Publications

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the York Human Rights Indicator Report, which predated the Declaration of York as a Human Rights City in 2017. Over the past decade, we have been monitoring York’s progress in realising human rights prioritised by residents and exploring human rights-based practices in different areas of urban governance and everyday life.

2024 has been another difficult year for many individuals and families in York. Whilst recent inflationary pressures may have eased, the impact of years of austerity continues to be felt across the city.

2023 saw local elections in York, with Labour gaining control of the City Council, replacing the Liberal Democrat and Green Party coalition. We would like to thank the members of that coalition who have worked with us to try and ensure the protection of human rights in the city. We would also like to welcome the new Labour administration and look forward to developing a fruitful working relationship with its members.

In 2022, headlines were dominated by the unfolding cost-of-living crisis. Whilst still coming to terms with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, the effects of rising inflation and the impact of the war in Ukraine began to register in York. These crises have highlighted some of the problems the city faces, but also the determination that exists to tackle them, along with the generosity of many of York’s residents.

2021 started in a Covid-19 related lockdown and ended with the City of York Council Executive voting to exclude Blue Badge holders from the centre of the city. These two events capture many of the human rights challenges facing York as we enter 2022. How do we deal with the legacies of Covid-19, and in particular the harsh light it has shone on inequalities in the city? And, how can we rebuild trust after a bruising process that led to a group of disabled people being knowingly and deliberately excluded from the city centre?

2020 has been a year like no other in York. In previous years the Indicator Report focused on 5 priority human rights for the city – rights to education, health and social care, housing, a decent standard of living, and non-discrimination and equality. This year the report is different as it analyses the impact of COVID-19 and responses to the pandemic on human rights in the city.

Welcome to York’s fourth annual human rights indicator report. It has been produced by the York Human Rights City Network for everyone in York, to inspire debate, encourage activism for human rights and challenge discrimination.

Welcome to York’s third annual human rights indicator report. This report has been produced by the York: Human Rights City Network for everyone in York. We want to inspire debate, encourage activism for human rights, challenge discrimination, and build on the momentum of York becoming the UK’s first Human Rights City. This year, as well as reporting on all five rights we include additional information around the right to housing.

On April 24th 2017, York was declared the UK’s first Human Rights
City. This declaration marks an ambition and vision for the city.
As the UK’s first Human Rights City, we are committed to putting
fundamental rights at the heart of our policies, hopes and dreams
for the future.

As a result of carrying out surveys and
discussions with people who live, study and work in York, five priority human rights were identified. These are: the right to equality and non-discrimination, education, a decent standard of living, housing, and health and social care.