Some days after the UCLG World Congress in Tangier, the GOLD VII Final Report on the Economies of Equality and Care was launched with the energy of a truly collective moment.

Over three years of shared work, dialogue and co-creation across territories, this process has brought together 50 local and regional governments, researchers, international organizations, and civil society networks from all regions of the world. Together, we have explored what it means to place care at the centre of public action - not as a sector, but as a transformative way of governing.

Through 340 experiences of 200 local and regional governments, GOLD VII shows that care is a cross-sectoral principle of UCLG's political mandate, and it is already happening in cities and regions: through public services, housing, mobility, social protection, climate action, cultural life and democratic innovation. It is a living practice of solidarity, proximity and collective responsibility.

Find the GOLD VII Final report:

• in English.
• in Spanish.
• in French.

Find an easy read version of the GOLD VII Final report in English.

Following the official announcement of the winners of the UCLG – Mexico City – Culture 21 International Award at the UCLG World Congress held in Tangier a few weeks ago, the Award’s organisers, including Mexico City and the UCLG Culture Commission, are pleased to announce that the Award Ceremony for both categories will be held on 8 October 2026 in Mexico City. The event will be held alongside a peer-learning exercise on cultural rights, care and gender equality, which will take place on 7–8 October and the morning of 9 October.

This significant occasion will bring together the Award winners – the cities of Ramallah and São Paulo in the ‘City’ category, and Nancy Duxbury and Amareswar Galla in the ‘Individual’ category – together with cities recognised as Special Mentions and/or good practices, the members of the jury, experts and representatives of local governments from around the world.

All UCLG members are warmly invited to attend and participate in these inspiring days of dialogue, learning and celebration!

Please see here the preliminary programme of events.

UCLG adopted the New Global Charter-Agenda for Human Rights in the City at its World Congress in Tangier (25 June 2026). This work was carried out by our colleagues from the Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights (CISDPDH). The Charter-Agenda is an updated global framework designed to guide local and regional governments in promoting human rights at the local level. It reaffirms the role of local and regional governments as guarantors of human rights and recognizes 37 human rights in the city, each with concrete steps for its implementation.

The Charter-Agenda offers an integrated vision of human rights in the city. In addition to the fundamental rights already recognized internationally, it incorporates new human rights, covering essential services and social, economic, cultural, environmental, and democratic rights – with particular attention to groups that continue to face discrimination and obstacles in exercising their rights. Above all, this is not just a declaration of principles, but a political and practical tool, providing concrete principles, commitments, and recommendations for local action.

This document is the result of several years of collaborative work, bringing together cities from every continent, international networks, civil society organizations, universities, and experts—a diversity of actors that constitutes its greatest strength.

It is with profound sorrow that the UCLG World Secretariat shares the passing of our dear colleague, Sara Hoeflich, Assistant Secretary General and long-standing Director of Learning.

Over the past months, Sara faced an incurable illness with remarkable grace and serenity. It took her from us far too soon.

Sara illuminated our movement with her creativity, generosity, and unwavering belief in humanity’s capacity to learn, to care, and to build a better present and future together. She joined the municipal movement in the early 2000s after a distinguished career in international development that had connected her with communities across continents. Wherever she went, she brought curiosity, compassion, and an extraordinary ability to bring people together.

Sara was a key person in the life of the UCLG Culture Committee: we enjoyed her generous company in the development of the Seven Keys, the Online Courses, the most recent reports and studies and, in general, the daily work of our programme. We will continue to love her by carrying forward the values she embodied. We will honor her work and her unwavering dedication by continuing to learn through collaboration, by nurturing peer-to-peer exchange and mutual learning, and, above all, by never losing faith that together we can make the world a better place.

Her beloved family has kindly allowed us to share this beautiful photograph, which captures the extraordinary light she brought into every room and every life she touched.

Today, the World Secretariat and the entire UCLG movement mourn the loss of a remarkable colleague, mentor, and friend. In the days and years ahead, we will continue to celebrate Sara’s life by strengthening cooperation, advancing learning, and fostering solidarity wherever we can. In doing so, her light will continue to guide us.