Today marks the start of the 14th World Human Rights Cities Forum, centered around the theme of Civic Space and Human Rights Cities! We are excited to bring you live updates from the official event, and we encourage you to stay tuned throughout the Forum!😊
Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony was initiated by Kang Gi-jung, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, and featured congratulatory remarks from the co-hosting organizations, UNESCO and the UN OHCHR, as well as the keynote speech by Kim Dong-choon, Professor Emeritus at Sungkonghoe University.
“The spread of capitalism and the neoliberal economic order is constricting public spaces and making it increasingly difficult for citizens to act and survive. Human rights-friendly city development and civic spaces that ensure the participation and communication of marginalized groups are crucial.”
Plenary Session
BEAK Tae-Ung
Professor, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii “Today, the world is facing major human rights challenges, such as the war in Ukraine, while the space for civil society is shrinking. Civil society actions play a crucial role in the healthy transformation and development of a society and in pursuing a high-level democracy that guarantees human rights.”
LEE Jinsun
Chairperson, Foundation WAGL
"Fandom politics is a double-edged sword: it can expand the civic public sphere, but it can also undermine democracy by over-representation and bias. Achieving the "democratization of democracy" requires a profound reflection on and collective practice of republican values."
Wiebke Winter
Project Manager, Human Rights Office of the City of Nuremberg, Germany
"The City of Nuremberg has built on its Nazi past to become a city of peace and human rights. By promoting civic engagement through civic spaces, introducing human rights programs, and countering far-right extremism, it can become a sustainable human rights city."
There's much to explore during tomorrow's Forum—don't miss out!