Why are local and regional governments essential to promote, fulfill, and respect human rights?
Local governments around the world are the first point of interaction between the governmental system and citizens. They are the level of government closest to people and their needs.
In virtually every country, the closest level of government—and therefore the one facing the greatest public demands—is the local government, whether organized as municipalities, departments, counties, or provinces.
Therefore, addressing human rights at the local level is of vital importance for citizens. Local governments must ensure that respect for human rights is integrated into all of their activities and actively promote a culture of human rights within their spheres of action.
Why are human rights relevant values and a useful framework for guiding local action?
Because human rights are broadly recognized by communities and carry a strong ethical foundation, they are highly effective in building consensus.
Furthermore, human rights must be guaranteed for every individual, and above all by every established government. Government action should therefore always incorporate a human rights perspective to ensure these rights are protected at all times.
One of the primary aspirations of communities is to ensure the human rights of all their members. Without this, any government or state would fail to fulfill one of its fundamental responsibilities: guaranteeing what are referred to in our country as individual constitutional guarantees.
Human rights are inalienable, and every person possesses them simply by virtue of being human. All established governments have the duty to ensure that these rights are respected and upheld at all times.
This campaign is of great importance because it contributes to developing strategies that strengthen a culture of respect for human rights through the active involvement of local governments.
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Protecting the human rights of detainees through regular visits to municipal detention facilities.
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Receiving and addressing complaints concerning human rights violations in general, with particular emphasis on cases involving public officials.
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Providing human rights training for both citizens and public servants, as well as legal guidance to help ensure the effective protection and fulfillment of human rights.