Over 50 representatives from local and regional governments (LRGs), civil society organizations, and international experts gathered in Geneva in July 2025 to officially launch and sign the Guidance Framework for Creating a Human Rights City, co-developed by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. This framework responds to a pressing question from municipalities worldwide: How can human rights be embedded into every aspect of urban governance?
Far from being just another policy document, the Guidance Framework offers concrete tools and strategies for cities to integrate human rights principles into daily governance, covering areas such as budgeting, service delivery, urban planning, and citizen participation. Its approach closely reflects the RIGHTSCITIES mission: to support cities in implementing human rights locally through inclusive, participatory governance.
Preparing the Groundwork
The launch was preceded on 21 July by a Coordination Meeting of the Human Rights Cities & Territories Community at the United Nations Human Rights Headquarters in Geneva. This gathering brought together academic institutions and think tanks to align strategies and strengthen collaboration across key actors in the human rights cities movement.
Key Insights from this meeting:
- A strong consensus emerged around the crucial role of local governments in advancing human rights, especially in addressing global challenges like climate change, inequality, and migration.
- Cities underscored the need to integrate human rights across all areas of local governance, including budgeting, service delivery, urban planning, and citizen participation.
- Peer learning and international collaboration were recognised as essential to maintaining momentum and avoiding fragmented efforts.
RIGHTSCITIES at the Forefront
The RIGHTSCITIES project was represented at both events by Morten Kjaerum of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute and Sneh Aurora of Utrecht University, who shared valuable insights and experiences to help shape the framework and the broader movement.
The launch of the Guidance Framework marks a significant step forward for human rights at the local level, providing cities with the knowledge, tools, and shared vision needed to create inclusive, rights-based urban futures.
Find the Guidance Framework for Creating a Human Rights City here
Learn more about the Rightscities Project here
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Photo by: United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)