Portimão has been a meeting and debate point in recent days for issues related to migrants and cultural diversity, hosting the regional meeting of CLAIM do Algarve and the VII Meeting of the Portuguese Network of Intercultural Cities, which also had the municipality of Portimão as host.
It was up to the Municipality of Portimão, as the most recent entity that joined the great family of the CLAIM Network, to host the regional meeting of the CLAIM of the Algarve 2016, within the scope of the activities plan of the Office of Support for Local Policies for the Integration of Migrants - GAPLIM.
In a new phase of interventions at the local level, in which the aim is to strengthen the role of local authorities, in partnership with local civil society entities and improve the articulation between them in the territory, this meeting was attended by technicians from the various Municipal Councils that integrate the regional network of CLAIM, namely Portimão, Faro, Lagos, Albufeira and Loulé, as well as elements of GAPLIM, GAIR - Office for Support to the Integration of Refugees and the presence of the member of the board of directors of the High Commission for Migration and the coordinator of the CNAI of Faro.
CLAIM Portimão was inaugurated on April 20, having been the first nationally to open with this new nomenclature, which changed the name CLAII (Local Support Center for the Integration of Immigrants), through a collaboration protocol established between the High Commission for Migration and the Municipality of Portimão.
CLAIM reinforced the Municipal Plan for the Integration of Migrants that the municipality implemented in 2015, a work that has been developed in partnership with all entities, in order to have a more participated, planned and inclusive territory.
Since its opening, until the end of May, the CLAIM of Portimão has been sought after by migrants, mostly from Brazil, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau, between 36 and 45 years of age, who “find solutions there for the obstacles to overcome in the first months of adapting to a new life.
During this period 31 assistances were accounted for, mainly on issues related to legalization, nationality and renewal of the temporary residence permit.
The existence of CLAIM Portimão has made it possible to establish more direct contact with the migrant population and follow up on the resolution of their most practical issues, in addition to fostering contact with local associations in the context of the integration and reception of migrants in Portimão.
On June 21, it was Portimão's turn to host the VII Meeting of the Portuguese Network of Intercultural Cities (RPCI), which brought together seven partner municipalities from north to south of the country (Portimão, Beja, Setúbal, Cascais, Amadora, Santa Maria da Feira and Braga) and four guest municipalities (Lagos, Albufeira, S. Brás de Alportel and Faro).
Issues related to migration policies were debated, with a special focus on the development of an anti-rumour strategy to be implemented during this year that is effective in preventing racism and discrimination and favoring coexistence and diversity.
The meeting's agenda, opened by the vice-president of the Chamber Castelão Rodrigues, included the presentation of measures implemented in Portimão on migration policies, by the councilor responsible for the social area, Ana Fazenda.
The theme “Interculturality in the Algarve”, presented by Zekri Mostafa (associate professor at the Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes), “Women in the Diaspora for the Algarve: contributions in the role of an entrepreneur” by Elsa Vieira (coordinator of the Local Learning Center of Silves- Open University service), as well as a working session on the “Anti-rumours Strategy”, with all those present, followed by an indication of the next steps and an evaluation of the work carried out by the RPCI coordinator, André Carmo.
Portimão joined the Portuguese Network of Intercultural Cities on 2 March, joining the group of 99 intercultural cities and the 5 national networks that are part of the Council of Europe program, which seeks to respond to the phenomenon of migration, addressing it in a positive way and demonstrating that diversity can be an asset to any community if properly managed.
By integrating the Portuguese Network of Intercultural Cities,. Portimão has been sharing the knowledge and experience acquired at European level and exchanging experiences with other members of the network at national level with the common purpose of “promoting the development of immigrant integration policies and the management of diversity and intercultural dialogue”.
From a perspective of promoting policies to consolidate migrants residing in Portimão, the municipality is implementing the Municipal Plan for the Integration of Immigrants, which includes measures aimed at the full integration of this population, namely in the areas of solidarity and social responses, in health, housing, education and language, culture, citizenship and civic participation.
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