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Description
Equality policies must be drawn up and implemented by local and central government authorities with the help of members of the civic society, institutions of higher education, and business. The central authorities are not concerned with this despite the increasing pluralism of Polish society, intensifying hate speech, the number of prejudice-motivated crimes, and polarization of opinion. Meanwhile, even if they would willingly implement an equality policy, local governments do not have the adequate tools and knowledge to do so. The project aims to provide local government with the tools for formulating equality policies and strategies as standards for defending human rights. The tools will include a handbook as well as presentations and audiovisual materials posted on a specially created website. The platform will be used for local governments and experts to share know-how, and enable multifaceted support to be provided for local government when devising and implementing equality policies, including public consultations necessary to observe human rights standards. Six webinars will be held on formulation of equality strategies by local government authorities, and 12 webinars will be held for local governments to share know-how. The partner in the project will be the Polish Cities Association (Związek Miast Polskich). More than 300 officials in local government authorities that are members of the partner organization will be provided with information about the tools that can be used to formulate equality policy. Due to the project, members of the Związek Miast Polskich Equality Team will expand their activities to create equality strategies in their local government authorities. The issue of equality strategies in the cities will be included in the Partner''s initiatives directed towards the member local government authorities.
Summary of project results
The project concerns equality policies at local government level. Unfortunately, in Poland, local governments are not interested in implementing such policies - they are often even reluctant or hostile towards any equality initiatives. In 2019-2020, several voivodeships, many poviats and municipalities introduced homophobic so-called ''LGBT-free zones'' on their territory - the zones at their peak covered as much as 1/3 of the country. On the other hand, local governments that would like to work systematically for equality do not have sufficient knowledge and tools to do so. Polish society is becoming increasingly diverse, with growing radicalisation and polarisation manifested, for example, in attacks on equality marches and an increase in crimes motivated by prejudice.
As part of the project, a variety of material on human rights, equality and diversity were created and addressed to local governments affiliated to the Association of Polish Cities, the project partner. These tools include a handbook, presentations, a brochure, a poster and other audiovisual materials. There were organised 6 webinars on human rights, gender mainstreaming, neurodiversity, inclusive design or the gender equality plan for cities. Twenty-three networking meetings were organised for women''s councils, equal treatment plenipotentiaries and local government equal treatment councils.
As a result of the project, member cities of the Association of Polish Cities have improved their knowledge and have been equipped with specific tools to build equality policies and strategies as standards for the protection of human rights. Those who benefited most from participation in the project were those dealing with human rights issues at the local level - equal treatment plenipotentiaries, members of women''s councils and the equal treatment team. During the project, a Commission on Human Rights and Equal Treatment was established within the Association of Polish Cities, bringing together more than 50 local authorities.