Secrétariat International Permanent, Droits de l'Homme et gouvernements Locaux Nantes Pays de la Loire, France

The actions planned:

• To organise the World Forum on Human Rights every two years (next edition: from 28^th June to 1^st July 2010 at the Nantes Metropolis International Convention Centre).
  
  
• To spread knowledge and information (basic and practical) and to organise exchanges among members of the Nantes Forum network by becoming primarily interested in local action “inspired” by Human Rights, notably through electronic media.
  
  
• To develop, in collaboration with UCLG an international observatory for enforcing human rights at local level, notably within cities and/or under the responsibility of the local authorities.
  
  
• To promote actions aiming to respect, protect and enforce rights, as led by the local authorities (or within their territory), whether by themselves or as a network.
  
  
• To participate, using all appropriate means and with all the relevant partners, in thought processes and actions dedicated to human rights, such as being a reference player at international level on the theme of Human Rights and Local Governments.

2009 Local Actions

• Forum of the International Cooperation’s actors
  25 February, 2009

In the framework of the Forum of the international cooperation’s actors, the international permanent Secretariat organised a plenary session « The role of the local authorities on the international scene : local governments’ diplomacy ».
Read more…

• Conference-debate at the Nantes TownHall
  23 March, 2009

In the framework of the events organised by the City of Nantes around the celebration of the Francophonie International Day (20^th of March), Mr Hugo Sada, delegate to Peace, Democracy and Human Rights of the OIF, participated to a conference on the theme : « The actions of the international organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) for the protection of peace and human rights, namely in countries in controversial situations ».
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So, since its creation the SPIDH of Nantes has became:

1. The coordinator of the working group « Human rights and local governments » within the World Federation of Local Governments UCLG (United Cities and  Local Governments) / Commission Social Inclusion and Participative Democracy. The support of the Western Loire Region is actually based on this positioning. Jacques Auxiette, president of the Western Loire Region is a founding member of UCLG, member of the world council and the executive council.
   http://www.citieslocalgovernments.org/UCLG/index.asp?L=FR&ID=238&pag=newTemplate.asp
   
   
2. Member of the EUFRA (European Fundamental Rights Agency) Civil Society Platform (based in Viena)
   http://fra.europa.eu/fra
   The Agency declares in its 2010 Actions Plan that they will be even more involved in the next World Forum on Human Rights as 2008 by organising special events and we’ll be working hand in hand with the Forum.
   
   
3. Some examples of actions the SPIDH is taking part of :

• International Coalition of Cities Against Racism (Nantes – represented by Delphine Bouffenie - vice-president of the european coalition chaired by the City of Nuremberg). In partnership with UNESCO. The international coalition firstly gathered during the 3^rd World Forum on Human Rights on the 30^th of June 2008.

• The European Cities for Human Rights’ Network, which signed the European Charter for Human Rights in the City.
  
  
• The Local and Regional Authorities’ Congress of the Council of Europe
  http://www.coe.int/DefaultEN.asp