The Human Rights Cities Network (HRCN) joined Mila Paspalanova, Anti-racial Discrimination Advisor for Europe from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at Discriminatie.nl Provincie Utrecht, from 21 to 23 May 2025, to engage in a series of in-depth discussions with representatives from the municipalities of Amersfoort, Nieuwegein, and Zeist. These sessions, which followed a previous training in November 2024 on human rights indicators, focused on how municipalities could integrate international human rights standards, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, into local policy frameworks.
As part of our ongoing mission to support municipalities in their journey toward becoming human rights cities, the HRCN introduced the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ framework for becoming a Human Rights City to participating municipalities. Designed to support cities, this tool provides practical guidance for integrating human rights in local governance, with a focus on local context and actionable steps. With our expertise in human rights and localising international instruments, we are able to provide local actors with guidance on how to improve human rights at the local level. This is also done by bringing cities together and sharing good practices to support mutual learning, as an ongoing part of our DeCiDE project.
During the three-day sessions, the HRCN provided concrete guidance on how municipalities could apply the human rights cities’ framework in their local contexts. Utrecht, already recognized as a Human Rights City, was highlighted for its initiatives, such as having an anti-discrimination office and publishing regular reports on discrimination. We also pointed to Graz, in Austria, where the city council plays a leading role in promoting human rights, such as by having passed the Declaration of Human Rights of the City of Graz in 2001.
Common challenges, shared opportunities
The discussions with Amersfoort, Nieuwegein, and Zeist revealed both strong local commitment and recurring structural challenges:
- Data and monitoring: The municipalities recognized the importance of organizing existing data on discrimination, accessibility, and inclusion, but stated they often lack the mechanisms to do so effectively. The need for human rights indicators and transparent monitoring was a shared priority. As a result, the DeCiDE project’s aim to create a standardized human rights monitoring system was highlighted as very important and timely. Both Amersfoort and Nieuwegein possess relevant data on issues such as discrimination, LGBTI inclusion, and accessibility. However, these data are often fragmented or underutilized in policy cycles.
- Capacity constraints: Despite limited administrative resources, municipalities are taking actionable steps, such as accessibility audits of public infrastructure. Zeist benefits from broad public support, partly due to its active volunteer base and social partners. These stakeholders are frequently involved in policy development, strengthening implementation despite limited internal capacity.
- Participation and administrative embedding: All three municipalities identified structural citizen participation as a necessary component of a human rights-based approach. Structures such as advisory councils and community-based initiatives are key to ensuring legitimacy and continuity, especially in light of political turnover.
Municipal snapshots
Amersfoort has begun embedding a human rights-based approach through internal working groups and leadership from a committed councillor. Amersfoort has a few internal structures aligned with a human rights approach, including a human rights working group and a case officer. The city is working towards establishing a central monitoring system and reinforcing institutional support, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and integrated policymaking. One proposed role for clerks is to help institutionalize human rights as a normative framework within municipal governance, to ensure continuity beyond political cycles. The aim is to embed a human rights structure in the municipality that withstands political turnover.
Nieuwegein has developed a local inclusion agenda addressing LGBTI rights, disability, and anti-discrimination. It was suggested that existing policy frameworks could be rephrased in human rights language without requiring additional resources or entirely new policies. The municipality is taking practical steps that make a visible difference in people’s lives, while strategically using more politically accepted terms like ‘residents’ rights’ and ‘inclusion’ to build broader public support. The municipality showed interest in collaborating with other municipalities to build stronger networks and increase knowledge sharing.
Zeist is exploring how a human rights-based approach can enhance its existing policies, particularly in areas such as gender-based violence and neighbourhood inequality. While current efforts are not always framed in human rights terms, there is recognition that many align with core principles like inclusion and equality. A key focus is the prevention of femicide, alongside addressing disparities in education and access to services across diverse neighbourhoods.
The municipality benefits from strong civic engagement and resident-led initiatives, offering a foundation for participatory governance. However, concerns remain about the sustainability of efforts amid political changes and the absence of formal human rights bodies.
The conversations demonstrated that the Netherlands lacks structural human rights supervisory commissions at both the national and local levels. In response, municipalities are turning to local monitoring, shared learning, and network-building. The HRCN supports these efforts by providing frameworks, peer connections, and knowledge-sharing platforms.
Looking ahead
All three municipalities expressed a willingness to further explore the integration of human rights into local policy and collaboration with the Human Rights Cities Network (HRCN). With elections occurring in March 2026, the municipalities were eager to take the next steps immediately to ensure that the impact can be followed through in the next political cycle. Immediate next steps include:
- Participation in an upcoming regional human rights masterclass, focusing on CRPD implementation, data use, and civic engagement;
- Development of small-scale pilot projects to apply human rights principles in practice;
- Ongoing exchange with peers and experts across the network.
The HRCN is encouraged by the openness and ambition of these municipalities. As they work toward structurally integrating human rights into local governance, HRCN remains a committed partner, supporting their efforts to ensure dignity, equality, and participation for all residents.
