About

York declared itself the UK’s first Human Rights City in April 2017. This followed a six year campaign, led by the York Human Rights City Network (YHRCN). The Declaration had the support of all the main political parties and relevant statutory bodies in the city, as well as widespread backing from civil society, religious groups and business. The Declaration (see below) itself is a marker of intent, a call to make a human rights-based vision of the city real.

The Declaration

York, in becoming a Human Rights City, embraces a vision of a vibrant, diverse, fair and safe community built on the foundations of universal human rights.  This vision is shared by citizens and institutions in our city, including the City Council, North Yorkshire Police, voluntary organisations and faith communities.

We are building on York’s own particular history of democratic innovation, philanthropy and an international outlook, all of which have shaped our commitment to social justice.

This declaration marks an ambition. A significant point in a journey, not a final destination. As the UK’s first Human Rights City we are committed to making our vision real, putting fundamental rights at the heart of our policies, hopes and dreams for the future.

Date: 24th April 2017

York Human Rights City Network (YHRCN) is a civil society partnership hosted jointly by York CVS (Centre for Voluntary Service) and the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) at the University of York. York CVS roots the Network within York’s vibrant civil society. CAHR anchors the Network in the human rights discourse. The Network was formed in 2011, and has grown organically over the intervening years.

The York Human Rights City Network is organised through a Steering Group of civil society representatives that meets every two months; an Executive which manages activities between Steering Group meetings; and a Chair who organises both bodies and leads on public facing engagements. Below are the members of the current Executive:

Stephen Pittam

Stephen retired from the position of Trust Secretary of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) in 2012. Before joining JRCT in 1986, Stephen worked in local government and with Quaker projects in Belfast and Jordan.  During his progression to the senior position at JRCT he was responsible for the foundation’s programmes on racial justice, democracy, human rights and corporate accountability in the UK, and on peacebuilding in Ireland.  He was a member of the global working group on Philanthropy for Social Justice & Peace. 

Since his retirement he has served on the boards of the Global Greengrants Fund, the Global Fund for Community Foundations and the UK based Environmental Funders Network.  He is currently a Trustee of the British Institute of Human Rights and the Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation.  Locally, Stephen chairs the Steering Group of York Human Rights City Network and is a Trustee of the Rowntree Society and the York Travellers Trust, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Applied Human Rights at York University.

Marilyn Crawshaw

Marilyn’s interest in human rights has been at the core of her years as, variously, a social work practitioner, academic, and policy adviser and now Honorary Fellow at the University of York.  Nationally and internationally her research and activism has focussed primarily on human rights aspects of donor conception and surrogacy. She also has strong links with NGOs in Uganda and Pakistan.  Locally her activism has focussed primarily on disability rights, including as a founder of York Disability Rights Forum and helping to co-ordinate York Disability Week, and on women’s rights, including helping to co-ordinate York International Women’s Week.  Marilyn is a volunteer coordinator of the Friends of the Protective Fellowship scheme that supports Human Rights Defenders coming from around the world to the Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York, sits on the Centre’s Advisory Board and sits on the city’s Human Rights & Equalities Board.

Paul Gready

Professor Paul Gready is the Director of the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR), University of York, and is a member of the Executive of the civil society-led York Human Rights City Network (YNRCN).

As a representative of York’s civil society he also co-Chairs (with a member of the City of York Council Executive) the Human Rights and Equalities Board (HREB), which constitutes the ‘institutionalisation’ of York’s commitment to becoming a Human Rights City.

Paul has managed CAHRs role, with the involvement of both staff and students, as a kind of think tank on human rights for the city, and has published several pieces on this experience (see here, here, here and here).

Alison Semmence

Alison Semmence is Chief Executive of York CVS and has 30 years’ experience developing organisational strength and resilience in the Third Sector. She joined York CVS in November 2018 and during this time has established a thriving Volunteer Centre, developed and supported the Poverty Truth Commission and grown Social Prescribing across the City.

Alison’s expertise includes managing complex change, policy and strategy development, volunteer management, income generation and leadership.  

York CVS co-hosts the York Human Rights City Network and Alison is part of the Executive and Steering Group.  She represents the VCSE on a range of City boards including the Human Rights and Equalities Board, Health and Wellbeing Board and York Health and Care Partnership Board.

Alison is the lead for York at the Humber and North Yorkshire VCSE Collaborative, Chair of the VCSE Collaborative and leads on the Volunteers at the Heart of the System workstream which is part of the Breakthrough (workforce) programme. 

The Human Rights and Equalities Board (HREB) was established in November 2017, representing the ‘institutionalisation’ of York’s commitment to becoming a Human Rights City. Since 2023 it has been co-chaired by an Executive Member of the City of York Council and a representative from civil society. 

Its roles include providing strategic direction to the Council’s human rights and equalities work; considering the recommendations in YHRCN’s annual Indicator Report; reviewing the implementation of the Equalities and Human Rights Analysis Tool; responding to events in the city; and considering ‘declarations of incompatibility’ (with human rights), submitted by the YHRCN.

HREB’s initial terms of reference from 2017 can be accessed here; and a revised terms of reference and Appendix here and here.