Isabella Meier
Facilitator
Localizing Human Rights for Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable Cities that Leave No One and No Place Behind
Explore local actions for sustainable cities at our WUF12 side event. Join experts in a discussion on innovations in localising human rights in an interactive session with panelists from UCLG Africa, UN-Habitat, OHCHR, and UNESCO. Don't miss
November 5, 2024 | 15:00 - 16:30
SDGs in Action - room C
International Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights at the Local and Regional Levels under the auspices of UNESCO
Austria
English
Reference:
SDG-C 4
Summary
The WUF12 theme is “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities”. The proposed side event aims at recalling, addressing and discussing examples of human rights based local action. Various visions, strategies, approaches, innovations and good practices to localizing human rights for sustainable cities and communities will be exchanged among leaders, politicians, technical experts and civil society at the local, national and international level. The proposed session aims to be interactive: active participation of the audience in the discussion is encouraged.
A representative from each partner organization will present opening remarks (10 min)
Ms Fatimatou Abdel Malick, UCLG Africa President, Chair of the Gender Commission of UCLG (tbc)
Ms Angela Mwai, Chief, Human Rights and Social Inclusion Unit, UN-Habitat
Ms Therese Arnesen, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section, Chief of Economic, OHCHR
Ms. Isabella Meier, Senior Researcher UNESCO Centre
The opening remarks will be followed by a 70 minutes in-depth discussion among the panelists and between panelists and audience. The moderator will take the last 10 minutes to wrap up the key findings, lessons learned, and recommendations shared.
You can also participate in the event online: an application will be made available on all iOS and Android platforms. To gain access to the WUF12 app you must sign up for GEMS and register for WUF12: https://events.unhabitat.org.
Objectives
• Showcase how human rights-based governance at local and regional levels is more effective and sustainable;
• Raise awareness on the relevance of human rights at local and regional levels;
• Demonstrate how human rights-based local budgeting contribute to more sustainable societies;
• Explain why gender justice is a human rights issue;
• Raise awareness on how mainstreaming human rights at local and regional levels contributes to the right to an adequate standard of living for all, especially persons in vulnerable situations such as women, older persons, youth, persons with disabilities, etc.
• Sharing of good practices (all speakers will be requested to highlight lessons learnt and good practices)
• Creation of a community of practice for human rights-based cities: Fostering increased engagement between human rights specialists/experts and urban professionals to maximize the mutually reinforcing benefits of sustainable urban development and the localization of human rights;
• Showcase the transformative impact of human rights-based approaches in sustainable and resilient urban development;
• Establish partnerships to address the global challenges and to implement the Global Agendas.
Partners
Organization
Country
International Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights at the Local and Regional Levels under the auspices of UNESCO
Austria
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Switzerland
United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) through its African Local Government Academy (ALGA);
Morocco
United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-Habitat
Kenya
Session panelists
Panelist
Role
Organization
Country
Mr. Balakrishnan Rajagopal
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing
UN Human Rights Office OHCHR
Ms. Aissata Camara
eputy Commissioner for Policy & Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff
NYC Mayors Office for International Affairs