“Democracy and human rights at local level are fundamentally intertwined: democracy is most meaningful when it delivers rights and protections to all in our communities. Building trust and social cohesion depends on the realisation of human rights in everyday life” stated Claudia Luciani, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities opening the presentation of the Council of Europe draft study “Human rights at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina: challenges, needs and pathways for local authorities”.

The Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress organised the presentation, followed by a panel discussion with representatives of national and international stakeholders, namely the International Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights at the Local and Regional Levels under the auspices of UNESCO, the OHCHR Country Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Ombudsperson Institution for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The discussion underlined the need to further promote human rights at local level and improve co-operation so that existing good practice can evolve into a more systematic human rights-based approach. The draft study will help local authorities respond more effectively to citizens’ needs, foster social cohesion and strengthen trust in democratic institutions, in line with the New Democratic Pact for Europe.

Congress work in this area will be continued within its recently launched new project “Advancing multilevel dialogue, innovative democracy and human rights at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026-2029. The project builds on the Congress’s longstanding commitment to democratic governance at local and regional level and follows earlier support to deliberative democracy and local reform processes in the country. It will be implemented till 31 December 2029.