Since 2011, the Gwangju Metropolitan City has annually held the World Human Rights
Cities Forum (WHRCF) to promote human rights at local level through active dialogues
among local governments, human rights experts, civil society and relevant stakeholders
from all over the world. Over time, the WHRCF has become one of the largest
international platforms for local government networking on human rights issues.
In 2020, the City of Gwangju is organizing the 10th Forum in 17-20 May in parallel to
remembrance events held on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the May 18
Democratization Movement as this movement played a key role in advancing South
Korea’s democratization process and still defines our city’s human right commitment.
The Forum will address some of the most urgent human rights challenges faced by local
governments today; this is, tackling the rise of discrimination and inequality,
safeguarding and expanding local democracy, protecting vulnerable groups, providing
access to basic services for all. In addition, it will touch upon the issues of advanced
human rights initiatives – from measures on human rights education, housing, hate
speech, digital rights to social inclusion or fostering women’s and children’s rights – that
effectively contribute to the localization of human rights and the realization of the 2030
Agenda.
We will be honored to have your experience and vision to be shared in the Forum, which
will be held under the theme of “The Future of Human Rights Cities: Local Memories and
Global Sharing”.
Sincerely,
Mayor, Gwangju Metropolitan Government LEE Yong-sup
Host : Gwangju Metropolitan City, UNESCO, UN OHCHR, Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, Korea International Cooperation Agency Organizer : Gwangju International Center, UCLG Committee on Human Rights, Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights
Human Rights in Times of Challenge: A New Social Contract
[World Human Rights Cities Forum Secretariat] 1-2F, 5, Jungang-ro 196beon-gil, Dong-gu Gwangju 61475, South Korea
Tel. 062-226-2734 ┃ Fax. 062-226-2731 ┃ E-mail. whrcf@gic.or.kr
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Human Rights in Times of Challenge: A New Social Contract
