Libreville

Why are local and regional governments essential for promoting, fulfilling, and respecting human rights?

Local governments have a major role to play in the field of human rights. As the level of government closest to the population, they are best positioned—thanks to the powers delegated to them by the central state—to work toward improving people's living conditions. These conditions are enhanced when people have easier access to essential services (water, hygiene, etc.), housing, public health, education, and more. Human rights help fight inequality and discrimination, and therefore contribute to establishing social justice by protecting vulnerable groups (people living with disabilities, women, children, the elderly, etc.). 

Why are human rights relevant values and a useful framework for guiding local action?

The application of human rights makes it possible to assess the effectiveness of local policies. Consequently, given the powers transferred to local governments, local action should in principle be guided by these very human rights, which represent a challenge to be met in order to ensure a more just world. Promoting, achieving, and upholding human rights is also a duty for local governments to ensure the well-being and dignity of the populations who have elected them.