A/HRC/27/59 I. Introduction 1. In August 2012, the Advisory Committee submitted to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and approval a research proposal on local government and human rights (A/HRC/AC/9/6). 2. On 20 September 2013 the Council adopted its resolution 24/2 in which it took note of the above-mentioned research proposal and requested the Advisory Committee to prepare a research-based report on the role of local government in the promotion and protection of human rights, including human rights mainstreaming in local administration and public services, with a view to compiling best practices and main challenges, and to present a progress report on the requested research-based report to the Council at its twenty-seventh session, for its consideration. 3. The Advisory Committee was also requested to seek the views and inputs of Member States, relevant international and regional organizations, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant special procedures, as well as national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, in order to prepare the above-mentioned research-based report. 4. During its twelfth session held from 24 to 28 February 2014, the Advisory Committee established a drafting group tasked with the preparation of the said report and designated the following members of the Committee as members thereof: Mr. Coriolano, Ms. Elsadda, Mr. Hüseynov (Rapporteur), Ms. Reyes Prado, Mr. Seetulsingh (Chairperson), and Mr. Yigezu. 5. At the same session of the Advisory Committee, the drafting group developed a questionnaire, in accordance with Council resolution 24/2, which was disseminated to various stakeholders. As at 4 August 2014, a total of 67 responses had been received: 22 from States, 20 from national human rights institutions, 9 from non-governmental organizations, 12 from local authorities and 4 from international or regional organizations. II. Definition of local government 6. Local government is commonly defined as the lower tier of public administration within a given State. In unitary States, local government usually comprises the second or third tier of government, whereas in federal States, it is constituted as the third or sometimes fourth tier of government. The organization and functioning of local government vary considerably between countries. Different names are used for local government entities in different countries (county, prefecture, district, city, town, borough, parish, municipality, village, etc.). Local governments exist geographically both in urban and rural settings. 7. Local governments perform three main roles: they promote sustainable and successful development of their territory, in the interests of their citizens; they organize, commission, finance and deliver essential public services, both universal and targeted to those most in need; and they act as the democratic voice and advocate for their communities.1 1 See Council of Europe, European Charter of Local Self-Government and Explanatory Report (Strasbourg, 2010). Available from www.ccre.org/img/uploads/piecesjointe/filename/charter_sgi_EN.pdf. 3