A/HRC/42/22 the present report have suggested the possibility of discussing human rights and local government within one of the Geneva-based United Nations human rights forums; the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law or the Social Forum might be considered. 59. More effort is needed to train local government officials and local actors on human rights, including on how to incorporate human rights protection into all levels of governance. In this regard, plans for establishing a human rights training and learning centre for local government officials 90 are welcome, and should be replicated in all regions. Lastly, the development of guiding principles on local government and human rights could also be useful (see A/HRC/30/49, para. 78 and A/HRC/38/22, para. 46). Any such process should involve local governments and all stakeholders. 60. In view of the above, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights offers the recommendations below. 61. While central government has the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights, local government has an important complementary role to play. Central governments should provide information to local government on human rights and the State’s obligations. They should work with local governments to ensure that they are equipped with both financial and non-financial resources to effectively address challenges to the realization of human rights. Local governments should aim to have at least one designated official responsible for the realization of human rights at the local level. 62. Local laws, policies and programmes should be based on human rights norms and standards. Local governments should undertake self-assessments to monitor compliance with human rights. They should be encouraged to explore innovative ways of implementing human rights at the local level, adopting evidence-based laws, policies and programmes. They should, at the same time, promote the realization of human rights and assist in the local implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. 63. Grievance mechanisms to address human rights at the local level should be developed (if they do not already exist) in close collaboration with the national human rights institution, when relevant. Local governments should conduct human rights awareness-raising initiatives and human rights education, as well as capacity-building for local officials. Networks of mayors and cities should be encouraged to share good practices and lessons learned. 64. States and local governments should empower, including through capacitybuilding, civil society actors to effectively exercise the right to participate in public affairs and to meaningfully engage with local government on human rights issues. Given that an active civil society promotes transparency and accountability and helps to strengthen the human rights expertise of decision makers, dialogue between local government and civil society should be open and ongoing. The guidelines for States on the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs (see A/HRC/39/28) provide relevant guidance. 65. Local governments should be increasingly involved in the work of regional and international human rights mechanisms, and in implementing relevant recommendations. Local governments should be more engaged in both State preparations for and State delegations attending the sessions of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review and of the treaty bodies. They should continue to supply disaggregated data for inclusion in national reports submitted to the human rights mechanisms. Local governments and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council should routinely engage with each other, in particular during country visits. 90 Submissions by Gwangju, p. 17, the Republic of Korea, p. 18 and the Human Rights Cities Network, p. 5. 15