The historic Graz City Hall recently became a stage for a celebration of human rights, highlighting a twenty-one-year journey of dedication to the values of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism. While the ECCAR Award was officially announced at the General Assembly in Zurich in October 2025, the spirit of the recognition culminated on March 2, 2026, when ECCAR President Benedetto Zacchiroli and Marie Paule N’Guessan, representing the ECCAR Office, visited the city for the formal handover of the award.
The delegation’s visit began with an exploration of the foundational work that has made Graz a leader in human rights. First destination: the Styrian Anti-Discrimination Office, established in 2012 at the request of the Human Rights Advisory Board as a direct implementation of the ECCAR 10-Point Plan of Action, proving how international standards can be effectively translated into local institutional structures. Led by Daniela Grabovac, this office serves as the primary point of contact and monitoring body for all residents, institutions, and organisations across the region. It acts as a comprehensive advisory centre, meticulously documenting discrimination and ensuring that human rights standards are woven into the fabric of local democratic practice. Furthermore, through the development of the BanHate App, citizens can anonymously report hate speech and hate crimes, turning their smartphones into a shield for democratic values.
The visit then continued at the Seddwell Center/ Base Graz, a hub that brings together people from diverse backgrounds. Within this international centre, the ECCAR delegation met the dedicated volunteer team behind it, including founding member Debbie Adams, President Andrea Huber, and Vice-President Rachel Fox. Through the stories shared by these volunteers, the delegation gained a deeper insight into how the International Community Hub and the International Welcome Office serve as essential pillars of support, helping individuals navigate local systems and fostering a true sense of belonging in the city.
The day‘s final visit was to the Graz City Hall, where ECCAR President Benedetto Zacchiroli presented the award to Mayoress Elke Kahr. This ceremony was attended by a broad spectrum of political figures and members of the city administration, including City Councillor Robert Krotzer, as well as delegates from the Human Rights Advisory Board, the Migrant Council, and the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC).
This award honours the city’s pioneering 'Human Rights Election Campaign Monitoring,' a system that has successfully promoted transparency and dignity in political discourse since 2007. By using a specialised barometric system to evaluate the fairness and inclusivity of political language, Graz has measurably reduced inflammatory rhetoric. As the city looks toward the municipal elections on June 28, 2026, and prepares to celebrate its 21st anniversary as an ECCAR Member, with a journey of over two decades dedicated to the 10-Point Plan of Action, this award stands as a testament to the fact that, in Graz, human rights are not merely a matter of policy, but a living, breathing reality of daily life.
