Purpose:

Racism does not only concern those who are victims of it. On the contrary: just as with sexism and homophobia, a fair and just society can only be achieved if everyone, especially those who live in a situation of security and privilege, plays their part. Starting with the institutions.

Stimulus/Rationale:

With this idea in mind, on 17 March 17 2020, Turin became the first municipality in Italy to declare that the heritage of antiracist actions and practices is a common citizens’ asset, and launched a public call to collect contributions and expressions of interest to start a co-planning process in which fifty-eight civic subjects finally participated, including a trade union, second-level networks, neighbourhood centres, youth centres, religious and cultural associations, migrant communities, informal groups and cultural institutions.

A year later the City of Turin approved the “Pact of Common Goods”, a unique example in Italy: a document containing actions, projects, mutual commitments and that guarantees for the first time a unified and strategic approach and a direct involvement of communities and people of different backgrounds and origins in the phases of conception, implementation and evaluation of policies. The planned activities have been grouped in five lines of action: Events and Initiatives; Spaces; Empowerment; Access to Services; Education; and Culture.

Process:

In March 2021, fifty-eight civil society organisations and the City of Turin signed the "Patto dei Beni Comuni per Torino Antirazzista" (Common Goods Pact for Antiracist Turin)

Anti-racism, a common good.

Together, the City and the civic actors commit themselves to:

• Planning and organise events and initiatives in the intercultural and antiracist field, giving back a voice to people and communities who suffer several forms of discrimination on a daily basis.
• Providing tools and guidance for accessing city goods and services, in particular registry and civic services; issuing calls for tenders for municipal spaces; and ensuring health services with a gender perspective.
• Training city employees and operators, and volunteers of civil society.
• Setting up round tables and forum for discussion and exchange in the field of human rights education and antidiscrimination.
• Designing and making visible safe spaces free from racism, fascism and sexism.
• Codesigning and seeking funds and financing for the implementation of activities and projects.

The City will support these actions also through specific resources from its budget. For the co-management of the activities and the coordination of the initiatives, the City Council and the civil society will also set up a permanent working table, which will not only be a tool for the evaluation of the Pact's progress but also a real space of confrontation and guidance for public policies.

Impact:

Key reference documents:

http://www.comune.torino.it/dirittiepartecipazione/pdf/Patto_di_Collaborazione_per_Torino_Antirazzista_-_Testo_web.pdf