3.3. Critical Engagement with Societal and Global Issues. Readings

What is an antirumours strategy?

This strategy is defined on the website of the Intercultural Cities Programme of the Council of Europe (https://www.coe.int/en/web/interculturalcities/module-1-why-an-antirumours-strategy-) The programme draws an antirumours strategy as a long-term process of social change. The antirumours strategy focuses on the way stereotypes and prejudice are created and above all on how to reduce them, or at least reduce their negative impact, to prevent discrimination, improve coexistence, and harness the potential of diversity by triggering a change in perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours among the general population and specific target groups. To reach these global goals, the antirumours strategy focuses on three specific objectives:

• To engage and empower a wide range of stakeholders and citizens by implementing a local public policy and building a cooperative multi-level social platform within the framework of a long-term “antirumours city strategy”.

• To promote critical thinking and raise awareness of the negative effects of stereotypes, prejudices, and false rumours by implementing innovative and participative actions to reduce them and challenging the negative narratives around diversity.

• To influence the political and social agenda so that reducing prejudices and preventing discrimination is recognised as a crucial collective goal for society.