Municipalities, as part of the State, are the first place where people turn to, either individually or through territorial or functional organizations.
Working from the territories with a human rights approach allows for the development of public policies, responding to requests and demands, while ensuring and promoting the respect and exercise of these rights, without deprivation, disruption, or threats of any kind.
Respect for human rights must be the foundation of all actions developed by Local Governments, so that people living in the territories can enjoy and exercise their rights without any form of discrimination. To achieve this, it is necessary to educate not only the residents of the municipality, but also staff, so that respect for human rights arises from the institution itself.
San Antonio is joining the global campaign "10, 100, 1000 Human Rights Cities and Territories by 2030", with the main goal of highlighting the commitment of municipalities — even smaller ones — to advancing human rights at the local level.
This initiative represents a valuable opportunity for our port city, where we face critical challenges related to human rights violations on a daily basis.
Through this campaign, we aim to:
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Learn from the experiences and best practices of other cities with longer histories in human rights advocacy.
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Strengthen our institution’s role in the promotion and protection of these rights.
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Raise public awareness so that citizens take an active and demanding role — through appropriate mechanisms — in defending their fundamental rights.
This commitment is not only institutional, but also a step toward empowering the entire San Antonio community.
The Municipality of San Antonio has implemented a series of policies, mechanisms, and programs for the promotion, protection, and dissemination of human rights, acting comprehensively throughout the territory.
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Cross-Cutting Approach in the Institution
The aim is to ensure that the human rights perspective is a cross-cutting axis in all municipal management. This is achieved through various units and programs that work daily to promote and protect the rights of residents. Among these, the following stand out:
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Community Programs aimed at groups requiring special protection, such as migrants, older adults, persons with disabilities, and children and adolescents.
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Access to Justice Programs, which also offer community mediation and legal guidance, making it easier for citizens to exercise and defend their rights effectively, such as the People’s Ombudsman Office.
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Education and Promotion of Human Rights
The municipality is committed to raising awareness among the community and its own staff about the importance of human rights. Various educational initiatives have been developed with a particular focus on equality and non-discrimination:
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Internal Training: Workshops, talks, and informational materials are provided to municipal employees to ensure that they incorporate this perspective into their daily work.
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Community Outreach: Educational activities open to local residents, such as talks and workshops, are held to empower the community and foster a culture of mutual respect.
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Institutional Strengthening through External Collaboration
To ensure high-level and up-to-date training, the municipality has established partnerships with various external organizations specializing in human rights. These collaborations enable the organization of seminars, talks, and workshops aimed at municipal employees, ensuring continuous and high-quality training in this field.