Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona

On April the Area for International Cooperation Service (AMB) has organized two seminars on public spaces and the cross-cutting principles of empowerment and equity between people. The aim is to foster a holistic concept of cooperative actions incorporating cross-cutting principles related to international cooperation. It also aims to facilitate knowledge and methodology transfer for planning and managing facilities, public spaces and open spaces in vulnerable urban neighbourhoods with the participation of local citizens.

Reflecting on spaces and principles of empowerment is one of the objectives stated in the AMB's International Development Cooperation Master Plan.

Work conferences and analysis workshops

The roundtable "Inclusive and safe urban public spaces for women and young people: Reflections and challenges here and in El Salvador", was the fisrt to take place, on the 2^nd of April at the Casa Amèrica Catalunya. The objective was to reflect, exchange experiences and identify challenges in order to achieve urban public spaces where human rights of women and young people are guaranteed, especially the right of inclusion and the right to a violence-free life.

The activity was led by Zaida Muxí, Urban Director of the Santa Coloma de Gramenet City Council. Amanda Quijano, Keren Mendoza and Candy Chévez, three Salvadorian who represent feminist collectives for the defence of women's human rights and the social inclusion of young people involved in violent gangs known as maras; as well as Sílvia Alavert, from the Association for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Rosalia Ramón Ferrandiz, from the Les Capitanes Association, and Maria Peix Batet, Head of the AMB's Cooperation Service, also participated in the event.

The second activity of the seminars was a workshop called "How do we include the principles of empowerment and equity between women and men and diversities in cooperative projects related to public spaces?", which took place on the 8^th of April at the AMB's headquarters and focused on the strategies, experiences and knowledge analysis and reflection, in terms of cross-cutting principles, particularly in international cooperation projects related to public spaces.

The workshop featured participants from public institutions, research centres, NGOs and experts (architects, urban planners, technical teams working in cooperation, employment, social education, etc.), who shared their reflections from different points of view and experiences, but with a common goal: guaranteeing transformative public spaces that put people at the centre, that recognise diversity and eradicate discrimination and violence.

Participants at the workshop discussed about challenges and possible solutions that are equitable, inclusive, safe and sustainable for the rehabilitation and revitalization of urban and metropolitan public spaces to guarantee human rights and the right of access to cities.