The 9th World Human Rights Forum

Since 2011, the City of Gwangju in South Korea has been hosting the annual World Human Rights Cities Forum to uphold the spirit of the 18 May Democratization Movement and declaration of the Asia Human Rights Charter 1998. The concept of “Human Rights City” highlights the role of cities in coping with socio-economic and political challenges through a human rights framework and a human rights-based approach. The Gwangju Declaration on Human Rights City defines a Human Rights City as “both a local community and a socio-political process in a local context where human rights play a key role as fundamental values and guiding principles.”

The upcoming forum seeks to strengthen or redesign human rights systems and mechanisms which can enhance human rights of citizens and forge international solidarity among local governments, NGOs, and citizens.

Part of the forum is the Gwangju Human Rights City 2030 Workshop as a venue for planning the future of human rights cities by sharing experiences among collaborating organizations and experts. One of the workshop sessions is on Glo-calizing SDGs, Human Rights and Democracy at the Local Level through International Cooperation where International IDEA has been invited to be part of the panel. Nyla Prieto, Programme Officer at the Asia and the Pacific Programme will represent International IDEA showcasing our citizen-led democracy assessment frameworks.