Szczecin fighting discrimination. Step 2

At the beginning of this year, Ms Beata Bugajska, Head of the Social Affairs Department, assumed an additional function – Mayor’s Representative for Equality. A new strategic team was also appointed which, together with the Representative, will be in charge of establishing and coordinating the implementation of the “Szczecin – a City Free From Discrimination” declaration objectives.

The upcoming challenge facing the new Representative will be to develop activity plans in various areas and to secure funds for their implementation. At the same time, she will coordinate activities within the office and subordinated units dealing, whether directly or indirectly, with equality and discrimination matters. “While I would like to thank the Mayor for his trust in me, I realise how difficult and important duty I was entrusted with”, said Beata Bugajska. “I hope that, together with residents, NGOs and institutions dealing with equality issues, we will be able to build a consistent and well-functioning system of support”.

Members of the Szczecin City Commune’s strategic team for equality include Ms Beata Bugajska, Mayor’s Representative for Equality (the team’s chairperson); Ms Aleksandra Piasecka, Mayor’s Representative for International Cooperation; Zofia Mirkiewicz, Director of the Support Centre for Children, Youth and Adults; Klaudia Tarczyńska, Chief Specialist at the Organisation Department of the Szczecin City Hall; and Michał Kaczmarczyk, Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office.

The next step will involve drawing up the team’s action plan and detailed programme assumptions, and implementing measures in individual areas. Later this year, the NGOs operating within the reference areas will be invited to apply for the co-financing for their activities.

In November 2020 the Mayor adopted a standpoint in which he clearly declared his support for discriminated people and set the City’s activity directions in this field.

The document adopted by the Mayor, along with containing a declaration of zero tolerance to discrimination, also highlighted his full support for such values as:

1. Opposition to any form of discrimination.
2. Opposition to using the discrimination topic for accomplishing any political objectives and for creating divisions between residents.
3. Active support for the ideas of tolerance, equality and respect for others in all areas of social life.
4. Conducting educational activities targeted at discrimination and hate speech in public life.
5. Providing real support to people facing discrimination.
6. Approaching the discrimination topic in a responsible way, by recognising the need to adopt long-term solutions and measures.
7. Creating a programme for combating discrimination and its consequences.