Translated by Andrés Martínez Forero
Bogotá’s Mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán, traveled to Paris (France) at the invitation of his counterpart, Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and Bloomberg Associates, to speak at the ‘International conference on homelessness'. There, he aimed to learn firsthand about successful strategies and to secure technical support in areas such as solid waste management, infrastructure construction, digital transformation, food supply, and decontamination.
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Galán participated in the opening of this international event with the goal of discussing strategies and proposing solutions to combat homelessness, a social phenomenon affecting people who lack a permanent residence, often due to a sudden and traumatic disruption of their economic, familial, and social ties, forcing them to live on the streets or in temporary housing services like shelters.
"Cities are often the first point of contact for migrants and require more support both nationally and internationally. It is crucial that cities have a voice in migration policies to provide the best possible care to those seeking a new home," stated the Mayor of Bogotá on his X account.
During the meeting among local leaders and specialized organizations, the Mayor of Bogotá highlighted the common challenges cities face in addressing the growing number of homeless people, amidst rising migration and policies implemented at local, national, and international levels.
This is why Galán discussed the Venezuelan migration phenomenon and the social, cultural, and economic integration processes led by Bogotá. "Cities are often the first point of contact for migrants and need more support both nationally and internationally," he added.
In Paris, the Mayor also conducted bilateral meetings with Parisian public entities and French companies to reference successful practices in integrated and sustainable transportation, water management, waste management, and energy services.
In this post, the Mayor of Bogotá participates in the ‘International conference on homelessness':
Siguiendo con nuestra agenda, participamos en el conversatorio sobre las temáticas de personas sin hogar y migración.
— Carlos F. Galán (@CarlosFGalan) June 20, 2024
Junto al alcalde de Newark, @rasjbaraka, la secretaria de Estado electa de Dakar y la alcaldesa de París, @Anne_Hildago, reflexionamos sobre el papel de las… pic.twitter.com/3RsIaHMC2i
“This is part of what we are doing, to learn about different systems and adopt what may work for Bogotá and thus propose how to change the model,” said Mayor Galán during his tour of SYTCOM, the Parisian agency managing metropolitan domestic waste; a public company leading in Europe in the treatment and recovery of domestic waste for 6 million residents of the French capital and its suburbs.
“These were very productive dialogues to secure technical support for central issues for the future of our city, such as water management and supply, circular economy, the creation of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Campus, and urban developments to create safer, more livable, and sustainable neighborhoods for citizens,” the Mayor emphasized at the end of the meetings with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
(Also read:Bogotá Triumphs on TripAdvisor: Sixth Worldwide & Leader in South America)
With the development of this international agenda, Mayor Galán strengthens international relations and establishes collaborations and alliances for the implementation of key strategies of the City’s Development Plan, Bogotá Camina Segura.
