World Urban Forum

Dear Luis, I translated your topic into English because I thought that it is very important. All posts should be made in English, if possible. Thanks!

One of the key challenges we faced in organising communities was the lack of identification by citizens with the city - many residents are either seasonal migrants or recent arrivals who do not have any sense of ownership of their spaces or of the urban processes that determine their realities. They (understandably enough) are only in the city for their personal gain. Residents need to feel that they are part of these things so that they will make a long-term commitment to the city. Perhaps devolution of substantive power to the neighbourhoods is one way....although this can result in power cliques developing who actively oppose the arrival of new migrants.

An equitable city must guarantee the right to participate in decision-making to all citizens. Sometimes, participation processes limit to inform about the actions will be executed rather than consulting to make decisions. It causes the distrust of people in participation processes.

The human rights discourse has been concerned with the process and not so much with the outcome, while the development has been focused on the outcome but so much in the process. A "human rights-based approach to development" (HRBA) takes into account both the process and the outcome and thus converge both the traditional human rights perspective and the human development perspective. According to HRBA, the outcome shall correlate to human rights standards (i.e. a minimum of acceptable level of a desirable outcome) and the process shall adhere to human rights principles (i.e. certain criteria for an acceptable process).

with a Human Rights-based Approach, human rights determine the relationship between individuals and groups with valid claims (rights holders) and State and non-state actors with correlative obligations (duty-bearers). It identifies rights-holders and their entitlements and corresponding duty-bearers and their obligations, and works towards strengthening the capacities of rights-holders to make their claims, and of duty-bearers to meet their obligations.

The overall responsibility for meeting human rights rests with the state. A fundamental thesis for the human rights framework is the idea that the legitimacy of the state is based on its respect, protection and fulfillment of the rights of each and every individual.

How may a human rights based approach inform progress towards an equitable city? What are your views on the strengths and weaknesses of such an approach?

slum upgrading
it is by supporting slum dwellers to buy land and build better quality accommodation. while tenure is secure , slums can be improved in a sustainable manner for the greatest benefit of the residents.