Kate Feeney, Councillor for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Ireland County Council (Fianna Fáil) will assist the work of the jury for the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity 2023 Award. 

The Award recognises the work done by cities, towns, or regions in Europe to promote inclusion and create discrimination-free societies. It is open for local authorities to apply and is a chance to show the world what cities and towns are doing to create more diverse and inclusive spaces for their citizens. 

Feeney was selected to be the sole European Committee of the Regions (CoR) representative to assist the work of the jury for this award, based on her work as the CoR rapporteur on LGTBIQ+ rights. Her selection is especially relevant, as this year’s awards will include a special  honour for work done in cities to safeguard LGBTIQ+ community rights.  

Previously, Feeney worked on the ‘Union of Equality: LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020 – 2025’ to advance LGBTIQ+ equality at the local and regional levels in the EU. This report, in which she urged local authorities to embrace equality and diversity to prosper, raised the issue of rainbow families across Europe and received overwhelming cross-party approval.   

Apply now! 

The award has two main categories, one for local authorities with less than 50,000 inhabitants and one for local authorities for more than 50,000 inhabitants. A special award will also be given for LGBTIQ+ equality initiatives. Applications close 15 February 2023 at 12:00 CET.  

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