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Human Rights City

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In 2015, the Human Rights Council adopted the A/HRC/30/49 Report "Role of local governments in the promotion and the protection of Human Rights". In the picture, Patrick Braouezec addresses the Council as co-chair of the UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights

A Human Rights City is a municipality that refers explicitly to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards and/or law in their policies, statements, and programs. Analysts have observed growing numbers of such cities since 2000...[1][2] The Human Rights City initiative emerged from the global human rights movement, and it reflects efforts of activist groups to improve respect for human rights principles by governments and other powerful actors who operate at the local/community level. Because of their focus on local contexts, Human Rights Cities tend to emphasize economic, social, and cultural rights as they affect the lives of residents of cities and other communities and their ability to enjoy civil and political human rights.

Human rights advocates describe a Human Rights City as “One whose residents and local authorities, through learning about the relevance of human rights to their daily lives (guided by a steering committee), join in ongoing learning, discussions, systematic analysis and critical thinking at the community level, to pursue a creative exchange of ideas and the joint planning of actions to realize their economic, social, political, civil and cultural human rights.”[3] Human rights cities were defined at the 2011 World Human Rights Cities Forum as "both a local community and a socio-political process in a local context where human rights play a key role as fundamental values and guiding principles."[4] This framework has generated various practices in different cities.

History of human rights cities

The Human Rights City initiative is the result of long-standing efforts of popular groups to defend and promote human rights, and thus represents an aspect of global human rights struggles.

Origins: From the Right to the City to the People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning

Contemporary human rights city initiatives grow directly from earlier organizing around rights claims in urban settings. The widespread nature of urban problems affecting peoples’ everyday lives and survival have generated similar types of responses in places around the world, helping account for the simultaneous emergence and consolidation of popular claims to the “right to the city."[5] According to David Harvey, “to invoke rights to the city means ‘to claim some kind of shaping power over the processes of urbanization, over the ways in which our cities are made and remade and to do so in a fundamental and radical way’."[6]

Ideas inspiring this movement first emerged in the 1970s, with many influenced by Henri Lefebvre’s 1968 book, Le Droit à la ville. The movement has expanded and gained momentum around the world since the mid-1990s.[5] The proliferation of global financial crises, urban austerity, and environmental damage has contributed to the rise of a growing number of cities around the world that are referring more explicitly to international human rights in their policies, statements, and programs.[7]

The formally named “Human Rights Cities” initiative was launched by the People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning (PDHRE), which was formerly known as People’s Decade for Human Rights Education, in the wake of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria. The initiative aims to mobilize people in communities to “pursue a community-wide dialogue and to launch actions to improve the life and security of women, men and children based on human rights norms and standards.”[8] This approach is different from the traditional way that human rights are enforced and applied because of its emphasis on popular education, engagement, and culture as a necessary complement to government enforcement.

Human Rights Cities have grown in part because of the enhanced efforts by international agencies like UN Habitat to connect international legal regimes with municipal programs. As a result of globalized economic development processes, cities around the world are facing a similar host of urban problems, including a lack of affordable housing, traffic congestion and insufficient public services. Cities have looked to international forums like the UN Conferences on Human Settlements[8] and the World Associations of Cities and Local Authorities[9] to help address these problems. Shulamith Koning,[10] founder of the People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning (PDHRE), worked closely with human rights organizers in some of the first formally designated human rights cities, including Rosario Argentina, which became the first Human Rights City in the world in 1997[11] and the first U.S.-based Human Rights City of Washington, D.C.[8]

Human Rights Cities international consolidation and networking (1998 - today)

1998 would suppose a breakthrough for the human rights movement both in terms of institutional consolidation as well as global outreach. At the European level, the Barcelona Conference Cities for Human Rights gathered more than 400 hundred local authorities uniting their voice and calling for a stronger political acknowledgment as key actors in safeguarding human rights[12]. The Conference process would culminate in 2 years after in the French city of Saint Denis by the adoption of the European Charter for the Safeguarding of Human Rights in the City (2000). By the same time, the movement of human rights cities was also taking ground in Asia, as regional civil society organizations were about to launch the Asia Human Rights Charter[13] (Gwangju, 1998). Both charters would highlight the increasing role of local actors in promoting human rights as a way to reinforce local democracy and the place of human rights in the city in an increasingly urbanized world.

After the establishment of Rosario as the first Human Rights City back in 1997, other local authorities in South America effectively embraced the human rights-based approach by placing a special emphasis on its link with the notion of right to the city. In 2001, the City Statue of Brazil offered a renewed framework for promoting human rights and the social function of the city at a national scale[14]. Mexico City is also among the pioneers in the development of the human rights cities notion: in the last decade, it has promoted the Mexico City Charter for the Right to the City[15], created mechanisms to monitor human rights at the local level and adopted a new constitution specifically based on the human rights approach[16]. The city of Bogotá was also at the forefront in the implementation of the human rights approach, with the implementation of the Bogotá Humana policy (2013-2016) which took a specific emphasis on the rights of homeless people, women and elderly population[17][18][19].

In North America, Montreal was a regional pioneer with the establishment of its local Montreal Charter of Rights and Responsibilities (2006)[20]. San Francisco has implemented policy translates and implements locally the rights of women as defined in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women since 1998[21].

Throughout the last years, several examples around the world show a deepening on the concept and implications of human rights cities. In South Korea, Gwangju pioneered the establishment of a human rights municipal system (2009)[22] that was quickly followed by cities such as Seoul (2012)[23] and Busan. Gwangju has also been the main organizer of a World Human Rights Cities Forum that has gathered hundreds of human rights cities on a yearly basis[24]. All around Europe, cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Graz or Utrecht have established mechanisms to guarantee human rights and monitor their responsibilities under international human rights standards. Particular examples in this regard can be found in local government measures such as Barcelona’s “City of Rights” programme (2016)[25] or Madrid’s “Strategic Plan for Human Rights Cities” (2017)[26].

The notion of Human Rights Cities in the United States

Human rights organizers in United States have faced particular challenges due to the role of the U.S. in the world and to the U.S. failure to ratify most major international human rights treaties. However, in the 2000s, more U.S.-based activists have been working to raise international awareness of U.S. human rights violations, including racial discrimination in the criminal justice system, economic human rights violations, and the rights of children. In 2014 residents of Detroit who were losing access to clean water brought their case to the United Nations, which sent a Special Rapporteur[27] to the city and issued a statement condemning practices that inhibited residents’ right to water.[28] This issue and others have encouraged more U.S. cities, including Baltimore Maryland, Mountain View California,[29] Columbia South Carolina, to consider the human rights city model.

Cities and international law

All international human rights law is based in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted in 1948. This document outlines the inalienable and fundamental rights of humankind that are protected regardless of gender, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, or any other social, economic, or political factor. The articles in the UDHR are not legally binding, but they are recognized as part of customary international law, and they authorize the development of binding international treaties, which countries may choose to sign and ratify. International human rights treaties and monitoring processes, however, privileges national governments and limits the role of local officials, whose cooperation in the implementation of international law is critical. The day-to-day work of implementing human rights standards often rests on the shoulders of local and regional authorities. They too are bound by these agreements. Local and regional authorities are often directly responsible for services related to health care, education, housing, water supply, environment, policing and also, in many cases, taxation.[30][31]

How cities implement human rights ideals varies from city to city. This allows for each city to develop a plan that is specific to its capacities, needs, problems, and concerns. Formally designated “Human Rights Cities” typically create a leadership body made up of community activists, residents, and public officials (or their appointees) working in partnership.[32] Other cities may adopt human rights language and standards without officially adopting the name of Human Rights City. For instance, Barcelona is a leading human right city in Europe, and it created an Office of Non-Discrimination to implement the EU anti-racial discrimination policy within its borders as part of becoming a Human Rights City.[32]

San Francisco is another such example, since its 1998 adoption of a city ordinance[33] reflecting the principles of the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women. The San Francisco example has helped shape work by activists organizing a “Cities for CEDAW”[34] campaign to convince cities around the United States to implement the CEDAW convention despite the failure of the national government to ratify the treaty.

Work by international human rights activists and by policymakers in the United Nations has helped spread ideas about how city governments can improve human rights implementation. In 2004, UNESCO helped establish the International Coalition of Cities against Racism[35] to help municipal leaders exchange ideas and improve policies to fight racism, discrimination, xenophobia and exclusion. The European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR)[36] grew out of that effort, and it now has more than 104 municipalities in its membership and has adopted a ten-point action plan[37]

As the ECCAR example illustrates, city officials themselves are increasingly mobilizing across borders around human rights agendas. For instance, the European Conference of Cities for Human Rights[38] was formed in 1998 on the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At its second convening in 2000, it adopted the European Charter for the Safeguarding of Human Rights in the City,[39] which has been signed by more than 400 cities.

Human Rights Council on the "Role of Local Governments in the promotion and the protection of human rights"

Current human rights cities

The following cities have been formally designated as Human Rights Cities:

Africa

Asia

Europe

North America

South America

References

  1. ^ Grigolo, Michele (2011). "Incorporating Cities into the Eu Anti-Discrimination Policy: Between Race Discrimination and Migrant Rights". Ethnic and Racial Studies. 34 (10): 1751–69. doi:10.1080/01419870.2010.538422.
  2. ^ van den Berg, Esther and Barbara Oomen (2014). "Towards a Decentralization of Human Rights: The Rise of Human Rights Cities." pp. 11–16 in The Future of Human Rights in an Urban World: Exploring Opportunities, Threats and Challenges, edited by T. van Lindert and D. Lettinga. https://www.amnesty.nl/urbanworld
  3. ^ Human Rights Learning and Human Rights Cities: Achievements Report. Peoples Movement for Human Rights Learning, 2007 http://www.pdhre.org/achievements-HR-cities-mar-07.pdf Karen Dolan, Human Rights City Toolkit, Institute for Policy Studies, March 2009 http://www.ips-dc.org/human_rights_city_toolkit/
  4. ^ Gwangju Declaration on Human Right City, 16–17 May 2011 Gwangju, Republic of Korea http://www.uclg-cisdp.org/sites/default/file/Gwangju_Declaration_on_HR_City_final_edited_version_110524.pdf
  5. ^ a b Meyer, Margit (2009). "The 'Right to the City' in the Context of Shifting Mottos of Urban Social Movements". City. 13 (2–3): 362–74. doi:10.1080/13604810902982755.
  6. ^ Harvey, David (2012). Rebel Cities: From the Right to the City to the Urban Revolution. New York: Verso.
  7. ^ Peck, Jamie (2015). Austerity Urbanism: The Neoliberal Crisis of American Cities. Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
  8. ^ a b c Marks, Stephen P.; Modrowski, Kathleen A.; Lichem, Walther (2008). Human Rights Cities: Civic Engagement for Societal Development (PDF). People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning & UN Habitat.
  9. ^ "Statement by WACLAC at the International Conference on Financing for Development; Monterrey, Mexico; 18 March 2002". www.un.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  10. ^ "Shulamith Koenig". www.pdhre.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  11. ^ "PDHRE: Human Rights Communities". pdhre.org. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  12. ^ "European Charter for the Safeguarding of Human Rights in the City". UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Asia Human Rights Charter" (PDF). Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  14. ^ "The City Statute of Brazil: A Commentary | Cities Alliance". www.citiesalliance.org. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  15. ^ "Mexico City Charter for the Right to the City" (PDF). UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  16. ^ Linares, Marina Franco y Albinson. "Ciudad de México aprueba su primera constitución y estrena nuevos poderes" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  17. ^ "El adiós de Gustavo Petro y la Bogotá Humana". ELESPECTADOR.COM (in Spanish). 2015-12-27. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  18. ^ "Estos son los colegios de la Bogota Humana, Una política educativa que es hito mundial". Gustavo Petro Blog (in European Spanish). 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  19. ^ "The Rights Approach through the "Bogotá Humana" Development Plan | CISDP". www.uclg-cisdp.org. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  20. ^ "Montreal City Charter of Rights and Responsibilities" (PDF). City of Monreal. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  21. ^ "Implementing the UN convention on women's rights locally | CISDP". www.uclg-cisdp.org. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  22. ^ 세계인권도시포럼. "세계인권도시포럼". www.whrcf.org (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  23. ^ "In Seoul, a municipal government division works to mainstream the rights approach in local public action | CISDP". www.uclg-cisdp.org. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  24. ^ "World Human Rights Cities Forum (WHRCF) of Gwangju, South Korea | CISDP". www.uclg-cisdp.org. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  25. ^ "Mesura de govern "Barcelona Ciutat de Drets"" (PDF). City Council of Barcelona. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  26. ^ "Plan Estratégico de Derechos Humanos de Madrid" (PDF). City Council of Madrid. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  27. ^ "Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation". www.ohchr.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  28. ^ Graham, David A. "Detroit and the Evaporating Right to Running Water". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  29. ^ http://www.mv-voice.com/news/2015/07/19/dispute-over-human-rights-measure-in-mountain-view
  30. ^ Meyer, Margit (2009). "The 'Right to the City' in the Context of Shifting Mottos of Urban Social Movements". City. 13 (2–3): 362–74. doi:10.1080/13604810902982755.
  31. ^ Mayer, Margit. 2012. "The 'Right to the City' in Urban Social Movements." pp. 63–85 in Cities for People Not for Profit: Critical Urban Theory and the Right to the City, edited by N. Brenner, P. Marcuse and M. Mayer. New York: Routledge.
  32. ^ a b Karen, Dolan (March 2009). "Human Rights City Toolkit". Institute for Policy Studies. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  33. ^ "Cities for CEDAW | Department on the Status of Women". sfgov.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  34. ^ "Cities for CEDAW". citiesforcedaw.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  35. ^ "International Coalition of Cities against Racism | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  36. ^ "ECCAR". ECCAR. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  37. ^ "10 Points Action Plan". ECCAR. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  38. ^ Online-Büro, Stadt Nürnberg/. "European Conference Cities for Human Rights - Human Rights Office of the City of Nuremberg". www.nuernberg.de. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  39. ^ European Charter for the Safeguarding of Human Rights in the City (PDF). St Denis. 2000.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  40. ^ http://fihrrst.org/declaration-of-bandung-human-rights-city
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  44. ^ http://www.yorkhumanrights.org/human-rights-city-declaration/
  45. ^ https://archive.org/stream/Oct9162015/Oct9-162015_djvu.txt
  46. ^ http://richmondconfidential.org/2009/12/01/richmond-becomes-human-rights-city/
  47. ^ http://sparechangenews.net/2012/07/boston-human-rights-city/
  48. ^ http://afsc.org/document/city-pittsburgh-human-rights-proclamation
  49. ^ http://archive.seattleweekly.com/home/929800-129/cityofseattle
  50. ^ http://www.ci.edina.mn.us/index.php?section=pressroom_pressreleases&prrid=1231
  51. ^ http://law.scu.edu/wp-content/uploads/161214-MV-HRC-press-release.pdf
  • Oomen, Barbara, Martha Davis, and Michele Grigolo. 2016. Global Urban Justice: the Rise of Human Rights Cities. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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