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The human rights cities movement steps up internationally

The Agency took part in the World Human Rights Cities Forum in Gwangju, South Korea from 18 to 20 October.

This year’s forum discussed the various models of human rights cities and how these models are linked to charters, policies, norms and networks. The forum also presented a range of practices on ways to implement human rights locally. Interesting practices from Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, and Nepal among others were shared. The approaches of Vienna and Barcelona were also showcased.

FRA spoke at the International session to present the key results of its policy lab on human rights cities, co-organised with the City of Vienna in May 2018. Key outcomes of the FRA Fundamental Rights Forum were also presented. These included the importance of going local, bringing diverse voices to discussions and better rights communicating.

The World Forum allowed closer links with the United Nations agenda to be developed. It also explored ways for cities to contribute to UN human rights treaties mechanisms and the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals.