Seine-Saint-Denis (93) is a territory of 1.6 million residents in the working-class suburbs of Paris, characterized by its youthfulness (30% under 30 years old), diversity (30% born abroad), and deep inequalities. Although it ranks 6th among French departments in GDP contribution, 30% of residents live below the poverty line, a situation worsened by the COVID-19 crisis, which led to a 20% rise in social welfare recipients (RSA) from March to September 2021.
Under France’s decentralization system, departments are mainly responsible for social services, disability support, child protection, construction and maintenance of secondary schools, and road networks. Yet, Seine-Saint-Denis has long been active in culture, sports, education, housing, environmental protection, and international solidarity.
Global crises—health, energy, migration—have directly impacted the department, reinforcing its commitment to promoting economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights. These challenges underscore the need to redesign public space, improve residents' quality of life, reaffirm collective values, and promote humanism—goals embraced by the department.
More broadly, the SDGs require local government involvement to be achieved. Local governments must be given their rightful role in human rights protection.
Key proposals include:
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Advocating for explicit recognition of local governments’ role in legal instruments related to the SDGs and human rights.
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Ensuring wide consultation of local governments in national strategy design on human rights.
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Pushing for official status and participation of local governments in international and regional fora.
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Promoting inclusive and universal human rights approaches among partner territories.
The campaign “10, 100, 1000 Human Rights Cities and Territories”, led by UCLG-CISDPDH, is of major interest to Seine-Saint-Denis.
It enables the department to demonstrate its international commitment to human rights promotion and protection at the local level, especially in a global context marked by fragmentation and rising extremism.
The campaign also helps support partner territories in adopting human rights-based development approaches as endorsed by the United Nations.
As Co-President of the UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights, the Department of Seine-Saint-Denis is fully engaged in the commission’s work.