Human rights are one of the key elements of development, and local governments play an important role in promoting, fulfilling, and respecting them. We live in a globalized world, and we, from the local level—from our cities and towns—have the responsibility to fight against inequalities and injustices. The role of local governments is essential in areas such as human rights education or recognizing and supporting defenders who work in favor of human rights.
The actions of the municipalities in the province of Barcelona demonstrate the central role that human rights play in municipal cooperation policies and the institutional commitment to their defense. In this regard, local public policies are approached from a human rights perspective, aiming to ensure the full exercise of rights, the uptaking of obligations by administrations, and the empowerment of citizens.
The Diputació de Barcelona (Province of Barcelona) has a long history in the defense and promotion of human rights. In 2003, it launched the Network of Cities and Towns for Human Rights, with the participation of 147 municipalities, which adhered to the European Charter for the Safeguarding of Human Rights in the City. Among other elements, the Charter aims to broaden the culture of human rights as a form of coexistence and political organization within towns and cities.
Furthermore, currently, peace and human rights are one of the priority thematic areas in the framework of its international action.
In addition to promoting the Network of Cities and Towns for Human Rights (mentioned in the previous point), the Diputació contributes to the promotion of human rights by supporting actions and campaigns carried out by civil society organizations. This line of work began in 2016 and aims to complement other initiatives we support, such as the Human Rights Defenders Cities project or the Guide for the Promotion and International Protection of Human Rights from the Local Sphere, developed by the organization REDS.
Moreover, we work to promote the defense of rights at the local level by designing public policies and supporting local administrations in guaranteeing Civil Rights. The goal is to ensure that municipalities have the support and tools needed to guarantee these rights and know how to do so. In practice, this translates into support for the creation of Civil Rights Offices in the municipalities of the province of Barcelona and the development of actions, activities, and support resources for municipalities in this field.