Local governments in action for human rights
There is growing recognition of the potential of local authorities to transform human rights obligations into concrete actions that can make a real difference in people’s lives.
This was a central theme of the one-day online meeting on Local Government and Human Rights held on 26 November, organized by the OHCHR in partnership with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea in Geneva, UCLG, and the Geneva Human Rights Platform. The event brought together local, regional, and central governments, city networks, academia, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders to exchange good practices, challenges, and lessons learned in advancing human rights at the local level.
Local and regional governments (LRGs) are increasingly recognized as essential actors in the human rights ecosystem, yet they operate within structures not designed for them. The UN system is fundamentally state-centered, leaving LRGs without a formal seat, though their proximity to communities makes their role indispensable.
However, in the past years LRGs have developed several pathways to engage with UN mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review.
In some countries, national governments actively involve cities and regions in drafting reports, shaping national positions, or joining delegations. For example, Belgium has a coordination model where all federated entities contribute equally, demonstrating that political will can make LRGs integral partners in reporting and implementation of UPR recommendations.
Where national cooperation is limited, LRGs can act independently by submitting shadow reports or engaging directly with UN bodies, including under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In other cases, collective action through umbrella networks, as well as collaboration between local authorities and civil society, further enhances their visibility and enables more structured and meaningful participation in the preparation of UPR reports.
Context matters as well. Engagement is easier where UN bodies have a physical presence, as in Mexico City, where proximity fosters stronger relationships, smoother communication, and more opportunities for collaboration. As highlighted by Amanda Flety Martínez, Director for International Relations and Cooperation of Mexico City, a local equivalent of a National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRF) would greatly strengthen coordination and possibilities of meaningful engagement in the UN system.
Despite these efforts, LRGs are still not formally recognized as stakeholders in UN human rights mechanisms, creating procedural hurdles and often rendering their contributions invisible. UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, illustrated how he routinely engages with LRGs in the fulfillment of his mandate through thematic consultations, country visits, and communications. Indeed, the implementation of the right to housing, like most of economic and social rights, is deeply rooted in local governance. Strengthening this relationship would require broader reforms, including integrating LRG-related issues into reviews, developing General Comments on human rights obligations and local governance, and updating tools such as OHCHR guidance to explicitly include local authorities in the implementation of human rights recommendations.
Under international law, a state is considered an integrated entity, meaning that all its parts—central, regional, and local—share the same legal responsibilities. Actions by any state authority, whether legislative, executive, judicial, or local, are treated as actions of the state itself. Consequently, human rights treaties and general principles of international law apply to all levels of government. While central authorities typically handle treaty reporting, local governments play a crucial role in delivering services, managing local systems, and ensuring that human rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled in practice. Local authorities also contribute to reporting on local implementation, reinforcing the state’s responsibilities as a whole.
Effective human rights implementation depends on collaboration between national and local authorities. The event showed growing momentum and highlighted opportunities for the UN system, governments, and LRGs to share and replicate best practices across all levels of governance.