UCLG Peripheral Cities Committee: the right to the city, the metropolis and solidarity

UCLG Peripheral Cities Committee: the right to the city, the metropolis and solidarity

The Forum of the Peripheral Local Authorities (FALP) network held its 3rd congress on June 11th, 12th and 13th, 2013 in Canoas (metropolitan region of Porto Alegre - Brazil).

More than 2200 participants representing more than 200 local authorities from 30 countries and covering the 5 continents came together to debate the theme: "Rights and Democracy for interdependent metropolises".

Faced with the challenges of the right to the metropolis, to centrality and to inclusion, exchanges of experience and interaction on local practices were at the heart of the debates during these 3 days. The results allowed for a common politic declaration to be passed (read it here).

In a context of economic, social and political crisis, the conditions of fast urbanization reveal important challenges for the all aspects of metropolitan territories. The dialogue between peripheral cities and center cities was organized focussing on the role of each as a full protagonist in the metropolitan future.

These exchanges fuelled the reflections of the Peripheral Cities committee of UCLG and resulted in the launch of the, “World Report on metropolitan regions with regard to peripheries” during this 3rd FALP Congress. This Report conducted by the FALP network and the Peripheral Cities committee will also be a valued contribution to the work on the MDG’s Post 2015 undertaken by UCLG.

This 3rd Congress was closed by former President Lula who reminded all participants of the importance and the legitimacy of peripheral local authorities in the construction of inter-dependent, democratic, sustainable and inclusive metropolises.

In order to define the work plan and the organizational aspects, a meeting of the Peripheral Cities committee will be held in Rabat during the Congress.