Toolkit: Local Councils and Human Rights

One of the ways we can have influence as a human rights movement is to engage powerholders at the local level to do more for human rights.

As explained in more detail here, there are various roles that councils play in the delivery and realisation of human rights.

This toolkit provides a number of resources to help make human rights relevant at the local council level - during election periods and beyond. It includes:

• 10 human rights questions you can ask on the doorstep if you are canvassed by political parties and candidates
• A poster to show your support for human rights on the doorstep
• A letter template for getting in touch with your local council

Now more than ever, our community needs political representatives who stand up for human rights. Use this letter template to tell your council that dignity, equality and justice must guide every decision. 

Across the UK, poverty is at a staggeringly high level and millions of people are struggling to afford the basics. Racism remains a serious issue, from high levels of race-related hate crime to stark inequalities in income, health and access to services. There are violations of human rights - to education, housing, food and equal treatment - happening right here in our local area.

Wherever we look, human rights are under threat — but as a community, we can demand better, we can show we will hold decision makers to account. Councils play a vital role in meeting local people's needs and protecting people’s dignity and safety, and in championing the values of the community they represent.

Everyone deserves their rights to be respected. That’s the message we’re asking every local council in the country to uphold in its actions, decisions and leadership.

Will you write to your local council and ask them to ensure human rights are being respected in your area?