Cochabamba

Why are local and regional governments essential for promoting,  upholding, and respecting human rights?  

Local and regional governments play a crucial role in promoting, upholding, and respecting human rights due to their closeness to citizens. This proximity allows them to respond more effectively and efficiently to the needs and demands of individuals and communities. 

It also enables the identification of the most vulnerable sectors to ensure access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and public safety. 

Moreover, they can directly and practically implement public policies through resource allocation, infrastructure development, social services, and the promotion of social inclusion via local programs that respect and protect human rights. 

They can also foster citizen participation in decision-making, thereby strengthening inclusive governance and the protection of political rights. Additionally, they are essential in combating discrimination and social exclusion, with the capacity to detect cases of marginalization based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, etc., and to act quickly in times of crisis, such as natural disasters or social unrest. 

Local governments are thus watchdogs and agents capable of responding to reports of human rights violations and developing and implementing policies to protect human rights for all their residents. 

Why are human rights relevant values and a useful framework  for guiding local action?

Human rights are a useful framework for local government actions for the following fundamental reasons:

1. Recognition of human dignity;

2. Guarantee of equality and non-discrimination;

3. Enablement of empowerment and citizen participation;

4. Contribution to improved social and economic well-being;

5. Provision of a universal international legal framework;

6. Promotion of peace and social cohesion;

7. Accountability and transparency of governments; and

8. Inclusion of the right to a healthy environment and universal justice.