Making space for cities and regions in the UPR
Local and Regional Governments (LRGs) play an essential role in making international human rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality. As the level of government closest to communities, they directly shape people’s daily lives addressing a number of issues, from adequate housing to access to food and water, from education to various forms of discrimination.
At the UN level, different initiatives are starting to account for the essential role of LRGs in the protection and promotion of human rights and in SDGs’ realisation. Resolution 57/12 of 2024 of the Human Rights Council acknowledges the shared responsibilities of national and local authorities and calls for stronger cooperation between them, as well as improved engagement of LRGs with UN human rights mechanisms.
Similarly, the UN Forum of Mayors is creating new opportunities for city leaders to participate directly in multilateral discussions, reinforcing a whole-of-government approach to human rights governance.
However, while the need is felt to bridge the gap between inter-state debates and the domestic realities where human rights are implemented, LRGs remain largely underrepresented in international human rights monitoring mechanisms.
Why should LRGs be more involved in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)?
This is the question that the side event—part of the Geneva Human Rights Platform’s Human Rights Conversation Series and organised in partnership with the Center for Global Law and Justice at Northeastern University School of Law, the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, and OHCHR –sought to address on November 5. Policymakers, LRG representatives and state human rights agencies exchanged strategies and emerging good practices aimed at strengthening LRG engagement throughout the UPR cycle.
Several factors highlight the importance of strengthening of local and regional governments’ engagement in the UPR. Their presence ‘on the ground’ proves vital in any effort of collecting reliable and disaggregated data on human rights. Involving LRGs also enhances national coordination efforts at the various levels of government, which in turn supports more effective follow-up on UPR recommendations. Moreover, participation in the UPR allows LRGs to better understand and articulate their human rights responsibilities, strengthening the legitimacy of their work at home. It is an opportunity for peer learning and international cooperation, enabling LRGs to share good practices and innovate together in advancing human rights.
Country Experiences
Across different regions, there are already inspiring examples of how LRGs can play an active role in the UPR. In Italy, for instance, the National Mechanism for Implementation, Follow-up and Reporting (CIDU) operates through a participatory approach, maintaining ongoing dialogue with local authorities. During its fourth UPR, the national delegation to Geneva included LRGs representatives, from the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) and the State-Regions Conference. Italy has already put in place participatory initiatives for the implementation of recommendations. For instance, the National Strategy on Inclusion, Equality and Participation of Roma and Sinti was developed jointly with local authorities, NGOs and concerned communities.
Not far away from Italy, in Belgium a structured federal coordination mechanism brings federal, regional, and community authorities together throughout the entire UPR cycle — from drafting to follow-up. This model ensures that all levels of government contribute data, insights, and implementation efforts.
As Sharon Weinblum, General Delegate for Wallonia-Brussels, and member of the Permanent Mission of Belgium in Geneva explained, , through a multilateral coordination body ‘every aspect is covered, and it is possible to have permanent dialogue between region, communities and the State’.
From the United States, Alisa Warren, President of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA), and Robert Corbisier, Executive Director of the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, explained how local institutions of a different nature contribute to human rights protection - from education and non-discrimination enforcement to stakeholder reporting. They stressed the need for better coordination between federal, state and local levels.
UN Perspective
OHCHR is dedicating much work on improving LRGs engagement in human rights mechanisms. As Dimiter Chalev, Chief of Rule of Law, Equality and non-Discrimination underscored, broader LRGs involvement leads to more accurate, context-specific data, with the potential of strengthening the quality of UPR recommendations in turn. Despite promising examples, many local authorities continue to face obstacles: limited resources, insufficient training on international procedures, and, in some contexts, barriers created at the national level. To help close these gaps, OHCHR has been developing new tools — including a Guidance Framework for human rights cities — to support local authorities who want to translate global commitments into local realities.