Human Rights in Local Governance

Why do we focus on human rights in local governance?

More than half of humanity live in cities and it is there, in the local community, that everyday life takes place. Our work with human rights in local governance tend to get closer to many everyday human rights challenges, increasing the possibility to have a more direct impact on policy and practice.

Be it in an urban or rural area, it is at the local level where social, political, and economic rights come into being, where policies are translated into concrete actions, and where rights are vindicated. Cities are also both major contributors to climate change, generating about 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time on the front lines of the consequences of climate change.

While local govermnents´ responsibilities can vary between and within different countries, they all have a responsibility to promote and fulfill human rights obligations within their municipalities, also in times of crises and disasters of different kind.

Cities can play a vital role in creating inclusive, environmentally healthy and secure spaces. They can be positive places, contributing to strengthen hope in times when human rights and democratic principles are challenged at international and national levels. Cities and regions together can also play an active role in promoting human rights, democracy and healthy environment  nationally, regionally and globally.

What does it mean to work with human rights in local governance?

Working for human rights in local governance is about making policies and programmes rights-based. Rights-based in other words means people-centred as they take individual rights as the point of departure.

The design and quality of policies, delivery of services and methods for follow-up of effects is improved as they are aligned with international human rights standards. Human rights principles are being translated into local everyday routines and practices.

It also means that individuals are empowered as inhabitants shall be able to take part in decision-making processes on issues that affect them. This is especially important in relation to communities whose living conditions and opportunities are more limited due to different forms of structural discrimination and risks of exclusion. This way policies and their implementation are better shaped to address different needs among the population. It also means that cities should help its citizens, no matter status, background and abilties, to understand and claim their rights.

Working systematically with human rights in local governance is also a crucial way to make progress towards all the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level by 2030, in particular goal 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable).

• Sweden

Rapport från ett utvecklingsarbete - Förstärkt styrning och uppföljning av mänskliga rättigheter i sex kommuner (2023)

Human Rights on the local and regional level (2019)

Human Rights Cities and Regions – Swedish and International perspectives (2017)

Inconventient human rights - Access to Water and Sanitation in Sweden’s Informal Roma Settlements (2016)

• Asia Pacific

Localising Human Rights in the Context of SDGs: a Handbook for Cities (2022)

Human Rights in Action: Localizing Human Rights for Sustainable Development (2023) 

Discussion Brief: Localising Human Rights: Challenges and Opportunities in the Asia-Pacific Region (2024)

• Turkey

Human Rights City Indicators (2021)