Together with Miranda de Ebro (Burgos), Casares (Málaga) and Centelles (Barcelona), San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife) has reached the finals of the European Awards for Inclusion and Diversity 2024, alongside eleven other contenders from seven different countries.
The City Council has confirmed that the fifteen finalists represent eight European nations: Spain, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden.
As stated by the Council, the shortlisted participants will undergo final evaluations to determine the recipients of the gold, silver, and bronze awards in three distinct categories: cities with over 50,000 inhabitants, those with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, and those excelling in women’s safety and combating gender violence.
These accolades acknowledge the efforts made by cities, towns, or regions within the European Union to foster inclusion and build societies free from discrimination.
European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, emphasised, “The European Awards for Inclusion and Diversity provide recognition and spotlight the initiatives of local authorities in creating safe and inclusive environments that promote a sense of belonging and active participation. This serves as a source of enrichment and innovation in Europe and should serve as an inspiration to others.”
La Laguna is competing in the category for cities with over 50,000 residents, while Miranda de Ebro, Casares, and Centelles are finalists in the category for smaller municipalities with less than 50,000 inhabitants.
Additionally, all four contenders are vying for awards recognising their efforts in ensuring women’s safety and addressing gender violence.
Therefore, the four Spanish finalists have been selected for consideration in two categories each.
The winners of this year’s awards will be revealed at a ceremony in Brussels on April 25, marking the commencement of European Diversity Month 2024, celebrated in May.
With a population of 160,000, La Laguna authorities have implemented numerous initiatives, ranging from enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities or the elderly, to integrating immigrants, promoting women’s visibility, establishing childcare facilities, running non-sexist toy campaigns, and providing social services for sex workers, assistance for gender violence victims, and support for the LGBTIQ community and Roma people.
Miranda de Ebro (with 35,639 residents) received praise for its House of Equality, offering educational programs, awareness projects, cultural events, and community activities focusing on women, LGBTIQ individuals, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities. Municipal services also support the LGBTIQ community and provide adaptation services for those with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and women.
Casares, with a population of 9,000, impressed the jurors with its Punto Visible LGBTI+ initiative, which takes an intersectional approach through training, telephone counselling, cultural initiatives, and local government actions to promote gender equality, support migrants and refugees.
Lastly, Centelles, with a population of 7,737, is recognised for its initiatives such as workshops on gender violence and LGBTIQ+ awareness, a programme for new masculinities featuring a men’s group, and a Children’s Council.
