On 16 September 2019, the Council of Europe’s Intercultural cities programme launched an updated version of The Intercultural Cities Step-by-step guide on integration and inclusion of people of diverse national, ethnic, linguistic and faith backgrounds for local authorities. The guide highlights cities’ good practices based on Council of Europe’s human rights standards enabling the authorities to explore and apply policies that harness diversity and cohesion in culturally diverse societies. While cities are in the center of developing initiatives in order to combat racism and xenophobia and promote intercultural dialogue, the Intercultural Cities programme is focusing on diversity as an opportunity. The guide helps decision-makers and city officials to change their strategic approach to integration and inclusion, and adopt an “intercultural lens” to policy-making.

The Intercultural Cities policy model has been endorsed by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers and it’s now expanding to the national level.

ICC Step-by-step guide will soon be available also in French.