22/11/2017 Inclusion Through Access to Public Space | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Good Practices Inclusion Through Access to Public Space

Transversal Themes
Inclusion Through Access to
Anticipation and Foresight
Public Space
Youth Definition
A public space refers to an area or place that is open and
accessible to all peoples, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age
or socio-economic level. These are public gathering spaces such
as plazas, squares and parks. Connecting spaces, such as
Ethics sidewalks and streets, are also public spaces. In the 21st century,
some even consider the virtual spaces available through the
Ethics of Science and internet as a new type of public space that develops interaction and
Technology social mixing.
Challenges
Bioethics Through spatial integration measures, the social inclusion of
migrants in urban settings can be improved. Public spaces can play
Global Ethics Observatory a key role in improving migrants' inclusion by acting as places for
intercultural dialogue and exchange. Segregated areas can be
opened up thanks to careful physical planning interventions.
Generally speaking, adequate housing, well-connected public
transport and accessible public buildings for cultural and religious
Human Rights practices need to be integrated in inclusive urban planning.
Municipal decision-makers need to look carefully at the informal
Democracy and Global economy in public places and provide space for entrepreneurship.
Citizenship
What can be done?
Well-designed and maintained public space is critical to the health
Fight against Discriminationof any city. Such gathering spaces allow for social mixing, civic
participation, recreation, and a sense of belonging. It is necessary
Human Rights-Based to fight spatial segregation through actions such as rebuilding
Approach districts in an integrated way; providing the most disadvantaged
urban areas with quality public spaces and installations; promoting
diverse uses of the land; encouraging social mixing in housing
selection with the aim of having people from different backgrounds
and socio-economic conditions live in the same districts; removing
Social Transformations architectural barriers that may isolate certain areas; and, finally,
taking the gender variable into account in the urban make-up
and Intercultural (UCLG).
Public space can also be used for daily events or seasonal or
Dialogue annual fairs that bring together diverse populations of the city.

Culture of Peace Examples of good practice

General and Regional
Histories
General History of Africa
Intercultural Dialogue
International Migration
Silk Road
Social Transformations
MOST Programme
Slave Route
Slum to Neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
As it turned impossible to remove the favelas in Brazil, many of the
government's policies focus on improving the infrastructure of the
favelas. The Inter-American Development Bank funded a US$180
million slum to neighborhood project in 1995, which sought to
integrate existing favelas into the fabric of the city through
infrastructure upgrading and service development. The project
involved 253,000 residents in 73 favela neighborhoods in Rio de
Janeiro. When a favela was selected, a master plan for upgrades
was drafted and community organizations were contacted and
asked to provide their input. When the final plan was approved,
incentive plans were implemented for hiring construction
companies that employed local community workers.
Central Park of Nou Barris, Barcelona, Spain
In Barcelonas Nou Barris district, an award-winning park on the
former grounds of the Santa Creu Mental Institute transforms the
feeling of isolation created by disjunctive streets, high-density
housing, district boundaries and the physical limitation of the site to
create a green community for one the citys more diverse
neighbourhoods.
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Sport
Anti-Doping

Physical Education and

Sport

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22/11/2017 Inclusion Through Access to Public Space | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

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