World Cities Day: UNESCO celebrates 20 years of the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities

Since its inception in 2004, ICCAR has grown to be an active global front of more than 700 cities that combat racism and discriminations through public policies and programmes in its Ten-Point Plan of Action. It has become a reference as a unique city-level platform in the UN system and in the international community.

Due to their proximity with citizens, cities stand in the front line of addressing challenges, including combating discriminations. As policymakers and service providers in areas such as health, education, employment and housing, the wide range of social services the cities provide has been instrumental in promoting inclusive urban development free from all forms of discrimination. City networks allow local governments to facilitate mutual learning, identify good practices and strengthen partnerships.

As part of its flagship activities, ICCAR has conducted Youth Boot Camps that seek to incubate ideas for youth engagement with a glocal approach, encouraging the connection of local entities and communities to solve global challenges. Immersed in dynamic learning and sharing, young leaders, selected within municipalities, academia and NGOs, were brought together to develop strategies to combat racism and discriminations, each with their own diverse perspectives from their countries and communities.

This year, the first European edition of the ICCAR Youth Boot Camp took place in Chisinau, Moldova (August 2024), shortly followed by the third global edition of the ICCAR Youth Boot Camp in the City of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy (September 2024). Young participants came from all over the world: Belarus, Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Moldova, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Romania, South Africa, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay.

We are seeing an alarming resurgence of racism and discrimination, and the numbers prove this so. I am sure that, you and me, we cannot stand idle. We cannot be silent. We need to speak up and find ways to counter this wave, that is also amplified by social networks. The good news is that we are not alone, as there are many champions convinced that this needs to change, and we are doing it. UNESCO has been leading in this fight, and we are proud of many of our countries that are legislating equality, and punishing racism and discrimination. Many companies, civil society and academics are joining forces.

With agendas revolving around a series of workshops, lectures and activities led by academics, elected officials, activists, and representatives from anti-racist networks, the Boot Camps are 7-day immersive experiences which enable participants to brainstorm collectively on their roles as young leaders in their communities, and to craft creative and innovative solutions to combat all forms of discriminations.

Racism and discrimination are not a "me" problem, but a "we" problem. It's not an African or a European issue but a global mess. Youths are the masterminds for change.

It was incredible to meet people from different countries around the world, talk to them and find out more about the projects they are involved in, as well as being able to understand that we often believe that the problems we experience in our cities are quite different, but in fact there are many similarities between them.

An amazing opportunity to meet people from all around the world that want to make it a better place, and exchange in a paradisiac environment.

While the Boot Camps first emphasised training and skill-building, they also featured playful activities designed to foster bonding and cultural exchange, with the goal to build a global ICCAR family of local changemakers.

Children with Down syndrome have taught us that happiness is made of simple things. And that learning from each other is just the beginning.

My experience was inspiring. The Boot Camp motivated me to embrace new ideas and work harder for zero discrimination.

ICCAR Youth Boot Camps for Inclusive and Sustainable cities were conceived in 2022 by Benedetto Zacchiroli during his tenure as president of ICCAR, developed further in collaboration with UNESCO's Social and Human Sciences (SHS) Sector led by Gabriela Ramos, the ICCAR Global Steering Committee, and key partners such as UNAR, the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation, Verbe et Lumièreand the Future Food Institute. Inspired by UNESCO's Master Class Series against Racism and Discriminations, launched in 2019, the Boot Camp Series exemplifies UNESCO's mission to advancing global solidarity, fostering intercultural dialogue and inclusion.

ICCAR is also working with UNESCO Chairs in fostering urban inclusion. For 20 years, the UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape has led a research-design program called "Workshop Atelier Terrain UNESCO" now "UNESCO Studio," which gathers international scientific experts, practitioners, and students to address pressing matters of sustainable urban development. Together, they work with local authorities and stakeholders to identify the population's needs and main issues at stake relating to infrastructure, economic development, and ecological systems.

The 14th edition of the UNESCO Studio on "Designing an Inclusive and Sustainable Habitats in Phnom Penh" was held in May 2024 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at the junction of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap rivers. Outcomes of this workshop are now on display at the exhibition Phnom Penh Against the Current, which is taking place at the University of Montréal (Canada). To promote human rights and biodiversity along the shores of the continental river, the workshop focused on the ecological and cultural empowerment of the local communities living along the Mekong. Over the course of two weeks, fifty participants from Cambodia, Canada and Thailand conceived a series of projects that provided tangible and creative paths for inclusive and sustainable development of Phnom Penh. Projects of the UNESCO Studio hence proposed a new urban dialogue between the city's vibrant urban life and rich hydrographic network.

Through this workshop, participants learned and shared about traditional and modern Khmer architecture and urban planning, contemporary housing and ecological challenges in the city, Cambodian history and institutions, and the country's rich cultural diversity and archeological heritage. Meetings with members of the Cambodian Government, city officials, community leaders and members of Vann Molyvann's family offered added insight on issues facing Cambodian people and the aspirations that unite the country following the global pandemic of COVID-19.

Organizing institutions of the UNESCO Studio in Phnom Penh included the UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape at the University of Montréal, the Royal University of Fine Arts, the Royal University of Law and Economics, the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Norton University, Hanoi Architectural University and King Mongtkut University of Technology Thonbury. In partnership with UNESCO, the organisers also worked with the local population and authorities, NGOs, and international organizations to define the best solutions to promote inclusion and sustainability in Phnom Penh.