Purpose:
‘Tenerife Lives Diversity’ is a strategic framework aimed at serving as a reference point for public administrations, associations and the citizens of the island of Tenerife, assisting them to manage cultural diversity, promote intercultural coexistence. This strategy also provides guidance for the development of human rights as well as how to promote actions advancing the rights and needs of ethnic minorities and migrants.
‘Tenerife Lives Diversity’ main objective is to promote intercultural coexistence and human rights, offering municipalities, entities and society on the island of Tenerife a tool to enhance their public policies and actions relating to diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion.
The strategy sets forward 18 specific objectives and 54 inspiring measures including recommendations for application and starting points for interventions based on the 9 dimensions of coexistence.
Stimulus/Rationale:
The project ‘Diverse Tenerife’ launched by the city of Tenerife in 2016 aimed to build an intercultural and open society. Through the project, the Strategic Framework of Intercultural Coexistence “Tenerife Vive Diversidad“ was drafted, applying participative methodologies.
This instrument has also been devised taking into account a wide range of areas in which it can be implemented, ranging from the more general, such as health and education, to the more specific, such as associations and neighbourhood movements, always with the aim of improving intercultural relations and coexistence between people.
Process:
The strategy was the result of a participatory process involving 300 persons and 50 associations. Through 14 workshops and three in-depth interviews, participants were asked what kind of coexistence they believed exists on the island of Tenerife and how it could be improved. A broad and diverse representation of society was sought at all times; and work was therefore carried out with a diversity of groups, taking into account factors such as age, gender, origin and religious identity.
Once the information was collected, a technical team was designated to draft the strategy. The drafting also included the proposals of the Interdepartmental Commission formed by different areas of the Cabildo de Tenerife, as well as the political level.
The unanimous approval by the Plenary of the Island Council of Tenerife took place on Wednesday 27 February 2019.
The project was supported by several partners, including the Island Council of Tenerife, the University of La Laguna, the Immigration Observatory of Tenerife, 6 municipalities (Candelaria, Granadilla de Abona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Juan de la Rambla, San Cristobal de La Laguna and Arona), 50 citizens and 300 people.
The Strategy has been expanding its scope of action with the incorporation of municipalities, educational centres and projects of different kinds. The tool has been transferred to the territories of the island through local administrations and other meeting and relationship spaces, such as educational centres, through various phases and levels. One of these phases has consisted of mapping the actions that are carried out in Tenerife to contribute to the strengthening of intercultural coexistence, with the aim of providing concrete to provide concrete elements of value that clearly exemplify how to approach and achieve intercultural coexistence.
Impact:
The actions identified (more than one hundred) have become a source of inspiration for all those people, entities, organisations and institutions that work in the field of intercultural coexistence. These initiatives are part of the 'Tenerife Lives Diversity ToolKit', offered to the island's local councils.
A review of the Strategy is being carried out (including the that have been developed within its framework of action). This assessment coincides with the development of the Canary Islands Plan for Immigration and Intercultural Coexistence.
Key reference documents:
