The Valencia City Council will promote the different activities organized within the framework of the 'Humans Fest, International Festival of Cinema and Human Rights of València', “an event that is associated with the city and consolidates it as a showcase for the defense of human rights and social awareness of different types of discrimination.” This is clear from the collaboration agreement signed today by the mayor of Valencia, Joan Ribó, and the president of the Foundation for Justice of the Valencian Community, José María Tomás y Tío.
As a result of this agreement, the aforementioned film festival, with municipal financial support of 20,000.00 euros per year, will offer citizens a program of audiovisual screenings that will promote equal treatment, and the fight and critical attitude against any marginalization based on sex. , racial or ethnic origin, disability, age, religion or beliefs, ideology, sexual or gender orientation and identity, etc.
The mayor of València, Joan Ribó, accompanied by the Councilor for Equality and Gender and LGTBI Policies, Lucía Beamud, has signed this agreement today, approved by the Local Government Board, within the framework of the actions carried out by the City Council for the equal treatment and non-discrimination. Specifically, this agreement with the Foundation for Justice of the Valencian Community, an entity of cultural nature and general interest, responds to the objectives included in the COMVA Plan for municipal coexistence against discrimination and hatred 2021-2024, approved by the Municipal Plenary Session. in October 2021, in accordance with the Valencian Strategy for equal treatment, non-discrimination and the prevention of hate crimes 2019-2024.
According to the agreement, 'Humans Fest, Festival Internacional de Cinema i Drets Humans de València', “is one in relation to the city and one of the most prestigious in Spain, which defends the power of audiovisuals to generate changes and achieve a balance between the defense of human rights and the denunciation of violations, so that it is a first-class international film exhibition, while at the same time offering a differentiated quality program in the city of Valencia, which is why it is an instrument effective, flexible and open for the construction of a critical and participatory citizenship, without prejudice, and involved in the fight for equity from a broad perspective.” “It is about actively engaging citizens in denouncing inequalities and the violation of human rights on a global and local scale,” the text adds.
The agreement also includes the municipal desire to "raise awareness in society to break discriminatory stereotypes, as well as promote inclusive practices in public administration and in Valencian society in general." With this objective, the aforementioned Pla COMVA "contemplates actions to promote the positive visibility of the diversity of Valencian society in all areas and to enable spaces for positive interaction and coexistence between diverse groups." This plan also foresees “generating tools that contribute to the empowerment of invisible, minoritized and vulnerable groups for the construction of an inclusive and diverse society, and promoting critical thinking to prevent prejudices, stereotypes and attitudes and behaviors.” discriminatory.”
Joan Ribó stated that “the City Council works to make Valencia a city that respects everyone, and guarantees human rights for everyone.” In fact, he explained that “the defense of human rights is integrated into the municipal government's strategy of guaranteeing all rights for all people,” and he assured that “it is essential to work on this objective in a tangible way with initiatives that They guarantee food, housing, as well as respect for religion, skin color, gender identity or sexuality.” “We have only one requirement and that is that each person respects others, and that others respect that person.”
Regarding the agreement signed today, the mayor has indicated that "the signatory parties share the objective of achieving the defense of human rights, without exclusion, and with this purpose, they propose to develop shared actions that contribute to raising awareness in society such as the Festival International Cinema and Human Rights of Valencia”.
The Councilor for Equality and Gender and LGTBI Policies, Lucía Beamud, has stated along the same lines, who has considered “it is important to associate the festival, which has been celebrated in the city for years, with Valencia, which is a reference in the defense of human rights, and guarantee that all people have rights in the city.” “We know that we are diverse people who live in diverse contexts, and for everyone we have to guarantee the right to the city”
For his part, the president of the Foundation for Justice of the Valencian Community, José María Tomás y Tío, thanked “the City Council's commitment to human rights, as well as the attitude of the mayor, explicit in ensuring that there are many human rights and all very great, and that they all deserve municipal support.”