Nantes, 30 June (AKI) - An international coalition of cities to fight racism and discrimination was due to be launched on Monday by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The coalition is due to be launched at the World Forum on Human Rights in Nantes, France. Representatives are attending from the regional coalitions in Africa (Durban, South Africa), the Arab region (Casablanca, Morocco), Asia and the Pacific (Suva, Fiji), North America (Toronto, Canada) Europe (Nuremberg, Germany) and Latin America and the Caribbean (Montevideo, Uruguay).

UNESCO is calling on municipalities in each region to create networks of cities to improve their policies to fight discrimination and promote diversity, mutual respect and dialogue.

Each regional coalition will be tasked with implementing a 10-point action plan to tackle discrimination specific to its region. The action plans will cover areas such as education, housing, employment and cultural activities.

Some 3,300 participants from 80 countries are expected to take part in this year’s World Forum. It is dedicated to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.