Social Inclusion and Human Rights

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are undergoing various processes of social transformation.
While democracies have been consolidating and poverty has decreased in recent years, this region remains
one of marked inequalities, exclusion and serious human rights violations.
UNESCO aims to contribute to more inclusive and sustainable societies in Latin America and the Caribbean,
promoting solidarity and respect, and seeking the elimination of all forms of discrimination, with a human rights
and gender equity approach.
Areas of work of UNESCO's Regional Bureau for Science in Montevideo:

 Inclusive and anti-discriminatory public policies

 Human Rights

Inclusive and anti-discriminatory public

policies

Coalition of Latin American and Caribbean Cities against Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia
Discrimination, racism and xenophobia are serious violations of human rights that impede peacebuilding, social
inclusion and sustainable development.
The Coalition of Latin American and Caribbean Cities against Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia, created
in 2006, is a UNESCO-sponsored initiative aimed at improving local policies to combat exclusion.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the Coalition has more than 90 cities, seeking to exchange experiences,
facilitate initiatives and strengthen policies that promote inclusion and fight against all manifestations of
discrimination.
Objectives of the Coalition in Latin America and the Caribbean:
 Promote and strengthen inclusive local policies to combat racism, discrimination and xenophobia.
 Make visible and coordinate joint actions against discrimination, racism and xenophobia, such as forms of social
exclusion and human rights violations.
 Exchange experiences and good practices between local governments that promote social inclusion and combat
racism, discrimination and xenophobia.
It has an Action Plan that outlines a minimum of commitments made by municipalities to implement concrete
actions that can be incorporated into their local policies.
The role of the Coalition is now even more relevant with the Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs, which
promise "no one will be left behind".
In particular, achieving Goal 11: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable,
and Goal 16: Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, facilitating access to
justice for all and building effective and inclusive accountable institutions at all levels.
The Coalition is open to all cities in Latin America and the Caribbean, without exception of their population,
size, geographical location, or political, economic or social status.
The city of the region interested in joining can fill out this form and send it to UNESCO.
Montevideo currently holds the presidency of the Latin American and Caribbean Coalition.
This regional Coalition is part of the International Coalition of Cities against Racism.
 For more information on the Coalition of Latin American and Caribbean Cities against Racism, Discrimination and
Xenophobia, please contact Andrés Morales, Social and Human Sciences specialist at UNESCO's Montevideo
office a.morales(at)unesco.org