IT CONCLUDED WITH SEVERAL SETS OF INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES THANKS TO THE PARTICIPATION OF OVER 100 EXPERTS FROM 15 COUNTRIES AND VARIOUS FIELDS

On the 22nd of October our International Congress on Public Safety in a Diverse Society drew to a close. Thanks to the active participation of 100 experts and professionals from different countries and fields, we attained the main objective we had initially set out. A major exchange of interesting experiences in different fields and contexts led to new knowledge (especially in the form of International Guidelines) based on joint analyses from different disciplines. This all took place within a warm and friendly atmosphere we all enjoyed and which allowed us to make new friendships. It also enabled us to begin talking about future joint programmes to be carried out among different cities and countries

We received many congratulations which we'd like to pass on to all participants for their active involvement. Thank you very much for dedicating these days to the Congress.

International Guidelines for the future of public safety and governance in a diverse society.

Thanks to the joint analysis by all participants and to the citizens', professionals' and experts' prior participative work in various places and within various fields, we managed to close the Congress with a series of general Guidelines in specific areas. These could help to orient models and methodologies of public safety and governance as well as exchanges of experiences and collaboration among cities and countries in terms of safety and integration in diverse societies.

You can download the following Congress documents here:

□ Congress Conclusions (a general summary and panel-by-panel break-down)

□ The International Guidelines on Public Safety in a Diverse Society (results of the International conference process);

□ The International Guidelines for Governance in a Diverse Community;

□ The International Guidelines for Non Discriminatory Practices in Public Safety;

□ The International Guidelines for the Protection of the Universal Right to have a Home.

The Guidelines are open to all interesting inputs and feedbacks which you can send to us. They will be published in our Congress Book and presented to national and international organisations to be disseminated, promoted and applied where possible.

More information on our Congress is available in our Newsletter number 7 and in our Congress page.

We would like to remind those who have only sent us a title that we need the summaries (maximum 350 words) by the end of August. This will allow us to conclude the Congress programme. Remember that you also have the opportunity to publish an article related to you communication in the Congress Book. You have until the opening of the Congress to hand in your article.

□ Good police practices for non discrimination of social and cultural diversity. Co-organised by the Open Society Justice Initiative.

□ The situation of the homeless: local problems, international solutions. Co-organised by Rais (European FEANTSA network invited)

□ Needs and guidelines for community governance. Co-organised by Wijkaanpak office, City of Amsterdam.

As an expert or entity, if you are interested in participating in or co-organising a symposium, or if you have another proposal, contact us soon (end of August at the latest).

Many thanks to all the co-organisers and participants in the Study Group.

The meeting was organised by the NGO Corazón, and especially by Adam Alonso, co-ordinator of the CeaseFire programme. A long list of public and private institutions from Cicero took part in the meeting. Representatives from Enlace Chicago from Little Village which borders Cicero were also present.

Thank you to all and in particular to the organisers.

We would like to thank the French National Police in Paris for their hospitality and dedication to us, as well as the delegation of the French Embassy for their assistance in organising the visit.

Children, teens and adults came together on the square and shared neighbourhood games, painting, music and design activities. It was an evening enjoyed by all in which age, social condition or belonging to some group did not present a barrier to enjoyment.

The Instituto Lope de Vega, Los Mayores también cuentan, GIIS Calle Norte, Grupo Raga, Palmapapel and various social intervention associations as well as local businesses collaborated in organising these activities. Their support was essential in the realisation of the activity.

Thanks to everyone who participated and well done!

Thank you very much to Judge Martino for his invaluable participation.

The closing was presided over by the director of the Public Safety Community Programme, Miguel Ángel Gandarillas, Javier Fernández, Official from the Integral Unit of the Municipal Police of Madrid's South Central District and Judge Rubén Martino, presiding judge of the Harlem Community Justice Centre.

The training programme which began in January and ended in June welcomed more than 90 professionals from various fields of intervention (police, social services, prosecution, courts, sociology and others) and among its select group of trainers, professionals and experts from each of the professional specialties making up the programme.

The broad experience of the professionals who lead the workshop, as well as that of all participants made for an interesting debate on the challenges and opportunities of working in inter-institutional groups.