We bring District 11 back to strengthen solidarity with Palestinian cities
District 11: Palestinian Cities is being launched with a permanent, stable framework, becoming part of Barcelona’s district network. It will function as a fully-fledged district of the city, with an advisory committee chaired by Manel Vila, an expert in international cooperation.
District 11: Palestinian Cities marks a significant step forward in Barcelona’s cooperation and collaboration initiatives with Palestinian cities, which the city maintains strong ties with, as well as strengthening and stabilising support for technical, humanitarian and economic development. The new district will see a 66% increase in the resources currently allocated to cooperation with Palestinian cities, and it will become a stable framework for ongoing solidarity, building on the historic and pioneering example of District 11 Sarajevo.
Deputy Mayor Maria Eugènia Gay, who leads the Human Rights Area, will serve as the new district councillor. The district has an initial budget of €1.5 million and will have an executive management team, alongside an advisory committee chaired by Manel Vila, an expert in international cooperation and manager of District 11 Sarajevo from 1992 to 1996. Initially, the committee will comprise 40 organisations and groups, including the Palestinian community in Catalonia, Lafede, UNRWA and the University of Barcelona.
The new district will focus on all areas agreed with Palestinian cities, including Urban Planning, Public Space, Water and Urban Green Spaces, Resilience, Health, Education, Accessibility, Economic Development and Smart Cities and Innovation. It will also help coordinate initiatives led by civil society.
The launch of District 11: Palestinian Cities coincides with Barcelona doubling its financial contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), increasing support for Gaza’s refugee population from €200,000 to €400,000. As part of the District 11 initiative, Barcelona will contribute to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
District 11: Palestinian Cities is a uniquely Barcelona solidarity initiative. It follows the framework that Mayor Pasqual Maragall launched in 1995 to support Sarajevo’s recovery. Known as District 11 or District Sarajevo, it was set up to coordinate Barcelona’s show of support for the Bosnian capital and its civilian population during the Balkan War.
