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Historically, municipalities have been an important site of political dispute where social rights could be advanced. Particularly urban municipalities gained such importance that already by the turn of the 20th century there was an established international municipalism movement of radical political ideals (Luna Pont, 2014). In this context, the municipality was critically seen as “the best place to implement profound socioeconomic changes without challenging the political creed or legal system of the country involved (Dogliani, 2002).” It is now increasingly recognized that decentralization promotes social rights (International Council on Human Rights Policy, 2005), and that, under specific circumstances, it can represent an opportunity to deepen democracy (Anderson & Van Laerhoven, 2007). Although municipalities are not all created equal, local policies are intrinsically linked to the effective realization of many social rights.
Local policy-makers, particularly in cities, are beginning to recognize the importance of developing policies from a human rights perspective. Whether in the context of housing, water, food, or urban planning, municipal urban processes are opening up participatory spaces where rights discourses and mechanisms are gaining weight progressively. However, together with this progressive opening in participation, power differentials between regular citizens and interest groups including real estate, water providers, and food retailers, among others, have also resurfaced at the municipal level. Drawing from specific examples of cities around the world, in this seminar we will discuss the role of local governments as safe keepers of social rights and the importance and implications of their local implementation.
Speakers: Paula Fernandez-Wulff, ESCR Coordinator at the RCC Jean Monnet ad Personam Chair in EU Law and Government; Jose M. Martinez Sierra, Jean Monnet ad Personam Professor in EU Law and Government and Director, RCC, Harvard University; Co-Chair, EU Law and Government Study Group and Southern Europe in the EU Study Group, CES, Harvard University.
Sponsors: RCC; Jean Monnet ad Personam Chair in European Union Law and Government.