Implementing International Human Rights Treaties at the Local Level: A Qualitative Study
Keywords:
Human rights implementation, international treaties, local governance, qualitative research, legal empowerment, political constraints, Tehran, localization of rightsAbstract
This study aims to explore the challenges and enabling factors associated with the implementation of international human rights treaties at the local level in Tehran. This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 19 participants, including municipal officials, legal professionals, civil society actors, and academic experts involved in human rights governance in Tehran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo software, following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase model of thematic analysis. Thematic analysis revealed four main categories influencing treaty implementation: (1) legal and institutional frameworks, (2) capacity and knowledge gaps, (3) political and cultural constraints, and (4) strategies and enablers of implementation. Key barriers included the absence of enabling legislation, institutional fragmentation, judicial resistance, limited awareness among local actors, politicization of rights discourse, and cultural conflicts with international norms. Despite these challenges, the study identified promising strategies such as the role of human rights champions, use of soft law instruments, cross-sectoral partnerships, legal empowerment initiatives, community-based approaches, and digital advocacy tools. These enablers highlighted the importance of contextual adaptation and bottom-up initiatives in operationalizing treaty commitments at the local level. The findings underscore that treaty ratification alone does not ensure local compliance. Legal ambiguities, institutional weaknesses, and sociopolitical dynamics significantly shape how international human rights norms are interpreted and implemented at the municipal level. However, context-sensitive strategies rooted in collaboration, empowerment, and cultural legitimacy offer viable pathways to enhance local-level human rights realization. Strengthening subnational capacities and fostering inclusive networks is essential for the effective localization of international human rights treaties.
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