Human Rights & Local Government: Lessons from Human Rights Cities in Europe

This report identifies some of the common characteristics among Human Rights Cities in Europe, as well as the potential benefits of becoming one. The report provides historical background on the development of the concept ‘human rights city’. Based on literature review and the case studies of seven self-declared human rights cities, the report identifies certain common characteristics. It also presents the case studies of nine cities in Europe, including three in England. The first seven cases declared themselves human rights cities (Barcelona, Graz, Lund, Nuremberg, Utrecht, Vienna and York). The case studies provide a background on the city, presenting some of the structures and initiatives employed to implement a human rights framework. The last two cities are from England (Brighton & Hove and Newcastle); while they have not yet declared themselves human rights cities, both of them have implemented interesting local initiatives in the domain of housing and homelessness that resonate with human rights principles.