Local Advocacy for Women’s Rights
The Women’s Institute for Leadership Development for Human Rights (WILD) used the UN Convention to End Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to promote human rights at the city level. Starting in 1996, WILD campaigned for San Francisco to become the first U.S. city to adopt a law based on CEDAW principles. They collaborated with government officials, community members, and advocacy groups to address discrimination, domestic violence, poverty, and health issues through measurable, community-focused outcomes.
Creating Change Through Community Engagement
WILD organized a public hearing where community members shared personal stories on women’s rights. This encouraged a collective commitment to uphold CEDAW principles. Their testimonies emphasized the Convention’s local relevance and were presented to city officials. In April 1998, San Francisco passed an ordinance requiring city departments to review budgets, employment policies, and services through a gender and human rights lens. By 2003, the ordinance reached a new phase, with city departments actively integrating these principles into their work.
Local legislators are a powerful but often untapped force in human rights advocacy, typically focusing on zoning, permits, and budgets rather than human rights. WILD for Human Rights works with local governments to highlight their potential role in human rights protection and engages communities to hold these officials accountable. In San Francisco, following a local ordinance, city departments like Public Works and the Environment have taken actions, such as creating nontraditional jobs for women and improving street lighting in unsafe areas. Now, WILD for Human Rights is advising organizations across the U.S. on how to adopt CEDAW and CERD principles. Through public meetings, WILD has helped both citizens and officials view their roles within a human rights framework, drawing them into the movement. This approach could gradually shift the national mindset and foster the adoption of human rights standards at the local level, inspiring other groups to build local support for broader impact.
New Tactics in Human Rights does not advocate for or endorse specific tactics, policies or issues.
