Forum Material

2025[Plenary Session] James Heenan Discussion Paper

12 May 2025
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The Human Rights Foundations for Peace: the case of DPRK


James Heenan [Representative, UN Human Rights Office, Seoul]


This is the right time to be talking about the links between peace and human rights. Eighty years after the founding of the United Nations, some 120 conflicts rage, from Sudan to Ukraine, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Myanmar to Gaza, with a devastating impact on civilians. But human rights and their importance enjoy widespread recognition and maybe more support than in previous decades.

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The role of cities and local governments
So, what role for cities and local government? Cities the closest government actors to people, and are thus key actors in ensuring peace, through the provision of rights-compliant health services education, food, employment, policing, childcare and so forth. For cities to effectively promote peace on peninsula, they need to be examples of peace. This also reinforces the credibility of their message. The very special role that cities in the Republic of Korea play on inter-Korean relations means they have the potential to be an example for the role of cities in other conflicts around the world.


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WHRCF SECRETARIAT
1-2F, 5, Jungang-ro 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea
Tel: +82-62-226-2734
Fax: +82-62-226-2731
E-mail: whrcf@gic.or.kr
Copyright WHRCF All rights reserved.