Across Europe, democracy and human rights are facing growing pressure. Cities are increasingly at the forefront of responding to these challenges, translating rights into policies, services and everyday realities for their residents. On the 22nd of September 2026, at the OIDP Conference at ICE Kraków, the Global Parliament of Mayors and the Human Rights Cities [...]

What does it take to turn human rights principles into something cities can actually measure, monitor and improve? Next week, the Global Parliament of Mayors and the Human Rights Cities Network (HRCN) will bring this question to the 25th OIDP - International Observatory on Participatory Democracy Conference in Kraków, as we reflect on the journey [...]

Together for better cities! Cities are where life really happens. It's where we meet, where we work, where our families grow up and where, if we're lucky, we feel at home. Because of that, when we get to work alongside others who care about the places we live, it feels less like a partnership and [...]

The Urban7 International Mayors Summit in Nancy marked a defining moment for the role of cities in global governance. With Urban7 now formally recognized as an official G7 Engagement Group, a long-standing reality has finally gained institutional recognition: cities are not merely implementers of policy, but strategic actors shaping solutions to the world’s most pressing [...]

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights has become a strategic roadmap for Ghent’s municipal governance, ensuring that the principles of equality and dignity are integrated into every level of public service. Through comprehensive anti-discrimination strategies, innovative poverty reduction programs, and dedicated support for vulnerable families, Ghent transforms abstract legal principles into actionable policies that safeguard [...]

In an era where urban centres stand as the frontline defenders of democratic values, the DeCiDE project is proving that human rights are not just legal abstractions, they are local actions. In the heart of Józsefváros, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights has been transformed from a document into a roadmap for municipal governance. By [...]

Cities serve as the front line for protecting democratic values, with the DeCiDE project and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights showcasing how cities translate high-level legal frameworks into lived realities. Through the localization of these European standards, the city demonstrates that human rights are most effectively protected at the community level. Based on four [...]

Braga, a city in Portugal is including a multi-faceted approach involving digital innovation, participatory budgeting, and targeted social inclusion, Braga is transforming abstract principles of dignity and equality into actionable policies that safeguard residents and strengthen the social fabric for all by the adherence of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Braga has established a [...]

Dear Friends and Fellow Mayors, Collaboration is at the forefront of everything we do at the Global Parliament of Mayors. We are stronger and more impactful when we work together to co-create solutions that improve the lives of our residents and communities. There is no singular way forward, and the true power of GPM lies [...]