A/HRC/42/22 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 39/7, the Human Rights Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report, in consultation with States and relevant intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, special procedures of the Human Rights Council, the Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council, the treaty bodies, national human rights institutions, civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and local governments, on effective methods to foster cooperation between local government and local stakeholders for the effective promotion and protection of human rights at their level through local government programmes, including raising awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals, and to indicate the major challenges and best practices in this regard. The present report is submitted to the Council pursuant to that request. 2. To prepare the report, the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) sought contributions from the above-mentioned bodies and experts. It received 59 contributions. 1 3. In the present report, the High Commissioner builds on the report of the Advisory Committee on the role of local government in the promotion and protection of human rights (A/HRC/30/49), which framed the issue of local government in human rights terms, 2 and also on the intersessional panel discussion on the role of local government in the promotion and protection of human rights, held on 4 September 2017 (see A/HRC/38/22). 4. As part of the consultation process, OHCHR met with the members of the Advisory Committee in Geneva, with civil society stakeholders and with the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context. In addition, OHCHR conducted research into relevant recommendations made in the context of the universal periodic review and by the treaty bodies and special procedure mandate holders. 5. In the present report, the High Commissioner examines, pursuant to the request made by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 39/7, laws, policies and programmes developed to promote and protect human rights at the local level, effective methods to foster cooperation between local government and local stakeholders for the promotion and protection of human rights, ways in which local governments raise awareness about and contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the New Urban Agenda, and ways in which local governments are connected with the United Nations human rights system. The High Commissioner then considers the main challenges faced by local governments in the promotion and protection of human rights, and makes conclusions and recommendations. II. Laws, policies and programmes to promote and protect human rights at the local level 6. A legal framework and related policies and programmes that are in conformity with international human rights law are crucial for the promotion and protection of human rights. In the section below, the High Commissioner provides an overview of laws, policies and programmes that have been developed by local governments and other relevant actors to promote and protect human rights at the local level. The examples provided, which draw 1 2 2 See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/LocalGovernment/Pages/Index.aspx. In the present report, the High Commissioner uses the Advisory Committee’s definition of local government (A/HRC/30/49, paras. 8–16) and acknowledges the explanation given by the Committee for the shared and complementary duties of States and local governments to respect, protect and fulfil human rights (paras. 17–23) and the specific role of local governments in the protection and promotion of human rights (paras. 24–30). The High Commissioner also notes the description of human rights cities (broadly, cities worldwide that use human rights to guide governance) (paras. 42– 50). These aspects will not be examined further.