Third International Steering Committee Meeting Held 

On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, the third International Steering Committee Meeting took place, further advancing the preparations for the upcoming 13th World Human Rights Cities Forum. The meeting primarily focused on finalizing the invitation list for key events such as the Opening Ceremony, Round Table, and Plenary Session.

The meeting commenced with YOON Gunyeol, the head of the Democracy and Human Rights Division of Gwangju Metropolitan City, briefing on the previous Planning Subcommittee meeting where Korean members made proposals for the official events. Those proposals included conducting the Round Table in an interview format between mayors and moderators as well as inviting Korean thematic experts to the Plenary Session.

Following the briefing, the discussion on the invitation list was made. Recognizing the collaborative efforts of the co-hosts and co-organizers, it was decided that representatives from each organization would be invited to deliver congratulatory remarks during the Opening Ceremony. Morten Kjaerum proposed Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, as the keynote speaker not only for the Plenary Session but also for the entire event, underscoring the significance of his expertise.

During the discussion on the Round Table, the committee emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusivity. The Round Table aimed to bring together mayors from various regions to share policies and practices at the local level. KWAK Lawrence drew attention to the absence of women on the current list and emphasized the importance of gender balance. Morten Kjaerum recommended inviting female mayors from Europe, including Poland, to address this issue. Amanda Flety further suggested reaching out to the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA), enhancing representation from diverse backgrounds.

The committee also discussed potential speakers for the Plenary Session, nominating a wide range of experts from academia and international bodies. Johanna Sjowall emphasized the necessity of including representatives from civil society to enrich the discussions. Amanda Flety highlighted the efforts of UCLG in striving for geographical and gender balance, proposing the Mayor of Hawaii, mayors from EU cities, and the Mayor of Quito in Ecuador as potential speakers.

Furthermore, each co-host and organizer provided updates on their session plans for individual sessions. RWI aims to focus on anti-corruption, with a particular focus on Asian regions. OHCHR plans to hold a session with the theme of “Eradication of poverty through human rights economy” to explore the integration of human rights into economic policies and decision-making and the ways to maximize the allocation of available resources for economic, cultural, and social rights. UNESCO's session aims to promote inclusion and combat racism and discrimination, emphasizing the importance of utilizing evidence-based data to address the main challenges of social inequalities.

The International Steering Committee is expected to follow up on the invitation process for the official events and finalize the session plans in the coming month.