ICLD Local Democracy Talk: Morality Policies – 4 Ways for Local Governments to End Discrimination

Explore 4 strategies for local governments to combat discriminatory policies and defend democracy! Discover how decentralization and strengthening local democracy can help resist autocratic tendencies in countries where democracy is retreating. Learn about tools and incentives that local governments can use to stand up against anti-rights policies and the role of morality in shaping their responses.

Against the background of this video policy brief, the panel will discuss some of the following questions:

• How can local governments respond to the rise of discriminatory policies?

• What are cases where they have spurred on this and where they have reversed it?

• How can decentralization and strengthening local democracy help resist the autocratic trajectory of formerly/relatively democratic countries?

• What tools – or incentives – do local governments have to stand up against anti-rights policy (or not)?

Cases to be highlighted:

• Local politicians’ use of morality policies in Indonesia (presentation of new ICLD research)

• Protests against the morality police in Iran

• LGBTQ advocacy and GBV in Gaborone, Botswana

• Migrant rights in Barcelona

• Discrimination of Roma communities in Sweden

Panelists:

• Wawan Mas’udi, Universitas Gadjah Mada Indonesia, PI of the research project Morality Policies and the Prospect for Inclusive Citizenship in Decentralized Indonesia

• Shora Esmailian, journalist, author and women’s rights activist from Iran/Sweden

• Sergeant Kgosietsile, HBTQ activist and former councilor in Gaborone, Botswana

• Mujo Halilovic, Malmö City’s Centre for inclusion of Roma population, Sweden  

• Olga Ditsie, Mayor of Jwaneng Town, Botswana

• Adria Duarte, International Observatory of Participatory Democracy (tbc) 

Welcome remarks: Martin Hagberg, Ambassador of Sweden to Cyprus (tbc)

Moderator:  Helena Bjuremalm, Deputy Head of Democracy Unit, Sida

About the format

Local  Democracy  Talks aim  to  create  a  constructive  dialogue  and  exchange experiences  among  duty bearers such as politicians and civil servants and other stakeholders in local-level development cooperation. The  concept  of  Democracy  Talks  is  an  effort  to  make  democracy  resilient,  and  to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

For further information and registration click here.