WHRCF2014 May 16 2014 Kimdaejung Convention Center Special Session 「Four Years After the Start of Implementing the Universal Human Rights Standards on Local Level Some Reflections on an On-going Process of Implementation」 - Hans SAKKERS

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Facilitating a
Local Human Rights Culture
Hans Sakkers / City of Utrecht
head of department of strategy and international affairs
City of Utrecht

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About Utrecht
Corecity
2000: 230.000 inhabitants
2030: 400.000 inhabitants
Region:
2014: 1,2 mlj. inhabitants
Rankings:
Number 1 Competitive Region
of Europe (of 280 regions), etc.
But …

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Why local human rights in Utrecht?
The start was a coincidence: a phone call 3 years ago.
• Initial moment: Fundamental Rights Agency in Vienna looks for
city partners for Joined-Up Governance project
• Some important politicians with a personal relation to HR
• It fits Utrechts’ policy tradition (social, open and green)
• Big societal network on the topic; matches the urban ‘DNA’
• Human Rights tradition and focus at UU (e.g. SIM)
• My search for new concepts to make the city more adaptive and
smart
• The transformation of the CGB into the National Institute for
Human Rights

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Utrecht

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‘Strategy’ phase 1
2010 & 2011: Exploring and overcoming skepticism
1. Exploring the meaning of local human rights by participating in
international networks (FRA & UCLG)
2. Diner Pensant as kickoff for the support of national and local
organisations
3. Collecting examples of human rights in the city /
http://humanrightsutrecht.blogspot.com
4. Building an internal and local ‘Coalition of the Willing’
5. Creating a network of NGO’s, volunteer groups, social
entrepreneurs, etc / annual European week of local democracy and
human rights (Council of Europe)
6. Testing the quality of municipal policies by confronting them
with human rights standards > Monitoring …

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A first try of monitoring: Policy Areas & Case Studies
Policy Areas Case study
1. Anti-discrimination Homosexual Emancipation Policy
2. Poverty Reduction Utrecht-Pass (free services)
3. Immigrant Policy Shelter for Asylum Seekers
4. Inviolability of the Person Domestic Violence
5. Social Care Shelter for the Homeless
6. Human Trafficking Prostitution Policy
7. Public Order Camera Policy (Privacy)
8. Corporate Responsibility Fair Trade
9. Human Rights Education Peaceful Schools
10. Health Care Elderly Policy
You could download the English version on our website: www.utrecht.nl/internationaalYou could download the English version on our website

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‘Strategy’ phase 2
2012: Consolidating and rethinking
• Cooperation with the national association of municipalities (VNG) &
Amnesty International
• Brochure for Dutch cities for creating a national ‘Coalition of the
Willing’
• Debate series organized by local organizations on local human rights
topics
• Opening of the National Institute for Human Rights, mrs. Pillay.
• Regular newsletter and development of website
• The start of research on strategies for implementing human rights
policies (Dr. Esther v.d. Berg and Prof. Barbara Oomen)
• Producing (case studies for the) Guidebook/Toolkit with FRA
http://fra.europa.eu/en/project/2011/joined-governance-connecting-
fundamental-rights

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‘Strategy’ phase 3
2013: Initiating a Local Human Rights Coalition
• Creating ownership: building a more formal local coalition of local
organisations, businesses, civic groups
• ‘Start of a local coalition’ in September 2013 (video)
• Local Human Rights Monitor together with University Utrecht
• Cultural programme on peacemaking in the city:
Peace Treaty of Utrecht 2013
• Cooperation with cities in- and outside Europe
• Organizing EU symposium in for scientists, civil servants and local
partners 12-13 December 2013

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2014 …
• Research on effective strategies /professional body of knowledge
• Involvement of the ‘humanities’ to compensate the juridical dominance
• Supportgroup on developing monitoring systems
• Developing a common urban ‘label’ (European cities?)
• Cities formulating joint action (UCLG conference in Gwangju)
• The local coalition …

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Two networks in the making
http://humanrightsutrecht.blogspot.nl/
http://vimeo.com/79671719
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpGpI4DljdY

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More information:
www.utrecht.nl/internationale-zaken
Hans Sakkers, h.sakkers@utrecht.nl
Utrecht:
the first human rights city
in the Netherlands