FRA: available the practical guidance for human rights cities in the EU

The European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has published a Practical Guidance to help cities improve their efforts to respect human rights. The guidance has been designed together with cities, regions, experts, international organizations and networks that shared practices and experiences and aims at encouraging local authorities to follow human rights standards. 

The framework established the foundations, structures and tools that cities may use in order to integrate human rights in a holistic and sustainable way in their activities. The elements may be applied in a flexible manner, adapting it to the local context and city’s resources. 

The foundations rely on the commitments that cities can make to human rights. References are made to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, EU law, human rights standards, SDG’s and monitoring mechanisms. 

The structures follow mechanisms and procedures to integrate human rights into day to day work, for instance adopt a declaration to affirm the city’s commitment, and nominate an elected representative on human rights. 

The tools focus on methods and resources to support human rights work. Applying human rights based approaches across the city, taking human rights into account in the general budget, implementing local action plans, etc.