World Human Rights Cities Forum 2025

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World Human Rights Cities Forum 2025

ABOUT

WHRCF
- WHRCF
- COOPERATION PROJECTS
PARTNERS
PAST FORUMS
HRC GWANGJU

2026

GREETINGS
OVERVIEW
SCHEDULE
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IN-PERSON PARTICIPATION
VENUE
ONLINE SESSIONS
SUSTAINABLE CAMPAIGN
TOUR INFORMATION

BOARD

NOTICE
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ARCHIVE

FORUM MATERIALS
HUMAN RIGHTS RESOURCES
PHOTOS

World Human Rights Cities Forum 2025

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WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS
CITIES FORUM 2026

Human Rights Cities Against Authoritarianism and Populism

Date May 13 (WED) - 15 (FRI), 2026
Venue KDJ Convention Center,
Gwangju, Republic of Korea

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MAIN SPEAKERS
OF THE WHRCF 2026

KANG Gi-jung

Mayor, Gwangju Metropolitan City

KANG Gi-jung Mayor, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Volker Türk

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR

Volker Türk United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR

CHUNG Young Sun

Professor, Law School at Jeonbuk National University

CHUNG Young Sun Professor, Law School at Jeonbuk National University

Morten Kjaerum

Affiliated Professor , Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

Morten Kjaerum Affiliated Professor , Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

KANG Sung-Hyun

Director, Peace Worlding Research Institute, Sungkonghoe University

KANG Sung-Hyun Director, Peace Worlding Research Institute, Sungkonghoe University

PARK Jin

Secretary General , National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster

PARK Jin Secretary General , National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster

JoAnn Kamuf Ward

Deputy Commissioner, Policy & External Affairs, NYC Commission on Human Rights

JoAnn Kamuf Ward Deputy Commissioner, Policy & External Affairs, NYC Commission on Human Rights

Pitikan Sithidej

Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand

Pitikan SithidejCommissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand

Morten Koch Andersen

Director of Research and Education, Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

Morten Koch Andersen Director of Research and Education, Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

Sofia Palli

Human Rights Officer, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Sofia PalliHuman Rights Officer, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Adrià Duarte

Head of the Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Rights, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

Adrià Duarte Head of the Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Rights, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

Peter Flegel

Senior Expert, Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO

Peter Flegel Senior Expert, Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO

Klaus Starl

UNESCO Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights at Local and Regional Levels

Klaus Starl UNESCO Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights at Local and Regional Levels

MAIN AGENDA

01

Discuss the spread of authoritarianism and populism and assess the impact on human rights.

02

Explore the policies and roles of human rights cities in responding to authoritarianism and populism.

03

Discuss response strategies for civil society and local communities aimed at restoring and promoting human rights.

04

Explore avenues for international cooperation and solidarity among human rights cities to restore democracy and protect human rights.

mobile background

WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES FORUM 2026

Human Rights Cities Against Authoritarianism and Populism

Date May 13 (WED) - 15 (FRI), 2026
Venue KDJ Convention Center, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

Image map Image map Image map Image map

Image map Image map Image map

Image map Image map Image map Image map

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
OF THE WHRCF 2025

NOTICE

					
						Register for WHRCF 2026 now!												
																		
										Register for WHRCF 2026 now!									
								
					1 Apr 2026
				
						Call for Papers - Human Rights Paper Session (Closed) 												
																		
										Call for Papers - Human Rights Paper Session (Closed) 									
								
					11 Feb 2026
				
						Announcement of 2025 UNESCO APCAD YOUTH CAMP GWANGJU												
																		
										Announcement of 2025 UNESCO APCAD YOUTH CAMP GWANGJU									
								
					4 Jun 2025
				
						Announcement of Opening Ceremony & Plenary Session												
																		
										Announcement of Opening Ceremony & Plenary Session									
								
					12 May 2025

NEWS

					
						World Human Rights Cities Forum 2026 to Be Held May 13–15 												
																		
										World Human Rights Cities Forum 2026 to Be Held May 13–15 									
								
					1 Apr 2026
				
						Gwangju International Center Successfully Concludes  the 2025 KOICA Fellowship Program												
																		
										Gwangju International Center Successfully Concludes  the 2025 KOICA Fellowship Program									
								
					20 Nov 2025
				
						Gwangju International Center Delivers KOICA Fellowship Program												
																		
										Gwangju International Center Delivers KOICA Fellowship Program									
								
					23 Oct 2025
				
						The 2nd Planning Committee Meeting Held												
																		
										The 2nd Planning Committee Meeting Held									
								
					29 Sep 2025

MAIN SPEAKERS
OF THE WHRCF 2026

KANG Gi-jung

Mayor, Gwangju Metropolitan City

KANG Gi-jung Mayor, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Volker Türk

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR

Volker Türk United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR

CHUNG Young Sun

Professor, Law School at Jeonbuk National University

CHUNG Young Sun Professor, Law School at Jeonbuk National University

Morten Kjaerum

Affiliated Professor , Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

Morten Kjaerum Affiliated Professor , Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

KANG Sung-Hyun

Director, Peace Worlding Research Institute, Sungkonghoe University

KANG Sung-Hyun Director, Peace Worlding Research Institute, Sungkonghoe University

PARK Jin

Secretary General , National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster

PARK Jin Secretary General , National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster

JoAnn Kamuf Ward

Deputy Commissioner, Policy & External Affairs, NYC Commission on Human Rights

JoAnn Kamuf Ward Deputy Commissioner, Policy & External Affairs, NYC Commission on Human Rights

Pitikan Sithidej

Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand

Pitikan SithidejCommissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand

Morten Koch Andersen

Director of Research and Education, Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

Morten Koch Andersen Director of Research and Education, Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

Sofia Palli

Human Rights Officer, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Sofia PalliHuman Rights Officer, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Adrià Duarte

Head of the Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Rights, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

Adrià Duarte Head of the Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Rights, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

Peter Flegel

Senior Expert, Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO

Peter Flegel Senior Expert, Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO

Klaus Starl

UNESCO Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights at Local and Regional Levels

Klaus Starl UNESCO Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights at Local and Regional Levels

MAIN AGENDA

01

Discuss the spread of authoritarianism and populism and assess the impact on human rights.

02

Explore the policies and roles of human rights cities in responding to authoritarianism and populism.

03

Discuss response strategies for civil society and local communities aimed at restoring and promoting human rights.

04

Explore avenues for international cooperation and solidarity among human rights cities to restore democracy and protect human rights.

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
OF THE WHRCF 2025

NOTICE

					
						Register for WHRCF 2026 now!												
																		
										Register for WHRCF 2026 now!									
								
					1 Apr 2026
				
						Call for Papers - Human Rights Paper Session (Closed) 												
																		
										Call for Papers - Human Rights Paper Session (Closed) 									
								
					11 Feb 2026
				
						Announcement of 2025 UNESCO APCAD YOUTH CAMP GWANGJU												
																		
										Announcement of 2025 UNESCO APCAD YOUTH CAMP GWANGJU									
								
					4 Jun 2025
				
						Announcement of Opening Ceremony & Plenary Session												
																		
										Announcement of Opening Ceremony & Plenary Session									
								
					12 May 2025

NEWS

					
						World Human Rights Cities Forum 2026 to Be Held May 13–15 												
																		
										World Human Rights Cities Forum 2026 to Be Held May 13–15 									
								
					1 Apr 2026
				
						Gwangju International Center Successfully Concludes  the 2025 KOICA Fellowship Program												
																		
										Gwangju International Center Successfully Concludes  the 2025 KOICA Fellowship Program									
								
					20 Nov 2025
				
						Gwangju International Center Delivers KOICA Fellowship Program												
																		
										Gwangju International Center Delivers KOICA Fellowship Program									
								
					23 Oct 2025
				
						The 2nd Planning Committee Meeting Held												
																		
										The 2nd Planning Committee Meeting Held									
								
					29 Sep 2025

PAST FORUMS

PAST FORUMS

WHRCF SECRETARIAT

2F, 5, Jungang-ro 196beon-gil,
Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea

Tel: +82-62-226-2734 I Fax: +82-62-226-2731
E-mail: whrcf@gic.or.kr

WHRCF NEWSLETTER

Sign up for our newsletter and
get the latest news on the WHRCF

FOLLOW US

#WHRCF2026 #Solidarity #HumanRightsCities #freedomforall #Standup4Humanrights #Cities4Rights

Copyright WHRCF All rights reserved.

WHRCF SECRETARIAT

2F, 5, Jungang-ro 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea

Tel: +82-62-226-2734 │ Fax: +82-2-226-2731 │ E-mail: whrcf@gic.or.kr

Copyright WHRCF All rights reserved.

WHRCF NEWSLETTER

Sign up for our newsletter and
get the latest news on the WHRCF

FOLLOW US

#WHRCF2026 #Solidarity #HumanRightsCities #freedomforall
#StandUp4HumanRights #Cities4Rights