Thank You for Attending the 10th WHRCF 

The 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum was held online from October 7th to October 10th with the theme “The Future of Human Rights Cities - Local Memories and Global Sharing”. Despite the difficult situation due to COVID-19, the Forum concluded successfully, thanks to the solidarity and cooperation of various human rights protection bodies and all participants.  

This year’s forum comprised 35 programs in 7 fields, with around 2,780 participants, including 22 human rights city mayors, human rights activists, and human rights city personnel from 253 cities representing 76 countries. 

With the participation of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNESCO as co-hosts, the 10th Forum has finally laid the foundation as a human rights platform striving for the promotion of human rights at the individual, regional and global level, through the efforts of UN agencies, central and local governments, international human rights organizations and research centers, and activists. 

The Forum was further enriched by the participation of mayors from 17 human rights cities, including Nuremberg (Germany), Ariana (Tunisia), Bogor (Indonesia), and Bogota (Colombia). They shared their experiences in using historical relevance and other diverse experiences and strategies in establishing an inclusive human rights city in which citizens have a feeling of safety and belonging. 

In the sessions on state violence, symbolically representing the theme of this year’s Forum, cities with memories of state violence gathered to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the May 18th Democratization Movement in Gwangju. They shared their experiences and historical memories of state violence, the search for the truth, and ways to advance to a more developed future, in anticipation of these efforts expanding worldwide. 

Various points were discussed at the 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum, sharing the view that the history and memories of each human rights city are cultural and social assets in the development of a human rights city, and for local governments to protect citizens’ human rights in order that they be healthy and free from exclusion, deprivation, and infringements stemming from threats to society such as the climate crisis and infectious diseases. 

Furthermore, Gwangju Metropolitan City will begin specific and concrete discussions to realize joint collaboration for network activation, human rights education, and human rights policy implementation, as proposed by the ‘Practical Agendas of Gwangju Human Rights City 2030’. 

We are sincerely grateful for your participation in the 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum, and hope to be able to meet you all in person next year, with warm handshakes and embraces at the 11th World Human Rights Cities Forum here in Gwangju!