Mayors, Human Rights and the United Nations Universal Periodic Review

Event

UN Photo / Jean Marc Ferré

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a state-driven process under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. Its goal is to support human rights and address violations everywhere. It provides the opportunity for each State to indicate what actions they have taken to protect human rights and fulfil their obligations.

However, given that human rights are also protected and fulfilled at the local level, notably through public services provided by local and regional governments (LRGs), the participation of LRGs would add much value to the UPR.

In this context, the Geneva Human Rights Platform, along with the Geneva Cities Hub, UPR-Info, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN-Habitat have recently launched a Coalition for the participation LRGs in the UPR. The coalition seeks to promote the involvement of LRGs in the UPR, garner support for human rights at all levels of government and enhance their implementation on the ground.

This event will address the following questions:

• How can the protection and implementation of human rights at the local level be better taken into account by the UPR?
• How can the UPR be used by mayors and their cities to enhance the protection and implementation of human rights at the local level?
• What resources and capacities are needed for Mayors and their cities to engage in the UPR?
• What best human rights practices can be shared by mayors?

Opening remarks

• Omar Zniber, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN in Geneva
• Gian Lorenzo Cornado, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN in Geneva

Panelists

• Ciro Buonajuto, Mayor of Ercolano, Italy
• Axel Schmidt Grael, Mayor of Niterói, Brazil
• Gianni Magazzeni, Chief, UPR Branch, OHCHR
• Kamelia Kemileva, Co-Director, Geneva Cities Hub