Increasing migration to cities presents both opportunities and challenges

The conference took place in a challenging international context and at a time when the world’s attitude towards migration and migrants had deteriorated due to: fears of terrorist attacks; poorly managed large-scale flows of refugees, asylum-seekers and other migrants from Southern and Eastern Europe into the EU; and a heightened xenophobia in even some traditional settler countries with long-standing traditions of openness to immigrants and the diversity that they bring. Migration is increasingly associated more with danger than with benefits for nations, their cities and their citizens. Conference speakers underlined the role that mayors and city leaders could play in coordinating efforts with stakeholders to change this attitude and to improve the public perception of migrants and migration. Failure to do so would potentially damage not only the migrants, who may suffer injustices, but also the receiving societies that need immigrants to support and revitalize their declining economies. Leoluca Orlando, Mayor of Palermo, Italy, stressed that his city, in response to the growing numbers of migrants living there, had shifted to a strongly human rights-based approach to managing migration and the resulting diversity.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Reduced Inequalities

Sustainable Cities and Communities