms of diversity that can prevent negative development. It is important to intervene in social and regional isolation. This requires high-level political support in Oulu, active participation of different parties, and concrete goals. Other public parties in Oulu will be invited to join the anti-racism work (such as Pohde, University of Oulu, parishes), as well as businesses, associations and citizens.
Oulu’s anti-racism working group believes that it is important for the city to promote human rights and to work together with like-minded cities.
The European Coalition of Cities against Racism offers a toolkit that includes useful models and practical support. The Coalition has, for example, monitored human-rights violations in election campaigns in Graz, Austria. The monitoring has included, for example, evaluation of political speech and following public discussion to find violations and promote human rights.