WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES FORUM 2011

SUMMARY

CONCEPT NOTE

Background and Overview

1. Gwangju Metropolitan City and the May 18 Memorial Foundation proposed to establish The International Human Rights Cities Network 2011 (hereinafter referred to as the Network Event 2011) to enhance the capacity and promote international cooperation by sharing experiences and discussing on building and implementing human rights cities.
2. The Network Event 2011 aims not only to introduce Gwangju’s firm stance on the Human Rights City to the international communities, but also to devise plans for viable visions and strategies of Korea’s first human rights city by inviting human rights experts and representatives from all of the world human rights cities. The Network Event 2011 was hosted by the Gwangju Metropolitan City, while it was also sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the National Human Rights Committee, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO and the Asia Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding under the auspices of UNESCO and organized by the May 18 Memorial Foundation and the Korea Human Rights Foundation, with a special message from Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. Secretary General and a special envoy sent by Mrs. Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
3. Approximately, 100 national and international participants, including the human rights cities delegations in the world, U.N. human rights experts, civic groups, human rights NGO and concerned academicians and journalists from Korea and abroad, shared years of their experiences and expertise.

Theme and Concepts of a Human Rights City

1. Theme of “Challenges of Human Rights Cities in the 21st Century” stressed that cities and local governments could play a pivotal role in tackling various social, economic and political challenges, by raising international awareness of pending human rights issues, including increasing unemployment rates, an aging society, racial discrimination against international and migrant residents, any type of violence, issues arising amidst slum dwellers and the widening gap between cities. As expressed in the slogan: ”Glocalization“ (Globalization + Localization), human rights cities and local governments can ultimately contribute to the improvements of the world-wide human rights situation, initiated by citizens with the assistance of national governments and the U.N. human rights organizations.
2. The “Human Rights City” can be defined as “a social, political process at the municipal level and an urban community that functions primarily as a fundamental value and as a significant principle of human rights.” From a practical perspective, a Human Rights City signifies that all citizens, including the socially vulnerable and underprivileged are entitled to nondiscrimination, free participation, transparency, inclusion with decision-making, policy execution and liabilities, in accordance with the principles of human rights, without the distinction of race, gender, skin color, nationality, ethnic background, social status or any other category.
3. Also, the “Human Rights City” can be understood as a “human rights governance at the municipal level,” in which local governments, city councils, civic societies and individuals from civic sectors collaborate with each other for citizens’ better life, based on human rights standards.

Gwangju and National Status

1. Although the concept of the “Human Rights City” is still not well known in Korea, more people are becoming interested in knowing about this concept, as local politicians, policy makers, civic groups and human rights organizations have started to acknowledge the concept as a democratic governance for building better communities at the municipal level. Moreover, relevant bills in the fields of school education, differently-abled people, multicultural families and migrants have been enacted at the local government level for the past few years.
2. Historically, Gwangju has been reputed as a city struggling against the abuse of governmental power. Claiming the May 18 Democratic Movement in 1980 as one of the prominent struggles, numerous testimonies of citizens’ sacrifices leading to the democratization and social justice have been given throughout modern history.
3. The May 18 Memorial Foundation was established in 1994 by survivors and bereaved families of the Gwangju Uprising and Gwangju citizens, attempting to spread its spirit to cities all cross the world. The Foundation has established and given the Gwangju Human Rights Award for 10 years, while hosting the Asia Gwangju Human Rights School every year, along with providing international internships and exchange programs, holding the Gwangju Asia Forum and supporting other democracy- and human rights-related projects in Asia.
4. The Gwangju Metropolitan Council adopted the “Gwangju City Ordinance to Build a City of Democracy, Human Rights and Peace” in 2007 as the first local city council, which provided a legal foundation for developing and implementing human rights-friendly policies in Gwangju.
5. In 2010, the “Human Rights Office” was founded under the auspices of former mayor Kang Un-tae, currently establishing the “Gwangju Human Rights Fundamental Action Plans” including the “Human Rights Indices” and the “Assessment of Human Rights Impacts”. Recently, the Establishment Committee for the Declaration of Gwangju Human Rights Cities was launched, while preparing its draft.
6. Therefore, the Network 2011 showed strong will, enabling Gwangju to foster itself into a human rights city, suitable to international standards with continuous efforts. In particular, Gwangju is expected in the future to contribute to establishing an international network for Asian cities interested in building human rights cities.

International Status

1. The concept of the “Human Rights City” is still unknown and new, whereas it is relatively known well in Europe and America. Some UCLG members have already included human rights in their main agenda and action plans, among which the U.N. Habitat-led “World Human Rights Cities Forum,” the UNESCO-led “Coalition of Cities against Racism and Discrimination” and the UCLG’s “Global Charter-Agenda for Human Rights in the City” are the most representative international networks for human rights.
2. The international citizen society is willing to embrace the concept of the “Human Rights City.” Various social activities and human rights NGOs emphasized the political discourse and implementation of human rights at the municipal level, while conducting human rights through city-related movement more actively. In addition, human rights NGOs such as People’s Movement for Human Rights Education (PDHRE), have already used the concept of the “Human Rights City” as a means to promote human rights culture and strengthen essential human rights educational programs.
3. Two other approaches such as “Human Rights in the City“ and ”R2C“ show the significance of cooperation and partnership between the local governments and civic societies. The Network 2011 is expected to offer opportunities for mutual cooperation and communication.

Agendas and Programs

1. The Network 2011 consists of Gwangju Mayor’s Announcement for building a human rights city, an Opening Keynote Round Table Session, a Panel Session A/B for Sharing Experiences in Building a Human Rights City and a Panel Session C/D for Citizens’ Participation and Human Rights Education. Results based on a series of discussion and debates is estimated to be included in the Declaration of Gwangju Human Rights Cities.
2. Mayor Kang Un-tae will show his dedication and leadership for the human rights city vision by making a personal announcement about building a human right city in Gwangju, which is followed by an opening round table session that will provide the basis and direction of the entire forum for participants and delegations of human rights cities.
3. “Citizens’ Participation” and “Human Rights Education” have been chosen as the two major issues necessary for building and strengthening a human rights city, regarding the theme of an international conference. Discussion will be made based on questions from each session’s guidelines and relevant materials.
4. Two international standards concerning the human rights city, including the “Earth Charter ? Agenda for Human Rights in the City“ in April 2011 and the ”World Charter for the Right to the City“ in September 2005, will be introduced to participants as a concrete plan to promote international networks among human rights cities. The UNESCO-led “Coalition of Cities against Racism and Discrimination” will be introduced in the similar context.
5. The Network 2011 is aiming to keep up with the global trends, in which solidarity and cooperation towards human rights culture should be enhanced at the global level beyond the boundaries of countries and cities. Gwangju City is developing such visions with a firm belief that the Gwangju Spirit is one of the key elements in the global society of the 21st century.

Results of the World Human Rights Cities Forum

1. Adoption of 「the Declaration of Gwangju Human Rights Cities by the International Human Rights Cities Network」

PROGRAM BOOK

You can download the program book by clicking the attached file below.