Local Government and Human Rights

Encourages the interaction and exchange of knowledge between local government and local stakeholders, including local civil society, in the formulation and implementation of local government programmes, with the aim of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through the promotion of a human rights culture within public services;

Encourages local government to ensure the participation of local stakeholders in local government activities and in public affairs in efforts to promote and protect human rights at the local level;

Encourages States to promote the engagement of local governments in the work of regional and international human rights mechanisms and in implementing relevant recommendations, including in the preparation of State submissions for the universal periodic review, in State reviews by treaty bodies and in the work of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, in particular during country visits;

Invites relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to cooperate with local governments to support them in discharging their human rights responsibilities;

Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report, in consultation with all States and relevant intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, relevant special procedures, the Advisory Committee, the treaty bodies, national human rights institutions, civil society representatives, including non-governmental organizations, and local governments, on the role of local government and the challenges faced in the promotion and protection of human rights, including in relation to the right to equality and non-discrimination and the protection of persons in vulnerable and marginalized situations, with a view to identifying possible elements of principles guiding local and national governments in this regard, and to submit the report to the Council prior to its fifty-first session;