“Better Together”: New Campaign Counters Xenophobia and Social Polarization in Poland

A coalition of 13 human rights organizations has launched the “Better Together” campaign, aiming to combat xenophobia and foster social cohesion by highlighting everyday relationships between Poles and foreign-born residents.

Redefining the Polish Identity

“We build our daily lives together. Let’s build one where everyone feels well,” is the central message of the nationwide campaign. The initiative aims to shift the public perception of foreigners in Poland by actively rejecting language that relies on fear, prejudice, or the divisive “us versus them” narrative.

Instead, the campaign focuses on existing connections between neighbors, colleagues, teachers, students, friends, and families. It emphasizes that social cohesion depends on individual choices, open communication, and mutual understanding in daily interactions.

A Response to Growing Tensions

Anna Błaszczak-Banasiak, director of Amnesty International, expressed concern regarding recent events in Bielsko-Biała, stating that the incident does not represent the reality of a country where people of all origins contribute to a shared life. She highlighted that regardless of birthplace, people share the same joys, fears, and fundamental desire for safety.

Real Stories of Connection

The core of the campaign is a video feature showcasing multinational relationships, including Kasia and Jose, friends working at a multicultural center in Warsaw; Sara and her Brazilian husband Maycon, a 20-year resident; 11-year-old Ignacy and his English teacher Moyo from Zimbabwe; and activists Dorota and Marina, a Ukrainian-born friend.

These stories demonstrate that everyday life is shaped by simple, human gestures. Whether it is a greeting in an apartment building, help with school paperwork, or shared work coffee, these interactions determine whether a society functions through curiosity and kindness or exclusion and distance.

Coalition for Human Rights

The campaign is a collaborative effort by 13 social organizations, including Amnesty International, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, the Club of Catholic Intelligentsia, the Migration Consortium, Conflict Kitchen, Nomada, Ocalenie Foundation, the Podlasie Volunteer Humanitarian Emergency Service, Polistratos Foundation, the Polish Migration Forum, the Association for Legal Intervention, the Widzialne Foundation, and the Border Group.