City to Host 'World Human Rights Cities Forum' at DJ Center on 10th-11th
The "World Human Rights Cities Forum," where human rights experts from around the world gather in Gwangju, will be held.
Gwangju City announced on the 7th that it will host the 14th World Human Rights Cities Forum under the theme "Civic Space and Human Rights Cities" at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center over two days from the 10th to the 11th, with about 600 domestic and international human rights activists and representatives of international organizations attending.
The forum is jointly hosted by Gwangju City, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNESCO, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, and the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, with participation from about 28 domestic and international cooperating organizations related to human rights.
At this forum, human rights experts from various countries are expected to engage in in-depth discussions on the reality of shrinking civic spaces worldwide and the resulting human rights issues.
The event will begin at 2 p.m. on the 10th with an opening address by Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung, followed by congratulatory speeches from key domestic and international figures and a keynote presentation by Kim Dong-chun, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Social Sciences at Sungkonghoe University.
The meetings will be divided into plenary sessions and thematic sessions. The special session of the National Human Rights Commission will address the issue of "Promoting Local Governments' Participation in the UN Human Rights System for Regional Implementation of International Human Rights Norms." Additionally, various network meetings will be held, including the Gwangju Citizens' Human Rights Practice Group workshop, the National Council of Human Rights Commissions of Metropolitan Governments, the National Council of Human Rights Officers of Local Governments, and the Gwangju-Jeonnam University Human Rights Centers Council.
Park Yong-su, Director of the Democracy, Human Rights, and Peace Bureau of Gwangju City, said, "This year's human rights forum is meaningful as activists from various countries come together to discuss global human rights and work to protect peace," adding, "In a situation where Gwangju's civic space is gradually declining, we expect this to be an active platform for seeking solidarity and cooperation with the international community and human rights organizations." He also expressed hope that "citizens will actively participate and express their opinions."
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