Proposal: "Bekend maakt Bemind"
Volt city councillor Itay Garmy is Jewish and pro-Israel, while DENK city councillor Sheher Khan is Muslim and pro-Palestine. Despite their differences, they have worked together on a proposal aimed at bringing Amsterdam's diverse communities closer together.As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to claim many innocent lives, this proposal is more relevant than ever. "It is important that, despite our differences, we continue talking to one another and try to understand each other."
Polarisation, discrimination, and racism are on the rise. This undermines the inclusive and supportive city that Amsterdam strives to be. Research shows that meaningful interaction between people from different backgrounds is essential for combating discrimination and racism. Such encounters help challenge stereotypes and prejudices while fostering mutual understanding.
Although the municipality is committed to tackling discrimination and racism, more is needed. Through this initiative, Itay and Sheher propose shifting from one-off project subsidies to long-term investment in evidence-based approaches to combating discrimination and racism.
Proposal 1: Breaking Down Barriers Through Dialogue
Talking to one another and meeting people from different backgrounds is a proven way to reduce negative stereotypes and prejudice between groups. These interactions should therefore become a structural part of city policy. The municipality should facilitate encounters between Amsterdam residents from diverse backgrounds and support organisations in organising these exchanges themselves.
Proposal 2: Engaging Role Models
Research shows that speaking out against discrimination makes a difference. The municipality should therefore work with role models from different communities, including faith communities. The common denominator should always be respect for the equal dignity of all people, regardless of skin colour, background, sexual orientation, gender, or any other characteristic that makes someone who they are.
Proposal 3: Encouraging Dialogue in Schools
Last year, 42% of secondary school teachers witnessed antisemitism in their classrooms. Other forms of discrimination and racism, including anti-Muslim prejudice and anti-LGBTIQ+ discrimination, are also increasingly present in schools.
To address this, several educational programmes have been developed that effectively reduce negative stereotyping among students. Since these programmes have been proven effective, more schools should have access to them. This can be achieved by consistently promoting evidence-based programmes to schools and providing long-term funding.
Proposal 4: Investing in Prebunking and Debunking
Conspiracy theories have become an increasingly prominent part of society. Their effects are divisive and undermine democratic values. It is important both to debunk racist conspiracy theories by exposing them as false and to prebunk them by building resilience before misinformation takes hold. These approaches should become part of Amsterdam's intercultural dialogue initiatives and educational programmes.
Proposal 5: Intercultural Encounters Through Arts and Culture
Arts and culture are powerful tools for bringing different communities together and promoting understanding and acceptance. Cultural projects that strengthen social cohesion should therefore become an integral part of Amsterdam's anti-discrimination policy.
Proposal 6: 21 March – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Many different communities continue to fight for equal rights and full participation in society. This is a positive development. It would be even stronger if these communities also gained a better understanding of one another's struggles and explored how solidarity can strengthen their shared efforts.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination provides an excellent opportunity to do just that. It should serve as an annual moment to highlight the shared fight against racism and discrimination.
Tomorrow, the City Council will vote on this initiative proposal.
Curious to read the full proposal? Read it here.
The proposal has already received attention in several media outlets, including: