The United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy, and Human Rights, in collaboration with the UN Human Rights Institute and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, is proud to co-organize a special session at the 14th Gwangju World Human Rights Cities Forum (WHRCF), focused on the critical theme: "Civic Space and Human Rights Cities." The session “Social Movements and Inclusive Participation in Cities” will highlight the pivotal role of local and regional governments in protecting and fostering civic spaces, ensuring that all citizens, especially marginalized groups, have a meaningful voice in shaping their communities.
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Session Overview: Civic Space and Local Governments
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Date and time: 11 October 2024, 16:30 - 18:00h (KST) / 09:30 - 11:00 (CEST)
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Location: Gwangju, South Korea, session organised in virtual format.
Click here to register for the session
This session will bring together local government leaders, civil society representatives, and human rights experts to discuss how cities and local authorities can create inclusive environments where citizens can actively participate in public decision-making processes. The discussion will also explore the challenges of shrinking civic spaces worldwide and how local governments can be key actors in reversing this trend.
Panel:
Moderator
- Birgit Kainz-Labbe, Coordinator, Civic Space Unit, UN OHCHR
Keynote Speech
- Tim Whyte, Secretary General, ActionAid Denmark
Speakers
- Bongile Mbingo, Mayor, Ezulwini Town Council
- Jose Molintas, Councilor, Baguio City Council
- Marta Costa, Head of Youth Division, City of Valongo
- Goizane Mota, Public Officer on Migration and Interculturalism, Bilbao City Council
- Tikender Panwar, Member, Kerala Urban Policy Commission
Why Focus on Local Governments?
As the closest level of goverment to the people, local governments have a unique responsibility in shaping civic spaces—public arenas where citizens can voice their concerns, gather for peaceful assembly, and participate in governance. In this session, participants will discuss:
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The Importance of Civic Space: How local governments can safeguard public spaces where citizens can express their views, assemble, and engage with local authorities on issues affecting their daily lives.
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Addressing Global Challenges Locally: How local governments are crucial in addressing global issues like climate change, social inequality, and corruption by engaging citizens in participatory democracy.
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Supporting Social Movements: The role of local authorities in enabling social movements to thrive and bring about positive change through law, policy, and cultural shifts.
Session Objectives:
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Inclusion of Marginalized Communities: Examine strategies for ensuring that vulnerable and marginalized groups—such as migrants, persons with disabilities, refugees, and those living in poverty—can meaningfully and safely participate in local decision-making processes.
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Best Practices for Participatory Democracy: Representatives from local governments will share innovative solutions and challenges they face in creating transparent, inclusive participatory processes that allow citizens to actively engage in shaping their cities.
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Strengthening Civic Engagement: Discussion on how local governments can leverage civic technologies and open governance to enhance civic engagement, foster collective intelligence, and improve public decision-making processes.
By empowering local communities and opening up civic spaces, local governments can rebuild trust between citizens and institutions, ensure greater transparency, and foster long-lasting human rights protections.
Join the Conversation!
This session offers a unique opportunity for local government leaders, civil society actors, and human rights advocates to come together and explore innovative approaches to strengthening civic space at the local level. Together, we can ensure that all voices, particularly those of marginalized groups, are heard in shaping the future of our cities.
Through this session, our Committee will contribute to the multilateral dialogue on rebuilding trust in institutions through local democracy in articulation with human rights, in the lead-up to the 23rd Conference of the International Observatory on Participatory Democracy, titled "Populist Threats: Building Democratic Resilience with Participatory Communities," which will take place in Valongo from 17 to 19 October 2024.
Don’t miss this important session at the 14th Gwangju World Human Rights Cities Forum! Register now to participate virtually.