Council of Sanctuary

Council of Sanctuary

In April 2022, we pledged support for the City of Sanctuary movement. We also passed a notice of motion to become a Council of Sanctuary. 

What the motion means 

A Council of Sanctuary is a place that: 

• offers a welcome, and 
• provides a safe place for people. 

This includes: 

• asylum seekers 
• refugees, and 
• migrants. 

It also supports conditions that help people feel: 

• safe 
• valued, and 
• included. 

Our commitment

We are committed to welcoming all new residents with care and dignity. 

As a Council of Sanctuary, we will: 

• join a network of towns and cities that support people fleeing violence or persecution 
• continue to learn from the lived experiences of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Belfast, including through the DiverseCity events programme 
• work with organisations that support refugees, asylum seekers and migrants 
• challenge negative attitudes towards refugees and migrants wherever they occur 
• ensure equal access to our services and facilities 
• make sure public spaces are open and welcoming to everyone, and 
• develop a Race Equality and Diversity Action Plan. 

This action plan will: 

• review how we deliver services, and 
• support a more diverse workforce.