The 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum Opens... Four-Day Schedule Begins

Operation of 35 Programs in 7 Fields at Kim Dae-jung Convention Center until the 10th

Mayor Lee Yong-seop Proposes 'Human Rights City 2030 Action Agenda' to Expand Human Rights Solidarity

On the afternoon of the 7th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, attended the 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum held via real-time online video conference at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu and delivered the opening address. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Human Rights Forum’), co-hosted by Gwangju Metropolitan City, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNESCO Headquarters, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), held an online opening ceremony at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center on the afternoon of the 7th, kicking off a four-day schedule.

Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the Human Rights Forum will discuss various human rights agendas under the theme ‘Memory and Community: The Future of Human Rights Cities,’ with participation from 17 overseas city mayors.

The opening ceremony was held online via video conferencing without an on-site audience to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It proceeded with opening remarks by Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop, a welcome address by National Human Rights Commission Chairperson Choi Young-ae, and keynote speeches by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop stated in his opening remarks, “This year marks the meaningful 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising,” adding, “We will inherit and develop the spirit of May 18, which became a milestone for democracy, human rights, and peace, and strive to contribute to the promotion of human rights and the enhancement of happiness worldwide. Gwangju will do its utmost to expand human rights solidarity by working practically with domestic and international human rights cities and organizations.”

He also added, “Many people’s precious human rights are threatened by various forms of violence and oppression, war and terrorism, as well as climate change and emerging infectious diseases, and Gwangju will extend a hand of solidarity.”

National Human Rights Commission Chairperson Choi Young-ae said in her welcome address, “The spirit of the Gwangju community during the May 18 Democratic Uprising led to solidarity in COVID-19 hospital beds and broke down hatred and discrimination,” and added, “Gwangju is a symbol that evokes many human rights values, and I support the development of the Human Rights Forum.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet emphasized the importance of the Human Rights Forum in her keynote speech, stating, “The strong network of many city mayors dedicated to human rights and the human rights city movement is very valuable in advancing international human rights agendas.”

She continued, “I called on local governments worldwide to prepare policies and budgets for marginalized residents and to participate in the international human rights system,” and said, “The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will actively support these efforts.”

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stated, “The COVID-19 crisis has become an opportunity to demonstrate the true value of solidarity activities between cities, and Gwangju is practicing this solidarity well,” adding, “The World Human Rights Cities Forum is a place to realize human rights.”

Following the opening ceremony, the first plenary session was held with the participation of Markus K?nig, Mayor of Nuremberg, Germany; Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju; Fadhel Moussa, Mayor of Ariana, Tunisia; Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission; the Mayor of Bogor, Indonesia; and the Mayor of Bogot?, Colombia. They presented strategies to create safe and inclusive human rights cities based on their cities’ historical experiences.

In his keynote presentation, Mayor Lee Yong-seop proposed the ‘Gwangju Human Rights City 2030 Action Agenda’ to expand practical human rights solidarity among human rights cities. He also announced plans to operate the ‘Gwangju International Human Rights Education Center,’ which will provide education on human rights-based urban development strategies for officials of local governments worldwide in cooperation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNESCO Headquarters.

In the second plenary session held that day, eight overseas mayors, including Mayor Lee Yong-seop, Emilia Saiz, Secretary-General of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Mayor of Bergen, Norway, along with five city officials, discussed a joint roadmap for the human rights city movement in 2021.

In the third plenary session scheduled for the afternoon of the 8th, five overseas city mayors, including Kim Jong-hyo, Deputy Mayor of Gwangju, Bernadia, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific branch of UCLG, and the Mayor of Grigny, France, will share ‘post-COVID-19’ strategies of local governments worldwide and discuss ways to create more inclusive and resilient cities.

Meanwhile, the forum operates 35 programs across seven sectors and is broadcast live on the World Human Rights Cities Forum website and YouTube, allowing anyone worldwide to participate online.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.