💌The 14th WHRCF Newsletter Vol. 1

The chilly winter days are behind us and spring, the season of rebirth, is just around the corner. The WHRCF Secretariat wishes you an energizing month of March, filled with green grass and fresh breeze. Throughout the winter, the Secretariat has been working on bringing the 13th Forum to a close and laying the groundwork for this year's Forum. The 14th World Human Rights Cities Forum will be held on October 10 and 11 at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju under the theme of "Civic Space and Human Rights Cities." 😊

Currently, the Secretariat is focusing on composing and finalizing the programs. This year as well, we will keep you informed about the Forum through our Newsletter, so please stay tuned. 🌟

The 14th WHRCF Theme Confirmed

“Civic Space and Human Rights Cities”

"Civic Space and Human Rights Cities" was confirmed as the theme of the 14th World Human Rights Cities Forum, following the first meeting of the Planning Subcommittee (PSC) and the first International Steering Committee (ISC) conducted on February 14 and March 7, respectively.

Noting that civic space, the core foundation of human rights cities, is shrinking globally, the Forum will examine key issues surrounding civic space and comprehensively discuss ways to shape, protect, and expand civic space.

In particular, this year's theme is expected to resonate with and engage participation, as it was ranked first in last year's online and offline theme poll.

In addition to the theme, the two meetings also discussed the organization plan and concept note of this year's Forum. Make sure to check out the articles below to learn more about the discussions and the preparation progress of the Forum.

Gwangju International Center Selected for KOICA's Fellowship Program

The 'Capacity Building for Local Governments on Human Rights Administration' project has been selected as part of the 2024 Global Fellowship Program, organized by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in the selection of government-proposed projects.

The project, put forward by Gwangju International Center (GIC), aims to provide human rights education to government officials from five Asian countries over a period of three years, from 2024 to 2026, with the goal of providing opportunities to understand human rights and build a human rights-based organizational culture. Through the invitational training program, participants will have the opportunity to learn about Gwangju's human rights administration and visit human rights-related ministries and organizations in Gwangju. In particular, it is expected that the cooperation with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN OHCHR) will further enhance the professional aspect of the project. For more information about the project, please refer to the article below.

Movie Recommendations in honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ★★★★★

The United Nations designated March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Racism is an issue that must be eradicated in order to create a society where no one is left behind and everyone lives as equals. How about taking a moment today to reflect on your own biases and raise awareness about racism?

We recommend five movies that tackle the issue of racism, hoping to change the looks of discrimination that is still so prevalent in the world into a warm perception of inclusion. *Please clike the image for a larger versoin.