Mayor Kang,
Distinguished participants, dear friends,
An‑nyeong‑ha‑sim‑ni‑kka.
It is my great pleasure to be with you today.
I would like to express my deep appreciation for the incredible hospitality of the Korean people, and for the leadership of the city of Gwangju in mobilizing Human Rights Cities globally through this Forum.
Gwangju stands as a living monument to the universal power of solidarity and civic engagement. It is here that, almost fifty years ago, thousands of civilians stood shoulder to shoulder against oppression – and faced a brutal crackdown that claimed many lives.
On my way here, I visited the May 18 Cemetery, where these memories linger in the air. It is a very powerful site and a very powerful moment that I experienced.
By choosing never to forget the sacrifice of those buried there and to pursue justice for them, your city helps ensure that such horrors will not be repeated.
The extraordinary courage of victims and survivors of the uprising influenced your nation’s journey towards democracy and inspired generations of committed citizens – not just here in Korea but elsewhere in the world as well.
Among them, the Nobel Prize winning writer Han Kang has focused in her writing on the trauma of the Gwangju uprising, and its lessons for our common humanity.
That humanity is something we choose every day – in our families, in our communities, and, of course, in our cities. We choose it by listening to one another, by standing up against injustice, and by caring for those in need.
This is particularly crucial as those in power at the national and international levels often make the opposite choices.
Governments spend trillions on ramping up their armies, while millions go hungry. Autocracies are multiplying at alarming speed. Racism, misogyny, and hatred of all kinds are on full display – even at the highest levels of government.
New technologies are misused to polarize, to divide, and to destroy. Meanwhile, our overheating planet is crying out for our attention – with no success.
Cities are on the frontlines of many of these crises. Rising poverty and inequality, inadequate healthcare and education, energy pressures, water shortages, air pollution, and traffic congestion are just some of the challenges of modern urban living.
The human rights of people living in cities are the rights of more than half the global population – a figure expected to rise to 60 per cent by 2030. The decisions cities make today – on resources, on services, and on priorities – will weigh heavily on the future of our planet and humanity as a whole.
While the pressure is growing, so are the opportunities – if we get it right.
That is why many local leaders – including many of you in this room, and across political divides – are turning to human rights for solutions.
Because human rights work for people.
Human rights, equality, and inclusion offer cities a coherent governance model – one that fosters resilience, stability, and trust. They are an insurance policy in turbulent times.
A Human Rights City is a fortress against the autocratic and populist currents we see today.
In cities, slogans run out of steam. People need practical, substantive, concrete actions that deliver improvements to their lives.
Populism does not solve problems – human rights do.
Distinguished participants, dear friends,
Take inequality.
Today, roughly one in four urban residents lives in an informal settlement – also known as a shanty town, a favela, a squatter area, or a slum.
Informal settlements are unplanned and often lack basic infrastructure like water, sanitation, and electricity. They reduce access to healthcare, education, and opportunities, and can even fuel instability.
Conversely, when budgets put people first, both communities and markets can thrive. The World Bank estimates that a global push to improve informal settlements could increase the GDP of some countries by as much as 10 per cent.
Studies show that cities that prioritize equality over mere growth perform better economically.
In Medellín in Colombia, for example, urban policies focused on reducing inequality have lowered homicide rates, improved transport, and attracted investment.
In Utrecht in the Netherlands, easing conditions on welfare has opened new pathways for people to find employment.
And in my home country Austria, expanding social housing has helped Vienna prevent and reduce homelessness, while making the city safer, more affordable, and economically stable.
Human rights empower people – economically, socially, politically.
And that is precisely why autocrats dislike them so much.
Human rights distribute power they don’t want to share.
Historically, cities – as we know from the experience right here in Gwangju – have often stood as oases of democracy and freedom, and guardians of civic space. Once again, because human rights provide solutions.
From Porto Alegre in Brazil to Kerala in India, participation has strengthened local governance, made policies more responsive, improved compliance, and reinforced accountability.
Living side by side in diverse communities can nurture solidarity and creativity, rather than threatening our peace or our culture – as populists would have us believe.
Refugees, migrants, and minorities – often vilified and scapegoated – enrich our societies, address labour shortages, and foster creativity and economic growth.
Many cities have already experimented with innovative ways to harness their diversity.
Ghent in Belgium created a taskforce to address the needs of refugees and to respond to concerns of host communities.
Amsterdam, along with other cities in the Rainbow Cities Network, has embedded the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people across all urban policies.
Of course, there is always more to do.
Today, only 25 of the world’s 300 largest cities have women mayors. Those few who made it have in many cases transformed their cities.
From Montreal in Canada and Paris in France to Freetown in Sierra Leone and Despeñaderos in Argentina, women mayors have championed green mobility, reclaimed public space for people, and made their cities safer and more comfortable for everyone.
In the same way, young mayors bring new leadership styles, drive innovation, and help rejuvenate cities with ageing populations. Yet mayors under 30 remain extremely rare.
A broader mix of local leaders can bring new ideas, greater openness, and more capacity to act – including in response to global challenges.
Cities account for 75% of the world’s carbon emissions – and many of them are leading the way on climate action.
Initiatives like the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group are driving change – even where national ambition falls short. Together, C40 cities represent around a quarter of the global economy, so their decisions make a difference.
But even smaller initiatives can shift the dial.
From Copenhagen in Denmark to Ahmedabad in India to Kampala in Uganda, cities across regions are adopting practical measures to address the climate emergency, from waste management to heat action plans to resilient housing programmes.
Renewable energy projects at the local level are the future of energy security. And as geopolitical shocks disrupt energy markets, this is more important than ever.
Dear participants,
As you work to make Human Rights Cities a reality, technology can give you a helping hand – or push you off the cliff.
Digital tools can expand access to essential services and make public spaces safer and more accessible. They can expose and reduce discrimination through data analysis and targeted interventions.
Digital voting and consultations can widen participation and strengthen transparency and accountability.
Here in South Korea, Seoul is implementing a smart road safety system for children, using AI and wearable technology.
In Estonia, Tallinn has rolled out digital IDs for residents to access healthcare and benefits online 24/7.
In Kenya, Nairobi has prioritized mobile banking, dramatically expanding access to financial services.
But technology can only help if it’s safe, accessible, and affordable.
Studies consistently show that internet use in poorer neighbourhoods is a fraction of city averages. Information inequality is growing, and it is a powder keg. It can open doors to disinformation and even ignite unrest.
Human Rights Cities can prevent this through better digital infrastructure and skills, connectivity subsidies, and support for local media.
Disinformation can spread at the speed of a click – sometimes as part of carefully orchestrated anti-rights campaigns.
London recently called for tighter oversight of social media after a wave of disinformation heightened insecurity, fuelling Islamophobia and hostility towards migrants.
In Spain, Barcelona is establishing a dedicated unit to counter fake news and disinformation.
Smart cities also create a risk of data falling into the wrong hands.
There are concerns about technology companies contracted by cities selling residents’ data, and cases of hackers accessing live feeds from police cameras. This calls for strong oversight and due diligence.
Cities are also at the forefront of action to curb the impact of tech companies on communities and the environment.
Melbourne in Australia, for example, is lobbying for rules to govern data centres, after calculating that a single facility could consume up to a fifth of the city’s energy.
Dear friends,
When the upper floors of a building sway, the foundations keep it standing.
At times like ours – of turbulence, anxiety, and confusion – Human Rights Cities can be that foundation.
Human Rights Cities are a global network of solidarity and freedom. They are harbours of certainty, where the organizing principles of kindness, care, and fairness still hold.
That is why cities are a major focus of the work of my Office.
From Kenya, Iraq, and the Philippines to South Africa, Tunisia, and Uzbekistan, my Office works with local authorities to integrate human rights across policies and budgets, and to ensure that people’s voices are heard in local decision-making.
Our Human Rights Cities initiative now has 104 members and counting. Last year, we developed the Guidance Framework for Creating a Human Rights City, together with our partners in United Cities and Local Governments.
Next month, our new Global Alliance for Human Rights will launch with a signature initiative to boost the Human Rights Cities movement with new ways to connect, to exchange, and to share ideas.
I call on all of you to join us and to support our ambition to grow the number of Human Rights Cities globally to 1,000 over the next three years, when we are going to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Democracy was born in cities.
Today, you can show that cities still lead the way – and that human rights are the only viable option for peace, sustainability, and dignity for all.
Thank you.
▶Original Text on OHCHR Website
Mayor Kang,
Distinguished participants, dear friends,
An‑nyeong‑ha‑sim‑ni‑kka.
It is my great pleasure to be with you today.
I would like to express my deep appreciation for the incredible hospitality of the Korean people, and for the leadership of the city of Gwangju in mobilizing Human Rights Cities globally through this Forum.
Gwangju stands as a living monument to the universal power of solidarity and civic engagement. It is here that, almost fifty years ago, thousands of civilians stood shoulder to shoulder against oppression – and faced a brutal crackdown that claimed many lives.
On my way here, I visited the May 18 Cemetery, where these memories linger in the air. It is a very powerful site and a very powerful moment that I experienced.
By choosing never to forget the sacrifice of those buried there and to pursue justice for them, your city helps ensure that such horrors will not be repeated.
The extraordinary courage of victims and survivors of the uprising influenced your nation’s journey towards democracy and inspired generations of committed citizens – not just here in Korea but elsewhere in the world as well.
Among them, the Nobel Prize winning writer Han Kang has focused in her writing on the trauma of the Gwangju uprising, and its lessons for our common humanity.
That humanity is something we choose every day – in our families, in our communities, and, of course, in our cities. We choose it by listening to one another, by standing up against injustice, and by caring for those in need.
This is particularly crucial as those in power at the national and international levels often make the opposite choices.
Governments spend trillions on ramping up their armies, while millions go hungry. Autocracies are multiplying at alarming speed. Racism, misogyny, and hatred of all kinds are on full display – even at the highest levels of government.
New technologies are misused to polarize, to divide, and to destroy. Meanwhile, our overheating planet is crying out for our attention – with no success.
Cities are on the frontlines of many of these crises. Rising poverty and inequality, inadequate healthcare and education, energy pressures, water shortages, air pollution, and traffic congestion are just some of the challenges of modern urban living.
The human rights of people living in cities are the rights of more than half the global population – a figure expected to rise to 60 per cent by 2030. The decisions cities make today – on resources, on services, and on priorities – will weigh heavily on the future of our planet and humanity as a whole.
While the pressure is growing, so are the opportunities – if we get it right.
That is why many local leaders – including many of you in this room, and across political divides – are turning to human rights for solutions.
Because human rights work for people.
Human rights, equality, and inclusion offer cities a coherent governance model – one that fosters resilience, stability, and trust. They are an insurance policy in turbulent times.
A Human Rights City is a fortress against the autocratic and populist currents we see today.
In cities, slogans run out of steam. People need practical, substantive, concrete actions that deliver improvements to their lives.
Populism does not solve problems – human rights do.
Distinguished participants, dear friends,
Take inequality.
Today, roughly one in four urban residents lives in an informal settlement – also known as a shanty town, a favela, a squatter area, or a slum.
Informal settlements are unplanned and often lack basic infrastructure like water, sanitation, and electricity. They reduce access to healthcare, education, and opportunities, and can even fuel instability.
Conversely, when budgets put people first, both communities and markets can thrive. The World Bank estimates that a global push to improve informal settlements could increase the GDP of some countries by as much as 10 per cent.
Studies show that cities that prioritize equality over mere growth perform better economically.
In Medellín in Colombia, for example, urban policies focused on reducing inequality have lowered homicide rates, improved transport, and attracted investment.
In Utrecht in the Netherlands, easing conditions on welfare has opened new pathways for people to find employment.
And in my home country Austria, expanding social housing has helped Vienna prevent and reduce homelessness, while making the city safer, more affordable, and economically stable.
Human rights empower people – economically, socially, politically.
And that is precisely why autocrats dislike them so much.
Human rights distribute power they don’t want to share.
Historically, cities – as we know from the experience right here in Gwangju – have often stood as oases of democracy and freedom, and guardians of civic space. Once again, because human rights provide solutions.
From Porto Alegre in Brazil to Kerala in India, participation has strengthened local governance, made policies more responsive, improved compliance, and reinforced accountability.
Living side by side in diverse communities can nurture solidarity and creativity, rather than threatening our peace or our culture – as populists would have us believe.
Refugees, migrants, and minorities – often vilified and scapegoated – enrich our societies, address labour shortages, and foster creativity and economic growth.
Many cities have already experimented with innovative ways to harness their diversity.
Ghent in Belgium created a taskforce to address the needs of refugees and to respond to concerns of host communities.
Amsterdam, along with other cities in the Rainbow Cities Network, has embedded the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people across all urban policies.
Of course, there is always more to do.
Today, only 25 of the world’s 300 largest cities have women mayors. Those few who made it have in many cases transformed their cities.
From Montreal in Canada and Paris in France to Freetown in Sierra Leone and Despeñaderos in Argentina, women mayors have championed green mobility, reclaimed public space for people, and made their cities safer and more comfortable for everyone.
In the same way, young mayors bring new leadership styles, drive innovation, and help rejuvenate cities with ageing populations. Yet mayors under 30 remain extremely rare.
A broader mix of local leaders can bring new ideas, greater openness, and more capacity to act – including in response to global challenges.
Cities account for 75% of the world’s carbon emissions – and many of them are leading the way on climate action.
Initiatives like the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group are driving change – even where national ambition falls short. Together, C40 cities represent around a quarter of the global economy, so their decisions make a difference.
But even smaller initiatives can shift the dial.
From Copenhagen in Denmark to Ahmedabad in India to Kampala in Uganda, cities across regions are adopting practical measures to address the climate emergency, from waste management to heat action plans to resilient housing programmes.
Renewable energy projects at the local level are the future of energy security. And as geopolitical shocks disrupt energy markets, this is more important than ever.
Dear participants,
As you work to make Human Rights Cities a reality, technology can give you a helping hand – or push you off the cliff.
Digital tools can expand access to essential services and make public spaces safer and more accessible. They can expose and reduce discrimination through data analysis and targeted interventions.
Digital voting and consultations can widen participation and strengthen transparency and accountability.
Here in South Korea, Seoul is implementing a smart road safety system for children, using AI and wearable technology.
In Estonia, Tallinn has rolled out digital IDs for residents to access healthcare and benefits online 24/7.
In Kenya, Nairobi has prioritized mobile banking, dramatically expanding access to financial services.
But technology can only help if it’s safe, accessible, and affordable.
Studies consistently show that internet use in poorer neighbourhoods is a fraction of city averages. Information inequality is growing, and it is a powder keg. It can open doors to disinformation and even ignite unrest.
Human Rights Cities can prevent this through better digital infrastructure and skills, connectivity subsidies, and support for local media.
Disinformation can spread at the speed of a click – sometimes as part of carefully orchestrated anti-rights campaigns.
London recently called for tighter oversight of social media after a wave of disinformation heightened insecurity, fuelling Islamophobia and hostility towards migrants.
In Spain, Barcelona is establishing a dedicated unit to counter fake news and disinformation.
Smart cities also create a risk of data falling into the wrong hands.
There are concerns about technology companies contracted by cities selling residents’ data, and cases of hackers accessing live feeds from police cameras. This calls for strong oversight and due diligence.
Cities are also at the forefront of action to curb the impact of tech companies on communities and the environment.
Melbourne in Australia, for example, is lobbying for rules to govern data centres, after calculating that a single facility could consume up to a fifth of the city’s energy.
Dear friends,
When the upper floors of a building sway, the foundations keep it standing.
At times like ours – of turbulence, anxiety, and confusion – Human Rights Cities can be that foundation.
Human Rights Cities are a global network of solidarity and freedom. They are harbours of certainty, where the organizing principles of kindness, care, and fairness still hold.
That is why cities are a major focus of the work of my Office.
From Kenya, Iraq, and the Philippines to South Africa, Tunisia, and Uzbekistan, my Office works with local authorities to integrate human rights across policies and budgets, and to ensure that people’s voices are heard in local decision-making.
Our Human Rights Cities initiative now has 104 members and counting. Last year, we developed the Guidance Framework for Creating a Human Rights City, together with our partners in United Cities and Local Governments.
Next month, our new Global Alliance for Human Rights will launch with a signature initiative to boost the Human Rights Cities movement with new ways to connect, to exchange, and to share ideas.
I call on all of you to join us and to support our ambition to grow the number of Human Rights Cities globally to 1,000 over the next three years, when we are going to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Democracy was born in cities.
Today, you can show that cities still lead the way – and that human rights are the only viable option for peace, sustainability, and dignity for all.
Thank you.
▶Original Text on OHCHR Website