ConceptNote HumanRightsPaperPresentation - - PDF document

WorldHumanRightsCitiesForum2019

30September-3October2019 Gwangju,RepublicofKorea

ConceptNote

• HumanRightsPaperPresentation
• LocalGovernment,HumanRightsandSustainableDevelopment:

ReimaginingHumanRightsCities

• Citiesarerising.Morethanhalfoftheworld’spopulationcurrentlylivesinurbanareas,afigure

that is expected to increase to two-thirds by 2050. In order to meet this challenge, cities are claimingnewrolesingovernance­administeringlocalprogramswithgreaterindependencefrom the state and, increasingly, asserting their presence in the international sphere. As their governance role increases, cities are called upon to address all of today’s risks, such as technological breakthroughs, urbanization, gentrification, migration, social inclusion, climate changeandglobalization,etc.TheyincreasinglyclaimthisrolebypositioningthemselvesasHuman Rights Cities, Cities of Refuge, Climate-friendly cities, or cities that work towards the UN SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs). Infact,citiesareactivelyengagedintheimplementationoftheUNSustainableDevelopment Goals(SDGs).Forinstance,SDGNo.11callsformakingcitiesandurbansettlementsinclusive,safe, resilientandsustainable,inordertodealwith“acutechallengesinmanagingrapidurbanization— fromensuringadequatehousingandinfrastructuretosupportgrowingpopulations,toconfronting theenvironmentalimpactofurbansprawl,toreducingvulnerabilitytodisasters.”1 Moreover,SDG No.16furthercontributestothelocalizationofhumanrightsbypromotingpeacefulandinclusive societies for sustainable development, and the building of effective, accountable and inclusive institutionsatalllevels.Humanrightsbasedinstitutionaldesignatlocallevelsplaysacentralrole infacilitatingequalandinclusiveaccesstoservices.

1 See, https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg11

WorldHumanRightsCitiesForum2019

30September-3October2019 Gwangju,RepublicofKorea

TheintersectionbetweentheSDGsandhumanrightsprovidestheuniqueopportunitytoguide priority-setting, decision-making, and policy implementation in cities. In fact, by creating “a powerfulalliancebetweenhumanrightsnormsanddevelopmentgoalsatthelocallevel”,cities couldcreatetheconditionsunderwhichhumanrightsbasedapproachescaninfluenceandshape cityservices,respondingtohumanneedsoflocalresidents.2 Citiesarethemostefficientand effective body for utilizing human rights norms as frameworks for policy development and decision-makingatlocallevels. Around the world, cities oversee basic services like water, sanitation, public transportation, publichealth,andemergencyresponseprovidedtoresidentsandvisitorsalike.Citiesprovidepublic spacesforleisureandself-expression.And,theyoverseethequintessentialaspectsofdemocracy, providingspacesforparticipationindecision-making(e.g.consultation,elections,etc.).Indoingall

• fthis,andmuchmore,theyestablishrulesandregulationsthatcan(or,canfailto)ensuremutual

respectfortherightsoflocalinhabitantsandallotherswhocomewithintheirjurisdictions. Itisinthisframeworkofincreasingparticipationofcitiesintheimplementationofhumanrights atlocallevelsthatthenotionof“humanrightscities”hasemerged.TheGwangjuDeclarationof 2011defineshumanrightscity“asbothlocalcommunityandasocio-politicalprocessinalocal contextwherehumanrightsplayakeyroleasfundamentalvaluesandguidingprinciples”.3 The humanrightscityconceptsupportsaprocesswherelocalgovernment,includingitsdeliberative

• rgans,civilsocietyorganizations,theprivatesectorandotherstakeholdersensuretheapplication
• finternationalhumanrightsstandards.4

Thisyear’sforumwillexploreandhighlightthedifferentchallengesandopportunitiesthatcities andlocalauthoritiesfaceinprovidingaccessandimplementinginternationalandconstitutional human rights standards. In addition, the forum welcomes the exploration of inter-linkages, including both challenges and opportunities, that the implementation of the UN Sustainable

2 See, https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg16 3 See, Gwangju Declaration on Human Right City, 2011 World Human Rights Cities Forum, para. 4. Available at: https://www.uclg-

cisdp.org/sites/default/files/Gwangju_Declaration_on_HR_City_final_edited_version_110524.pdf

4 See, http://rwi.lu.se/the-swedish-human-rights-city-project/

WorldHumanRightsCitiesForum2019

30September-3October2019 Gwangju,RepublicofKorea

DevelopmentGoals(SDGs)atlocallevelscouldgeneratevis-á-vistheeffectiveenjoymentofhuman rightsbymembersoflocalcommunities.Studiesfocusingoninstitutionaldevelopmentsofcities are encouraged, including the creation of innovative institutional structures that facilitate the fulfillmentofstateauthorities’humanrightsobligationsatlocallevels.

• Callforpapers:

The 9th World Human Rights Cities Forum (WHRCF 2019) is inviting researchers, PhD candidates,practitioners,activists,andgraduatestudentstopresentpapersrelatedtothepresent call on “Local Government, Human Rights and Sustainable Development: Reimagining Human Rights Cities”. Approved submissions will be presented in the Senior Session (for established scholars,experiencedhumanrightsactivists,andPhDholders)orintheJuniorSession(foryoung researchers,risinghumanrightsactivists,andgraduatestudents). Inparticular,theforumencouragesthesubmissionofpapersrelatedtothefollowingtopics:

• 1. Placing the notion of Human Rights Cities in its theoretical/international context ­ the

impoverishmentofcontemporarypoliticaldiscourseandtheeclipseofthenation-stateasthesole international actor for the implementation of human rights obligations within their national territories;

• 2. Assessing the analytical/critical potential of, and challenges confronting, the Human Rights

Citiesinitiativefromahumanrightsperspective,includingthe‘righttothecity’andthefutureof urbanjusticeinbalancingdistributionalequity,socialsolidarity,andindividualempowerment;

• 3.Broadeningourunderstandingoftherolethatgovernmentalandnon-governmentalagents(e.g.

localadministrators,advocates,activists,humanrightsscholars,etc.)playinimplementingthe SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)andHumanRightsatlocallevels;

WorldHumanRightsCitiesForum2019

30September-3October2019 Gwangju,RepublicofKorea

4.Exploringtheprospectsforglocalhumanrightsinnovation(includingtechnologicalinnovations suchasthecaseofSmartCities)thatcouldprovideinnovativesolutionsforbothfacilitatingaccess tohumanrightsatlocallevelsandimprovingaccountabilityoflocalauthoritiesasdutybearers;

• 5.Evaluatingtheinstitutionalframeworksandlocalauthorities’responsibilitiesinfacilitatingthe

access to human rights related services at local levels by individuals or groups in situation of vulnerability;

• 6. Cities are not immune to the effects of climate change and environmental hazards. Local

authorities are responsible for the development of strategies able to address/mitigate the environmentalrelatedeffectsthatcouldrestrictorotherwiseinterferewiththeenjoymentofthe righttoacleanandhealthyenvironmentatlocallevels.Analyzingtheroleoflocalauthoritiesin developingproactivestrategiesforintegratinghumanrightsandecologicalconcern­sustainable developmentgoalsandclimateresiliencecontributionsare,therefore,welcome.

• Additionalexamplesofpossiblecontributionswithinthesetopicalcategoriesmightinclude:
• 1.LocalEco-DemocracyasanAntidotetoReactionaryPolitics:CounteringDestructiveTalkwith

ConstructiveAction. 2.HumanRightsandSustainableDevelopmentEducation:ThinkingLocallytoActGlobally. 3.UrbanNetworkAdvocacyforHumanRightsandSustainableDevelopment:NewRolesforPublic HealthWorkers. 4.LibrariesasLaboratories:DemocratizingAccesstoRights-RelevantInformationTechnology.

• 5. The Role of Indigenous Peoples or Minority Groups in the Coproduction of Sustainable and

Rights-EnhancingLocalServices. 6.HumanRightsBasedApproachesinTrainingPublicOfficers:empowermentoflocalauthorities inimplementinghumanrightsatlocallevels.