On 18 April 2024, the Global Cities Hub was invited to take part in an expert roundtable on data planning and collection[1] by National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRFs)[2] in human rights area, with a special focus on the integration of local and regional governments (LRGs) and national statistical systems which operate with SDGs. The roundtable was organized by the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) and the Department of Legal Studies at the University of Bologna, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The event was attended by NMIRF delegates from Italy, Portugal, Paraguay and Morocco, representatives from Italian LRGs, the Italian National Statistics Office, as well as representatives from think tanks, academia and National Human Rights institutions, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other experts.
During the discussion, Global Cities Hub Co-director Kamelia Kemileva emphasized that currently, human rights data collection and reporting does not systematically include data from LRGs. That is mainly due to lack of willingness/awareness of States and the fact that the international human rights system has been conceived exclusively by and for States.
A lot of policy work is required to raise awareness of States and provide concrete arguments about the added value that the inclusion of LRGs bring in any reporting exercise. The GCH is committed to work on that, so as to encourage States to increasingly think of LRGs when reporting back on human rights at the inte
On 18 April 2024, the Global Cities Hub was invited to take part in an expert roundtable on data planning and collection[1] by National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRFs)[2] in human rights area, with a special focus on the integration of local and regional governments (LRGs) and national statistical systems which operate with SDGs. The roundtable was organized by the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) and the Department of Legal Studies at the University of Bologna, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The event was attended by NMIRF delegates from Italy, Portugal, Paraguay and Morocco, representatives from Italian LRGs, the Italian National Statistics Office, as well as representatives from think tanks, academia and National Human Rights institutions, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other experts.
During the discussion, Global Cities Hub Co-director Kamelia Kemileva emphasized that currently, human rights data collection and reporting does not systematically include data from LRGs. That is mainly due to lack of willingness/awareness of States and the fact that the international human rights system has been conceived exclusively by and for States.
A lot of policy work is required to raise awareness of States and provide concrete arguments about the added value that the inclusion of LRGs bring in any reporting exercise. The GCH is committed to work on that, so as to encourage States to increasingly think of LRGs when reporting back on human rights at the international level. For instance, it was deeply involved in the Joint Statement on human rights and local government recently endorsed by more than 50 States at the UN Human Rights Council.
The Joint Statement reaffirmed States’ interest in engaging more with their local governments in their work with the UN human rights system and to explore how to better involve local governments in relation to the NMIRF, when they exists.
Given the strong involvement of local and regional governments in SDGs matters (many LRGs rely on SDGs to develop municipal and regional policies, for instance), as the roundtable discussed the need to bridge SDGs and HR through data collection and reporting, the GCH communicated its two main messages:
- Bridging the two international systems – the one of Human Rights which does not use yet much data from LRGs, and the SDGs which uses the voluntary reviews as a tool to collect and analyse data in general, but especially in the case of LRGs could be only beneficial for States, LRGs and all stakeholders, as LRGs engage with SDG reporting and data collection but not yet with the HR system[3].
- As a consequence and further development, include LRGs in NMRIFs as active members, following the good example of CIDU (= Italian NMRIF) as presented by Ms Sabina Ugolini, CIDUs’ incoming President could bring more data and improve as well as human rights promotion and implementation, as well SDGs localization and implementation world-wide.
Other topics discussed during the roundtable, with relevance to LRGs included:
Data as a tool for decision-making for LRGs leaders: The Vice-President of the Italian National Association of Cities (ANCI), Mayor Ciro Bonajiuto, eloquently demonstrated the decision-making power of mayors, when accurate data is available, through concrete examples.
The necessity of disaggregating data by key demographic markers such as sex, gender, age, etc. but also on subnational level was underscored, emphasizing how such detailed insights are essential for taking informed political decisions and addressing specific human rights objectives. This allows for a clearer understanding of ground realities and more targeted policy interventions.
Coordination and collaboration: Effective data management requires strong coordination among various stakeholders, including all levels of governments and international organizations. The use of digital technologies including artificial intelligence was noted as enhancing the efficiency of data collection and fostering global partnerships. It was noted that while LRGs can elaborate local tools (such as the one presented by the hosting region Emilia Romagna region during the meeting), much of the responsibility remains in the hands of the central government.
In conclusion, the roundtable highlighted the practical applications and benefits of advanced data management strategies. These discussions emphasized the importance of an integrated approach that leverages the strengths of both human rights and sustainable development frameworks to improve policy effectiveness and governance on both local and global scales. It also emphasized the importance of integrating LRGs within national statistical systems to improve human rights and SDGs reports.
The conversations about NMRIFs, data collection, and the integration of existing systems related to Human Rights and SDGs will continue in a series of workshops. These workshops are scheduled to be hosted by Paraguay in Asunción in May and in Marrakech, Morocco, in October of this year.
The Global Cities Hub is convinced that the continuous involvement of LRGs in the process is key for success and an important example of inclusive multilateralism, therefore encourages the host countries to act accordingly. A new set of principles for NMRIFs should be adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva during the coming sessions, and the Global Cities Hub will remain committed to include references to LRGs.
[1] To learn more on human rights data collection, see the relevant paper by Dr. Domenico Zipolli here.
[2] To learn more about NMRIFs, see the UN Human Rights Council and the analytical report by Geneva based think tank Universal Rights Group
[3] LRGs engage in drafting VLRs. Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) and Voluntary Subnational Reviews (VSNRs) are tools that local and subnational governments use to assess and report their progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These reviews are analogous to the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) submitted by countries to the United Nations, but they focus on local or regional progress and challenges. They can be used in conjunction with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), to provide several significant benefits:
- Localizing Human Rights
- Evidence-Based Assessments
- Enhancing Accountability and Transparency
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Policy Coherence and Integration
- Best Practices and Learning
- Fulfilling International Commitments undertaken by States at local level.
