The Global Parliaments of Mayors (GPM) & the Human Rights Cities Network (HRCN) will host a joint event at the Smart City Expo, in Barcelona, on the 6 November, from 15:30 to 16:15, in the Orange Agora. This event marks the launch of the DeCiDE: Boost Democratic Participation in Cities to Recharge Democracy in Europe’, project, a collaborative effort to enhance democratic, inclusive urban governance. This project seals a partnership between the GPM and the HRCN and aims to develop a monitoring tool for human rights in cities. Academics, local administrators, and civil society organizations from 10 cities, from minimum 5 different European countries will co-develop this innovative tool.
The event will highlight the main challenges cities are facing in Europe, and explain how monitoring human rights regularly in public policies can be turned into a powerful tool to address social issues such as housing, urban mobility, sustainability, democratisation of urban spaces, education, healthcare and social inclusion.
The collaborative and participatory approach enhances democratic engagement and safeguards human rights across Europe. The project offers a platform to exchange ideas, share best practices, and build a more inclusive and equitable future for urban residents.
The discussion, moderated by Mrs Frederique Hanotier, a renowned human rights expert and board member of the HRCN, will bring together different perspectives in a diverse panel. Dr. Eric Corijn, a distinguished professor of urban studies and human rights, will present the theoretical foundations of human rights in urban settings and emphasize the need for a nuanced approach to embrace the diversity and the dynamic nature of urban environments. The GPM Executive director Mr Rainer Kern, will underline the importance of a monitoring tool adaptable to each context to respond to the specific needs of different cities.
Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with panelists, ask questions, and contribute to the dialogue around development and implementation of the human rights monitoring tool. This event promises to be a transformative moment towards a strong democratic participation and boost to advance human rights cities development in Europe.
You can register for the event by clicking here and obtain a discounted pass using the code 7YS3TZXH.