The challenges of local authorities in upholding international human rights standards were discussed at the fourth meeting of the Platform of Exchange on 13 June 2024 in Sarajevo. Organised by the Congress, the meeting brought together more than 40 local elected representatives and public officials, as well as representatives of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina and civil society organisations.

“Local authorities are uniquely positioned to understand and respond to the needs of their residents, ensuring that human rights principles are embedded in policy development and service delivery,” underlined Melanie Lepoultier (France, ILDG), Congress’ Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights. “Human rights delivery and stronger democratic participation at local level are two sides of the same coin, and both are key to creating equitable, cohesive, and inclusive societies. Through this Platform of Exchange, we see an avenue to contribute meaningfully to this goal”, she concluded.

Participants also exchanged on good practices and successful initiatives, tools and approaches that have strengthened human rights protection and democratic engagement within local communities throughout Europe.

This activity was organised in the framework of the project “Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025. The project aims to enhance the quality of local democracy and create opportunities for citizens to engage in innovative participatory processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It promotes new democratic approaches, open government, public ethics, transparent and inclusive local policy making in the country.