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Description
Polish local government authorities are responsible for social policy towards minorities. Our studies in areas of cooperation between national minority, ethnic minority, and foreigner organizations with local government authorities have shown that there is no effective communication, which prevents cooperation and the possibility of any say in local government policy. There are also no institutional systems that build relationships between police stations and vulnerable groups, and no self-advocacy on the part of minorities in building those relationships. According to studies by the Commissioner for Human Rights and ODIHR, a mere 5% of hate crimes are reported. The project aims to give minorities a true say in the activities of the authorities, and to promote minorities'' points of view with respect to solving social problems. Under the project, working with government authorities in Kraków, we will draw up a strategy for cooperation with, and inclusion within that strategy of groups at risk at discrimination and social exclusion. Prior to the project, a nationwide study will be conducted on best practices in minority self-advocacy, and self-advocacy training will be provided. Working with the Voivodship Police Headquarters in Kraków, we will implement concepts for building a policy of cooperation with local minority communities. We will conduct training for 70 police officers, 15 government clerks, and 30 leaders of minority organizations. We will issue an information brochure for each of those groups. Using the knowledge and experience gained during the project implementation, we will devise a model for a strategy to support self-advocacy of minorities in Poland. The partnership with the Kraków Municipal Authority Social Policy and Health Department will ensure that government clerks are active, while cooperation with the Voivodship Police will make it possible to select a group of officers who encounter the problem of hate speech and hate crime most frequently.
Summary of project results
The project responds to the problem of discrimination and exclusion of national and ethnic minorities and migrants living in Krakow. In Poland, local governments have taken on the task of creating and implementing public policies for the benefit of these groups. In most of the metropolitan cities, local governments actually create programs, interdisciplinary teams and consultative bodies. In some places these mechanisms have been in place for many years (Krakow, Gdansk), in others they were created after the last local elections (Poznan, Bydgoszcz). Many of these models and solutions were developed in a participatory process, with the participation of minority groups themselves, but at the level of implementation there is a lack of cooperation between the administration and minority groups. There is also a lack of systemic solutions in the area of reporting and monitoring of hate crimes - only 5% of such crimes are reported (ODIHR, Commissioner for Human Rights). Police stations do not cooperate with groups facing discrimination and violence.
As part of the project, the project promoter conducted an evaluation of the city''s activities in the area of migration policy and prepared an update of the Open Krakow municipal program, which focuses not only on integration but also on the active participation of various social groups in creating the city as an open place. An analysis of minority policies in 18 major cities was conducted. The research report includes a catalogue of mechanisms that can be used at the local government level, 3 expert articles and a set of good practices in self-advocacy. A "Mapbook. Instruments available for advocacy activities at the City Hall of Krakow" was published. As part of the development of self-advocacy activities, networking meetings were organized for authorities, experts, and representatives of minority groups. The project promoter also held discussions with the police on hate crimes and supported other organizations in preparing mechanisms for dealing with hate crimes and contacting the police. A two-day workshop was also conducted for 14 intercultural assistants working in schools in Krakow; the workshop focused on countering discrimination and responding to violence based on the national origin of students, taking into account the local context and locally available tools. Officers of the Małopolska Police, civil servants and representatives of minority groups attended workshops on preventing hate crimes and principles of building partnerships with the local community. 3 information leaflets were prepared for the police, civil servants and victims of hate crimes.
As a result of the project it was possible to increase the knowledge of authorities, civil servants and representatives of national and ethnic minorities, as well as migrants about self-advocacy mechanisms and how to use them. People with migration experience joined the Cracow Council for Public Benefit and the Cracow Council for Equal Treatment. Minority organizations carried out an evaluation of the city government''s previous activities in the field of activities for minorities (Open Krakow Program). The document is an official document of the City Hall of Krakow. The draft resolution on the update of the Open Krakow Program was adopted by the City Council and subjected to internal consultations. Changes are also taking place in the area of identifying, reporting and monitoring hate crimes, which was made possible through cooperation with the police.