In times of unprecedented mobility, issues of migration and growing cultural diversity have become the core of interest at the global, national and local level.

“Half the world’s people now live in towns and cities. In little more than a generation, two-thirds of the global population will be urban. As the proportion of humanity living in the urban environment grows, so too does the need to strengthen the urban focus of our efforts to reduce global poverty and promote sustainable development,” said U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon in his statement on  International Habitat Day Monday.

“From necessity springs opportunity. Better planned and better functioning cities can help guide us to the future we want: cities where everyone has adequate shelter, water, sanitation, health and other basic services; cities with good education and job prospects; cities with energy-efficient buildings and public transport systems; cities where all feel they belong,” he added.

Organised on the occasion of the International Habitat Day, the panel discussion titled ‘The Inclusive City: Management of Diversity at the Local Level’, a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on drawing world’s attention to the issue of global migration and integration at the local level as well as arising perspectives and opportunities.

The meeting gathered high-level experts from U.N. Habitat, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as well as International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

“Cultural diversity can spark innovation, stimulate creativity and boost the economy. But we can not take it for granted,” said Jorge Sampaio, secretary general’s high representative for the UNAOC and former president of Portugal, in his opening remarks Monday.

“To make diversity a driving force for prosperity, appropriate policies and measures are absolutely needed. In this regard, municipal and local governments play crucial role in promoting sustainable development, based on cultural diversity as a key factor in preventing conflicts and contributing to security and peace,” he added.

At the 2012 Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, that took place in Brazil last June, the world leaders strongly reaffirmed the important role cities play in the process of economic and social development and environmental protection.

Today many organisations and world leaders are discussing on how issues of migration and integration can be addressed at the city level, guaranteeing better opportunities to all citizens, regardless of their social, cultural or ethnical background.

“An inclusive city provides the opportunities and supportive mechanisms that enable all residents to develop their full potential and gain their first shares of what we should call the urban advantage, said Cecilia Martinez, the director of the UN-Habitat Office in New York, adding that participatory planning and decision-making are at the heart of the ‘inclusive city’ and comprise all aspects of basic living conditions, ranging from housing, transportation, education, to recreation, communication, culture, religion and employment among others.

For instance Turin, city in the northern province of Italy, along with Italian Foundation Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, have demonstrated successful best practices to promote inclusive urban governance by applying innovative strategies, such as social housing project, to further improve the quality of urban governance and make their city a better place to live.

The city of Curitiba – Paraná, Brazil was cited as  a model of sustainable development. In the building of that sustainable city, there were 5 guidelines: “Creativity, Commitment, Caring and Sharing, Engagement, Respect and Simplicity” said Eduardo Guimaraes, architect, former Secretary of State of Paraná and Secretary of Curitiba, speaking at a High-Level Working Session of UN-Habitat.

The city has also taken the issue of healthcare by transforming swamps in parks and relocating low incomes families in better houses away from the degraded areas. And the creation of the Mother Curitibana Program which is responsible for the reduction of child mortality from 17% in 1997 to 5.5% in 2007.

“We believe we have some suggestions to be considered” said Linus Xiao Winan, Executive Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation. Indeed during the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, the most critically damaged zone was 200 miles away from the epicenter because Chinese urban development usually uses the concept of Feng Shui. “As a result, major cities do not suffer from flooding and earthquake due to urban planning from Feng Shui,” added Xiao Wunan.