RES/33/8 Local government and human rights

GE.16-17298(E)

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Human Rights Council Thirty-third session

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 29 September 2016

33/8. Local government and human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and relevant international

human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

Recalling also Human Rights Council resolutions 24/2 of 26 September 2013 and

27/4 of 25 September 2014 on the role of local government in the promotion and protection

of human rights,

Recalling further General Assembly resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015 on the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in which the Assembly adopted a

comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative

Sustainable Development Goals and targets, and its commitments to working tirelessly for

full implementation of the Agenda by 2030 at all levels,

Underscoring the significant contribution that local government can make to the

implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and their targets,

Bearing in mind that the Sustainable Development Goals and their targets are aimed

at realizing the human rights of all and at achieving gender equality and the empowerment

of all women and girls, and also that they are integrated and indivisible, and balance the

three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, the social and the

environmental,

Taking note with appreciation of the research-based report of the Human Rights

Council Advisory Committee on the role of local government in the promotion and

protection of human rights,1

1 A/HRC/30/49.

Bearing in mind that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all

human beings, and that their protection and promotion is the first responsibility of

Governments,

Recognizing the role of local government in the promotion and protection of human

rights, without any prejudice to the primary responsibility of the national Government in

this regard,

Recognizing also that local government has different forms and functions in every

State, in accordance with the constitutional and legal system of the State concerned,

Recognizing further that, given its proximity to people and being at the grass-roots

level, one of the important functions of local government is to provide public services that

address local needs and priorities related to the realization of human rights at the local

level,

Underlining that the promotion of a human rights culture within public services, and

public servants’ knowledge, training and awareness, play a vital role in promoting respect

for and the realization of human rights in society, and stressing the importance in this

regard of human rights education and training for public servants at the local government

level,

Noting relevant international and regional initiatives to promote human rights at the

local level,

Reaffirming the crucial role that the national Government can play in promoting a

positive contribution by local government to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights,

1. Decides to convene between its thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth sessions, taking

advantage of existing capacities, a panel discussion on the role of local government in the

promotion and protection of human rights, the objective of which will be to identify ways

in which local government can promote, protect and fulfil human rights effectively,

particularly in the context of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

in close cooperation with the national Government;

2. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to liaise

with States and all stakeholders, including relevant United Nations agencies, funds and

programmes, the treaty bodies, the relevant special procedures of the Human Rights

Council, national human rights institutions and civil society, with a view to ensuring their

participation in the panel discussion;

3. Also requests the High Commissioner to prepare a report on the panel

discussion in the form of a summary, and to submit the report to the Human Rights Council

at its thirty-eighth session;

4. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

39th meeting

29 September 2016

[Adopted without a vote.]