La Laguna is hosting a conference on diversity, immigration, sustainability and the rights of future generations, marking the final stretch of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of its declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage City. This meeting, which will continue until 3 December, is a unique space where art, academic thought and citizen participation come together to reflect on the great challenges of our time.
This forum is not intended to be merely an academic or cultural event, but rather an opportunity for La Laguna to reflect on itself and project itself to the world as an example of coexistence, inclusion and intergenerational responsibility. All this while reviving the spirit of the Declaration of La Laguna (1994), the seed of the 1997 UNESCO Declaration on the Rights of Future Generations and, in turn, the origin of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, officially opened this international forum, which represents ‘an act of commitment to our history, our identity and our future. La Laguna not only protects its legacy, but also projects it towards future generations, defending diversity, social justice and sustainability’.
He also pointed out that ‘the European and national accessibility awards received by La Laguna and our participation in international projects, such as Accessible EU, endorse a local model that demonstrates that protecting heritage also means guaranteeing quality of life and social justice’.
For his part, the Councillor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, stressed that ‘La Laguna is reaffirming itself as a living heritage laboratory, capable of generating reflection and action around major global challenges. Our goal is to consolidate the city as an international benchmark in heritage ethics and sustainability.’
To advance these objectives, the conference will feature the participation of internationally renowned figures who will contribute diverse and complementary perspectives. These include Edith Brown Weiss, an environmental lawyer and pioneer in the formulation of the principle of intergenerational justice, and Angélica Dass, a Brazilian artist renowned for her photographic project Humanae, which explores human diversity through skin tones and connects directly with the spirit of the La Laguna Declaration.
Another of today’s speakers was Michelle Alonso, a Paralympic swimmer from Tenerife, double Olympic champion and a leading figure in inclusive sport, whose career symbolises resilience and equal opportunities in a conference moderated by philosopher and ULL professor Inmaculada Perdomo.
In addition, Margarita Ramos Quintana, professor of labour law and president of the CajaCanarias Foundation, will share her perspective on labour rights as a pillar of social sustainability, while Maisa Navarro Segura, professor of art history and author of the dossier that led to La Laguna’s inclusion on the World Heritage List, will delve into memory and commitment to cultural heritage.
Beatriz Simón, architect in charge of the Office for the Comprehensive Management of the Historic City of La Laguna, which leads projects for the rehabilitation and sustainable management of the historic centre, will also take part. Journalists such as Nicolás Castellano, academics such as María José Guerra Palmero and María Eugenia Monzón Perdomo, and institutional representatives, among others, complete a programme that places La Laguna at the centre of the debate on diversity and sustainability.
Programme
The conference, held at Espacio Mutua Tinerfeña, devoted its first day to cultural diversity and immigration, with lectures by Angélica Dass and Michelle Alonso, followed by round-table discussions on social inclusion, collective memory and social justice. The afternoon programme will focus on human mobility and migration challenges, with presentations by María José Guerra Palmero and Nicolás Castellano, and a debate on structural inequalities in southern Europe.
On the second day (2 December), the initiative moves to Casa Anchieta with Angélica Dass’ Humanae workshops, aimed at educators in the morning and families in the afternoon, designed as seeds of change that work on empathy and shared responsibility. This event has limited capacity, so prior registration is required.
On Wednesday (3 December), the event will return to Espacio Mutua Tinerfeña to address sustainability and the rights of future generations, with a video presentation by Edith Brown Weiss, talks by Margarita Ramos and Beatriz Simón, and a round table discussion on public policies for intergenerational well-being.
The programme, the registration form for the Humanae workshops and information about the speakers are available on the website that summarises the intense cultural agenda for the 25th anniversary of La Laguna’s declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage City, at https://25aniversario.aytolalaguna.es/jornadas-25o-aniversario-2025/.