The motivation behind this project
The motivation behind this project
The term City refers not only to municipalities but also to provinces, states, regions and other types of local government entities, all of which are characterized by a close proximity between elected officials and citizens. The "City" naturally seems to provide an environment more conducive to the development of the basic human rights of individuals and groups than do other political spheres.
But although local governments clearly do provide a more effective platform for protecting human rights they must face many challenges, not the least of which are the current disruptions in global economies and political systems. One example of such a challenge is the increasing migration to urban areas, both within and across national borders.
In order to deal effectively with these problems priority must be given to public policy actions that are "inclusive" and respect human dignity. Such inclusive policies are based on three fundamental principles: full citizenship, to defend all of the rights and duties that make individuals citizens; sustainability, to make a responsible commitment to future generations; democracy and civic participation.
This is why the UCLG's local-government representatives decided to establish a set of proposals, based on the principles of human rights, to which local institutions, civil-society organizations and individuals could all commit themselves, regardless of their national or international context. One of these proposals was to create a Global Charter-Agenda on Human Rights in the City, to serve as a foundation for each individual's human rights and responsibilities and as a tool to facilitate consensus between all local government entities that seek to further the cause of "living together".
