First, how is civic space constituted in the context of human rights cities?
Civic space is characterized by respect for people’s right to participate and by robust protections for the freedoms of expression, association, and assembly, enabling individuals and groups to contribute to societal dialogue and to foster civic engagement without fear of repression or violence. Acknowledging civic space as the basis of democracy and human rights, the Forum will explore key components that civic space should incorporate in the local and urban context.
Second, what are the major challenges facing civic space on regional and city levels?
The Forum will examine diverse challenges facing civic space: financial and political groups that reduce civic space and silence critical voices; repression of civic society and human rights defenders; the use of digital surveillance and online attacks; misleading information and fake news online; and the impact these phenomena have on human rights activism and the growth of human rights cities.
Third, what are new strategies for human rights cities to create, protect, and expand civic space?
The Forum will explore examples of community activism and city policies designed in response to current challenges, seeking to reclaim the right to participate in social discourse and to increase areas of public involvement. This includes sharing creative ways on how people can engage in their communities and use digital platforms for activism to contribute to the expansion of civic space in human rights cities from a multi-layered perspective.
Fourth, how should the multilateral and multi-stakeholder collaboration regarding civic space in cities and territories be structured at the global level?
Collaboration among human rights cities, civil society, international organizations, and other stakeholders is crucial to protect and promote civic space at both local and global levels. It plays a pivotal role in establishing a supportive and conducive environment that institutionalizes and fosters local democracy, participation, and decentralization, along with other democratic mechanisms. The importance of civic space will be identified through joint initiatives. Innovative approaches will be examined through citizen participation. Policies and practices for civic space expansion will be explored among the participating human rights cities.
