Purpose:
On 24 May 2017, the City Council of Cartagena (Murcia - Spain) launched the Refugee Welcome and Integration Network to address the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in the municipality, in view of achieving effective protection and enjoyment of their rights. The ultimate goal of the Network was to become a permanent body, which is still functioning today in coordination with the municipal entities.
Stimulus/Rationale:
Cities play a crucial role in welcoming refugees, providing both facilities to meet their immediate needs, and opportunities for their long-term social and economic integration. Social Services aims at adapting the services of the Immigrants Unit to new needs of particular vulnerable groups.
Process:
The Network was set up through a coordination board in order to provide an integrated and coordinated response to the refugees’ needs, by devising and implementing new procedures to achieve better cooperation between all the actors and stakeholders involved in the reception and integration of refugees, in the political, educational, social, cultural and awareness-raising fields (e.g. Economic Benefits Service of the Murcia Region, Institute of Social Action (IMAS), Murcia Health Service).
An Action Plan guided the work of the Network around 6 major areas of work related to social services, housing, education, health, training and employment, awareness raising and information.
Currently, the Cartagena City Council, from the Social Services area, attends refugees and asylum seekers through its corresponding Social Work Units. This work is carried out in coordination with the social entities working in the field of international protection in the municipality.
Impact:
A Coordination Committee on International Protection has been set up with the participation of both Cartagena City Council, through its Social Services Department, and the local organisations working in the field of International Protection, with regular meetings held every two months.
