We do so by strengthening the support and protection networks and improving the knowledge, the promotion and the defence of human rights among Catalan citizenry.
The project started in 2013, under the impulse of the City Council of Sant Boi de Llobregat with the aim of supporting human rights defenders and making their struggles and the structural causes of the conflicts known to the Catalan citizens, especially to young people. The City Council created a collaborative network of 11 municipalities and 3 Catalan organizations to join forces.
The project, which has the same essence and objectives as in its beginning, has grown over the years, adding more municipalities, organizations and institutions. Since 2016, the project has been coordinated by the Catalan Development Cooperation Fund and managed by the Catalan Commission for Refugees (CCAR). In addition, 11 more municipalities joined the project the same year. 30 municipalities, 5 entities and 3 institutions currently participate in the project.
The involvement of Catalan municipalities in the defence and promotion of human rights has a long history that has been developed in actions with local and international citizens. A good example is the Network of Towns and Cities for Human Rights promoted by the Barcelona Provincial Council and which has more than 147 municipalities, adhered to the European Charter for the Safeguarding of Human Rights in the City.
Likewise, the municipalities have extensive experience ranging from political advocacy (with the approval of motions on human rights issues), awareness raising (organization of various activities denouncing human rights violations), financing development cooperation and collaboration in reception programs for human rights defenders at risk.
We want to be part of a global movement of international solidarity and support for human rights defenders in order to increase their visibility and protection, so that they can carry out their work safely and freely. Likewise, we want to contribute to encouraging critical and transformative citizens to reverse inequalities and social injustices, here and around the world.
Our values are solidarity, respect, cooperation, equality and transparency.
