Intercultural Cities (ICC) is a Council of Europe programme supporting local authorities to design and implement inclusive integration policies.
ICC is now implementing a 2-year project "Building structures for intercultural integration in Cyprus" in partnership with the Civil Registry and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior of Cyprus, and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Structural Reform Support. CODECA and CARDET, are regional coordinators for the Districts of Nicosia and Famagusta.
Aim of the project:
The main aim of the project is the creation of five Regional Intercultural Networks in the districts of Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta.
This will aid in the support of:
The implementation of a National Action Plan for the Integration of Third Country Nationals (2020 –2022).
The Empowerment of Local Authorities, NGOs, and Migrant Organisations to be part of the policy development and implementation process.
The utilization of conceptual, analytical and political tools of Intercultural Cities to address the challenges of integration of third country nationals and migrants in relation to building trust, fostering community cohesion and managing diversity as a resource.
Main objectives of the programee:
Attain the support of Local Authorities and other Stakeholders for the design and implementation of inclusive migrant integration policies.
Promote the ‘Intercultural Integration Policy Model’ of the Council of Europe which focuses on enabling communities, organisations and businesses to manage the diversity of people in a way which ensures the equal value of all identities, cohesion and competitive advantage.
Indicate an all-rounded strategic engagement to develop institutional capacity ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all, promoting positive intercultural mixing and interaction, and encouraging participation and power-sharing.
The model will help public authorities to achieve inclusion, equality and prosperity by unlocking the potential of diverse societies while minimizing the risks related to human mobility and cultural diversity.