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WHRCF

WHRCF INFO

The World Human Rights Cities Forum (WHRCF) has been held in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, since 2011 as an annual event, with the aim of realizing the vision of a human rights city.

The Forum has become a gathering place to share the spirit of justice and community, the same values under which the citizens of Gwangju resisted against the ruthless oppression of the military regime in May 1980. WHRCF has been expanding its network to involve human rights cities’ officials, human rights organizations, activists, and miscellaneous stakeholders in the area of human rights, both in Korea and abroad. WHRCF has grown to be a major human rights event and a distinctive platform leading international cooperation and exchanging experiences on challenges and achievements of human rights cities to protect and institutionalize citizens’ human rights in everyday life.

VISION AND STRATEGY
EXPANDING HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES THROUGH SHARING AND SOLIDARITY

Cooperation

Establishing partnerships with the UN and other international organizations


Discussing the agenda of the United Nations Human Rights Council


Sharing and discussing international human rights issues


Expansion and Exchange

Implementing projects to expand the human rights cities' vision in Korea and abroad


Exchanging policies among human rights cities


Establishing human rights cities network


Policy Research and Education

Developing and conducting human rights education program


Establishing a database of human rights cities policies


Conducting joint research projects such as creating an inclusive city marker system


A SUSTAINABLE WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES FORUM

Since the World Human Rights Cities Forum onset in 2011, the secretariat has put diverse efforts to consider the environmental impacts and to ensure the Forum grows together with local communities. As part of these efforts, the secretariat has prepared to consider typical ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) factors even as well as environment-oriented factors in organizing and operating the World Human Rights Cities Forum.

Environmental

  • To follow the eco-friendliness checklist by sector
  • To minimize the production of promotional materials and souvenirs
  • To re-use and recycle resources
  • To prohibit disposable products and reduce waste

Society

  • To promote the engagement of local organizations
  • To work with local businesses and businesses working with the socially underprivileged
  • To revitalize local tourism and restaurant business
  • To promote the development of the local community

Governance

  • To hold regular steering committee meetings with domestic and overseas institutions
  • To share values for a sustainable forum organization
  • To engage general participants in the decision-making process
  • To evaluate programs and collect comments and inputs

Human Rights

  • To enhance information accessibility
  • To pursue a barrier-free event
  •  To provide spaces and facilities for cultural diversity promotion
  • To avoid unnecessary VIP protocol

WHRCF

WHRCF INFO

The World Human Rights Cities Forum (WHRCF) has been held in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, since 2011 as an annual event, with the aim of realizing the vision of a human rights city. The Forum has become a gathering place to share the spirit of justice and community, the same values under which the citizens of Gwangju resisted against the ruthless oppression of the military regime in May 1980. WHRCF has been expanding its network to involve human rights cities’ officials, human rights organizations, activists, and miscellaneous stakeholders in the area of human rights, both in Korea and abroad. WHRCF has grown to be a major human rights event and a distinctive platform leading international cooperation and exchanging experiences on challenges and achievements of human rights cities to protect and institutionalize citizens’ human rights in everyday life.

VISION AND STRATEGY
EXPANDING HUMAN RIGHTS
CITIES THROUGH SHARING AND SOLIDARITY

Cooperation

Establishing partnerships with the UN and
other international organizations


Discussing the agenda of the United Nations
Human Rights Council


Sharing and discussing international 
human rights issues


Expansion and Exchange

Implementing projects to expand the human rights
cities' vision in Korea and abroad


Exchanging policies among human rights cities


Establishing human rights cities network





Policy Research and Education

Developing and conducting human rights
education program


Establishing a database of human rights cities policies


Conducting joint research projects such as creating
an inclusive city marker system



A SUSTAINABLE WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES FORUM

Since the World Human Rights Cities Forum onset in 2011, the secretariat has put diverse efforts to consider the environmental impacts and to ensure the Forum grows together with local communities. As part of these efforts, the secretariat has prepared to consider typical ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) factors even as well as environment-oriented factors in organizing and operating the World Human Rights Cities Forum.

Environmental

Environment : Encouraging practical ways to use fewer resources and reduce environmental impact.




Society

Deepening ties with the host community through local cultural and economic engagement.




Governance

Ensuring transparency and accountability through inclusive feedback and collective reflection.




Human Rights

  • To enhance information accessibility
  • To pursue a barrier-free event
  •  To provide spaces and facilities for cultural diversity promotion
  • To avoid unnecessary VIP protocol

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

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get the latest news on the WHRCF

FOLLOW US

#WHRCF2026 #Solidarity #HumanRightsCities
#StandUp4HumanRights #Cities4Rights

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

#WHRCF2025 #Peace #Solidarity #HumanRightsCities 
#StandUp4HumanRights #Cities4Rights

Copyright WHRCF All rights reserved.