Last October 21st & 22nd, Patrick Braouezec and Sylvie Ducatteau, from Plaine Commune, the urban community of Paris’ periphery that co-chairs UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights, met local representatives from Madrid and Barcelona. The meeting was focused on presenting the Committee’s work to these “Cities for the Commongood” and inviting them to join the network.
In Madrid, Manuela Carmena insists on the need of “re-inventing politics”
In Madrid, the Committee’s representatives were received by the Mayor, Manuela Carmena. Madrid actually joined the Committee last September in order to contribute to the promotion of human rights and local democracy, and to take part in local governments’ movement for the right to the city. Manuela Carmena insisted on the need of “re-inventing politics” and new ways of people’s representation. Patrick Braouezec pointed that the cities from the Committee are very interested on the network of cities for the “common good” driven by Spanish cities. The co-chair also presented the Committee’s action plan. In addition, Manuela Carmena confirmed her attendance to 5 December Seminar on Urban and Environmental Justice, that will be held in Saint-Denis during COP21 and UCLG’s World Congress.
Barcelona reaffirms its commitment for human rights
In Barcelona, the Committee’s representative met Pablo Sánchez Centellas, new director of International Relations, and Mònica Batlle Borja, from the International Relations department. Committee’s representatives recalled Barcelona’s fundamental role in the Committee. Indeed, Barcelona led the network of cities for human rights, and hosted, in 1998, a Mayors’ meeting on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms . Patrick Braouezec pointed that the new Government of Barcelona can become again a reference for Committee’s members by putting the rights issue at the center of public action. Some working areas were explored: solidarity-based economy, local currencies, decent jobs and alternatives to Smart Cities model. Patrick Braouezec reiterated Mayor’s invitation to Decembers 5th Seminar.
After that, Committee’s representatives met Fernando Pindado Sànchez, the new director of Citizens’ Rights, Participation and Transparency Area, along with Josep Marjalizo Queralt –from Civil Rights service. Fernando Pindado presented the main guidelines of the new Citizens’ Rights, Participation and Transparency Area, as well as its main objective: to consolidate an active democracy, in which the institution facilitates the transition from me to us, and from us to the common interest. Also, Pindado pointed as a main objective to start working with specific groups in order to mobilize participation of the most vulnerable groups.
Pindado also expressed his intention that Barcelona reassumes its former role within the Committee’s network of cities, with the aim of sharing experiences and concepts, as well as innovating in order to face democratic challenges in cities in a better way. Finally, he showed interest in learning experiences on topics such as free software-based platforms that put in practice political rights.