A/HRC/27/59 VI. Human rights city: conceptual framework and guiding principles 38. The idea of a “human rights city” is one of the globally developed initiatives aimed at localizing human rights. It is based on the recognition of cities as key players in the protection and protection of human rights and refers in general to a city whose local government and local population are morally and legally governed by human rights principles. The initiative derives from the idea that, for international human rights norms and standards to be effective, all inhabitants of a city need to learn and understand human rights as a framework for sustainable development of their local community. The concept was launched in 1997 by the People’s Movement for Human Rights Education, a non-profit international service organization.24 It was further developed, particularly as a normative concept, by the World Human Rights Cities Forum that takes place annually in the city of Gwangju (Republic of Korea). 39. The Gwangju Declaration on Human Rights City25 adopted on 17 May 2011 defines human rights city as both a local community and socio-political process in a local context where human rights play a key role as the fundamental values and guiding principles. 26 A human rights city requires a shared human rights governance in the local context where local government, local parliament (council), civil society, private sector and other stakeholders cooperate together to improve the quality of life for all people in the spirit of partnership based on human rights standards and norms. A human rights approach to local governance includes the principle of democracy, participation, responsible leadership, transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, empowerment and rule of law. The concept of a human rights city also emphasizes the importance to secure the broad participation of all actors and stakeholders, in particular marginalized and vulnerable groups, and the importance of effective and independent human rights protection and monitoring mechanisms to which all people have recourse. It recognizes the importance of inter-local and international cooperation and solidarity among cities engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights. 27 40. The following factors could be indicated as the main reasons that have led to the emergence of “human rights cities”: (a) a shift from standard-setting to implementation, especially at that level of government, i.e. local government, which is best placed to realize human rights, in particular, economic and social rights; (b) the global trend, initiated in the 1980s, towards the decentralization of governmental powers — indeed, most countries in the world have, over the past decades, transferred important powers to local authorities; 24 25 26 27 The Human Rights Cities Programme run by the People’s Movement for Human Rights Education (PDHRE) includes the development of 30 human rights cities and the training of 500 young community leaders at four regional learning institutions for human rights education. Available from www.uclgcisdp.org/sites/default/files/Gwangju_Declaration_on_HR_City_final_edited_version_110524.pdf. PDHRE defines a human rights city as a “city or a community where people of good will, in government, in organizations and in institutions, try and let a human rights framework guide the development of the life of the community” (see “Human Rights Learning and Human Rights Cities: Achievements Report”, 2007; available from www.pdhre.org/achievements-HR-cities-mar-07.pdf). A human rights city has also been defined as “a community, all of whose members – from ordinary citizens and community activists to policy-makers and local officials – pursue a community-wide dialogue and launch actions to improve the life and security of women, men and children based on human rights norms and standards”. See Stephen P. Marks and Kathleen A. Modrowski with Walther Lichem, Human Rights Cities: Civic Engagement for Social Development. (UN-Habitat-PDHRE, 2008), p. 45. Available from www.pdhre.org/Human_Rights_Cities_Book.pdf. Gwangju Declaration on Human Rights City (see note 25 above). 11