About Us
The 2005 – 2009 Big Cities Initiative, which came about as a response to the recommendations of the Final Report of the Global Commission on International Migration (GCIM), sought to take up the issue of migration and inclusion in major urban areas across the globe. Activities were undertaken to stimulate debate on future citizenship and on the way forward for cities within a development and human rights perspective. Their aim was to strengthen effective dialogue between local authorities and stakeholders in relevant policy fields (e.g. employment, education, health, housing, civic and political participation) and ultimately to improve chances for refugees and migrants and the local participation of all residents.
Policy Avenues:
- Residency-based approach to citizenship: promotion of innovative visions and practices
- Rights-based approaches for access to social services (universal standards, non-discrimination)
- Subsidiary, citizen-led strategies, partnerships and shared responsibilities for inclusion
- Policy coherence agenda: identification of policy gaps, opportunities and demands for cross-level consultations and dialogue between local, regional and national / federal levels
- Promotion and support to relevant initiatives in the field notably in co-operation with UNESCO