The project explores how local authorities and civil society organizations can cooperate in these processes, particularly in issues of social sustainability and inclusion of vulnerable groups (minorities, indigenous peoples, children, etc.). Additionally, it deals with how the SDG localization processes relate to human rights. In particular, it looks at the application of human rights based approaches (HRBAs) by local actors, and the role that they can play in implementing the SDGs on a local level.
Each partner organization has carried out a study on different cooperation models between local authorities, CSOs, and other local stakeholders, looking at how the different models contribute to local implementation of human rights. The partner organizations also developed a Research and Policy Brief, which summarizes key findings and provides a set of policy recommendations.
NCHR's analysis: the Norwegian case
The study of the NCHR analyses experiences of Norway’s efforts to implement the SDGs and human rights at the local government level in order to show both the challenges but also some partial successes in implementation.
It identifies key legislation and policy frameworks for SDG and human rights implementation, such as the Planning and Building Act of 2008. Additionally, it analyses concrete examples of localization models from both regional and municipal levels.
Two examples it identifies from Oslo City are illustrative:
These highlight the benefits - and also the challenges - in ensuring new models of city decision-making that reflect wider community participation, and also discusses barriers to low cost housing. Both these challenges indicate the importance of building a local human rights agenda.
Read the final Norway report here.
For more information, visit the SDGs and human rights project page.