Raoul Wallenberg Institute (Rwl) & Youth for unity and Voluntary Action (YOVA) jointly organized a Workshop for ‘Dissemination of Regional Research on Human Rights Cities and Sustainable Development Goals SDG and Consultation on “Efforts for Strengthening Human Rights City in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal- at the Patrakar Club, Nagpur on December 12. This research entitled ‘Regional Research on Human Rights City and SDGs in the Asia Pacific Region’ were part of a larger regional level research study carried out in 5 Human Rights cities of the Asia Pacific Region by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute s (RWI) Jakarta.
Nagpur is internationally known to be a Human Rights City. It is one of the very first cities where this concept of Human Rights City was floated by People’s Movement for Human Rights Education (PMHRE) along with Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) in the year 1999.
However, it was withdrawn within two years. Saiju Chacho, National Research Consultant for Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) stated that the city lags behind in propagating the concept and even has not been included in the much projected Smart City programme. Chacko gave information and global, national and local level during a workshop on Human Rights City in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
While sharing his findings, Chacko said, the Sustainable Development Goals need to be further fortified and the local government needs to take active role in making the city a Human Rights City. Nitin Meshram, Project Associate of YUVA, shared his views on how YUVA took up this movement in Nagpur in 90s and his people’s organisations initiated then are still actively working for protection and fulfillment of rights of the most margianlised communities.
Sabastian Saragih, Senior Programme Officer, RWI, gave international perspective of Human Rights cities and announced full technical support of RWI, if local government agrees, for making Nagpur an active Human Rights City. Anil Wasnik of City Development Forum and Dr Dilip Tambadkar also shared their views. The workshop was attended by about 50 representatives of local government authorities and social organisations.