Priorities
THP believes that cities have the potential to act as catalysts of social change, and they should have increased access to the international and policy agenda. In addition to increased collaboration with higher levels of governments, local governments can help and need to establish new partnerships with the business sector and civil society, for the benefit of migrants, refugees and the indigenous local population.
People move to cities for many reasons. They may be looking for employment or forced to flee rural areas as a result of environmental degradation or political unrest. Ultimately, they move in search of a better life for themselves and their families.
For most cities, however, the interconnected processes of refugee protection, migration and urbanization currently raise challenges of urban inclusion and diversity management, among else. THP’s focus is on local citizenship, integration and the way forward for cities within a human right and development perspective.
With over 50% of the world’s population living in urban areas today, the movement of people from rural to urban areas is a global phenomenon that brings its own set of challenges. Cities have a high need for and represent a strong opportunity to develop effective solutions in the field of migration.