The scorching sun seems to be welcoming the start of the summer. We hope everyone is staying cool and safe from the heat. With about three months to go before the World Human Rights Cities Forum, the Secretariat is working hard to make the event even more enriching.

More than 40 programs are being prepared, including official events such as the Opening Ceremony and Round Table, as well as a variety of side events, such as the tours, which sparked a lot of interest among the participants last year.

We will keep you up to date on all the Forum-related news every month through our newsletter, so please stay tuned for the 13th World Human Rights Cities Forum to be held from October 4 to 7.

The website of the World Human Rights Cities Forum has been updated! The main page of the website, which reflects the design of this year's official poster, is organized to show the topic and main agendas of the Forum in one place. We will continue to update the website as the details of the program are being confirmed. 😊

The First Preparation Meeting Held

On 12th June, the first preparation meeting with the domestic session organizers of the 13th World Human Rights Cities Forum was held.

In this meeting, along with a brief introduction of the upcoming schedule and work of the Secretariat, delegates from eight organizations, including new partners who will organize the thematic sessions on "Youth", "Housing", and "Migrants", gathered together to exchange greetings and discuss the direction of conducting the sessions.

Each organization will organize and prepare their respective sessions independently, addressing various topics around the common goal of promoting human rights and contributing to the establishment of human rights policies in Gwangju. Please stay tuned to see how each partnering organization will prepare and discuss specific topics under the theme of "Human Rights Cities Responding to Poverty and Inequalities."

World Human Rights Cities Forum Volunteer Activities Begin!

The 15 volunteers of the World Human Rights Cities Forum, who were selected through the process of document screening and interviews, began their activities on June 10th at the Orientation. The volunteers are divided into two groups: volunteers who create promotional content to inform the general public about the Forum, and volunteers who translate materials related to domestic and international human rights and human rights cities to make the content more accessible both at home and abroad.

For the volunteers to gain diverse experience, the Secretariat is also providing a three-times capacity-building program, as well as offering the opportunity to interview speakers on-site during the 13th WHRCF, and much more. The outputs created by the volunteers will be posted on the Forum's website, so keep an eye out for the volunteers’ activities both online and offline. 😊

✔️Call for Papers: Human Rights Paper Session

The Chonnam National University Center for Regional Development, the International Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights at the Local and Regional Levels under the auspices of UNESCO, the UNESCO Chair in Human Rights and Human Security, University of Graz, and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law are co-hosting a special session titled “Human Rights Paper Session” as a part of the 13th World Human Rights Cities Forum.

The theme and sub-themes of this year's Human Rights Paper Session are as below. Should you be interested in applying to present your paper, please find more details on the WHRCF website, and submit your abstract by the designated deadlines.

☑️Theme : Inclusive Cities and Human Rights

☑️Sub-themes : undocumented migrants, access to services (e.g. energy, healthcare), climate justice, the role of the third sector, persons with disabilities, minority groups, measurement of urban inclusivity