Local Global Citizenship Education policy and actions: rebuilding trust in democracy globally

At a time when trust in democracy is declining globally, local and regional governments are on the frontline of this challenge. Rising inequalities, disinformation, polarisation and democratic backsliding are not abstract trends, they are experienced in the territories where people live, learn, and engage with governance. 

Last week, PLATFORMA co-organised a webinar together with the Academic Network on Global Education and Learning (ANGEL Network) and the Global Education Network Europe (GENE). By showcasing practical examples from European local and regional governments, the webinar explored local Global Citizenship Education (GCE) actions as a key tool to promote inclusive participation, empower marginalised voices, enhance intercultural dialogue, and strengthen the bonds between citizens and democratic institutions.

• Paolo Beltraminelli (Congress of Local and Regional Authorities): “Inequalities are widening, disinformation and hate speech spread both online and offline and polarisation deepens. These dynamics are most acutely felt at the local level (…). Local and regional governments have both the capacity and responsibility to respond.” 

• Laia Fargas Fusa (Diputació de Barcelona): Presenting their Guidelines on planning GCE, she mentioned translating the potential of GCE from theory into practice requires a policy planning that is adapted to the local context.»

• Mónica Vidal Fernandez (eLankidetza): “One of the key aspects of the (H)ABIAN Strategy 2030 is the institutional co-responsibility (…) to make sure that public institutions are also recognised as agents in these educational processes”. 

•  Josu Millas (Assembly for Cooperation for Peace): “Through our project strengthening capacities and building alliances against hate speech through an intersectional feminist perspective, we find essential to work with grass-root local organisations that work daily with migrant people and communities in risk of social exclusion (…) these organisations are essential because they often reach places where other NGOs or public institutions are not reaching”. 

• Yassin El Attar (City of Leuven): “The Got Your Back! Campaign raises awareness and promotes the role of bystanders in situations of discrimination (…) but with these kind of campaigns it is important not to put the responsibility for tackling discrimination only on citizens, local and regional governments should demonstrate that these campaigns are integrated into strong anti-discrimination policies.”