Equality & Diversity

Equality & Diversity - The green city is a community built on diversity. A green city is a tolerant and open place, inclusive and safe, in which every newcomer feels accepted, and every citizen can make full use of public space and its services, has a feeling of belonging to the local community and of being able to change his or her surroundings.

The discrimination of certain social groups is still a common occurrence in many European cities: neo-Nazi acts of violence against immigrants, the inaccessibility of council buildings to deaf people or those not speaking the local language, the negative attitude of the local government to feminist, pacifist or sexual minority demonstrations. Not only is discrimination against the law, it also destroys a city’s social capital, which is crucial for its sustainable development.

A green city does not exclude certain parts of the population because they should have an equal status as members	of the majority, especially as every one of us is a member of at least one minority. Diversity and tolerance are the Green	party’s	central	values and are of great importance in a	modern society. Every person, irrespective of gender, age, level of disability, sexual orientation, religious	beliefs, opinions, ethnic background etc. should have an equal status as a citizen of the World and of the local community. That is why the governments of our cities must work towards creating a fully democratic public space and consequently creating an image of their city as a place which is accepting diversity, tolerant and	safe.

There are many “keys” to unlocking a city, which politicians may use: participating in manifestations and other demonstrations of the citizens' voice, events which promote different cultures and	 customs, creating attractive well-maintained public spaces etc.